Review and Critical Analysis of Bandantha Nagarjuna’s Rasa Vaisheshika Sutra

Abstract

Aim: To do literary review of the book Rasa vaisheshikha sutra and critically analyse its contents with works published after Rasa vaisheshika. Background: Nighantu’s are the treatise that contain a collection of paryaya with guna karma of dravya and their basic concepts. Rasa vaisheshika is one such Nighantu which belongs to the ancient period and elaborately explains the basic concepts of Dravyaguna vigyana (study of medicinal drugs, their properties, actions and their application for disease management). Badantha Nagarjuna is said to be the author and Narasimha is the bhashya kaara of this Nighantu. Review results: It follows the style of brahma sutra, which contain 4 chapters each and the first four sutras conveys the subject matter of the whole treatise, which is Arogya shastra (science of health), Arogya definition, Arogya symptoms, Arogya upaya, Arogya benefits, Anarogya symptoms, Anarogya causes, Anorogya effects, dravya, rasa, guna, veerya, Vipaka and karma. 486 sutras are put forth in this book with arguments and counter arguments to come to a conclusion regarding the above subject matter. Conclusion: Rasa vaisheshika is the only treatise of 5^th century AD which puts forth unique concepts like formation of a seedling from pancha mahabhootha, color of pancha mahabhoota, Karma veerya vada, reasons for changes in Rasa, reasons for changes in vipaka, 10 karmanya guna, and the concept of substitution of Dravya based on its rasa panchaka teevrata or mandata.