Epidemics and Crisis Management

in Pre-modern South Asia

Tag: disease causation

  • Pandemics, Epidemics, Academics. Projects on the medical traditions in South Asia and Tibet

    Pandemics, Epidemics, Academics. Projects on the medical traditions in South Asia and Tibet

    Besides the epidemics project, the Viennese Department of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies (ISTB) houses two other research projects on medical traditions focusing on Āyurveda and Tibetan medicine: To highlight this research focus, we organize a one-day workshop introducing first findings by the involved scholars. June 23, 2023, physically at the University of Vienna,… → Read more

  • Epidemiology in the Bhelasaṃhitā

    The Carakasaṃhitā (CS) has its own chapter on epidemics (3.3) and the Suśrutasaṃhitā (SS) deals with collective suffering within the frame of its chapter on the seasons (1.6). But what about the Bhelasaṃhitā (BhS)? This poorly preserved early āyurvedic compilation, like the CS, belongs to the school of internal medicine, and could provide precious insights,… → Read more

  • Epidemics in Suśruta

    or: Why critical editions matter. An example from Ayurveda, Suśrutasaṃhitā. According to the vulgate editions (none of them critical), all the compilations of early Ayurveda have a chapter on the seasons near their beginning discussing topics such as the structure of time, seasonal hazards, appropriate diet and conduct. Usually they bear a title like “ṛtucarya”… → Read more

  • Mantras and epidemics

    Mantras and epidemics

    Someone recently asked me why I, conducting a project on epidemics, write a paper on mantras in Ayurveda. Here is the reason: Early South Asian medical compilations discuss epidemics and how to treat them. They suggest various countermeasures. Besides more “medical” remedies they also mention truthfulness, compassion, mantras, offerings, fasting, atonement, veneration of gods, certain… → Read more

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