Published July 15, 2025 | Version v1
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The Decline and Revival of Surgery in the Ayurved Science

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Gujarat Ayurved University
  • 2. state model institute of ayurved sciences SMIAS, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Description

Surgery in ancient India was not merely a branch of medicine but a sophisticated and highly evolved science, as comprehensively detailed in the classical Ayurvedic text, the Sushruta Samhita. Compiled around the first millennium BCE, this foundational treatise is attributed to the legendary surgeon Sushruta, who is widely regarded as the “Father of Surgery.” The text meticulously outlines over 300 surgical procedures and describes more than 120 surgical instruments, reflecting a remarkable level of precision and technical understanding for its time. It encompasses a wide range of operative techniques, including rhinoplasty, cataract surgery, lithotomy, and fracture management, many of which remained unsurpassed for centuries.

The Indian medical system, rooted in Ayurveda, emphasized not only pathology, patient care, and ethical medical practice. Surgery (Shalya Tantra) was considered an essential component of a holistic healthcare framework that sought balance among the body, mind, and soul. This integrated approach enabled ancient Indian surgeons to perform complex procedures with accuracy and compassion, making Ayurveda one of the earliest systems to formalize surgical education and practice.

Despite its early prominence, the tradition of surgery within Ayurveda experienced a prolonged period of decline, influenced by sociopolitical changes, colonial interventions, and shifts in medical epistemology. However, recent decades have witnessed a growing interest in the revival and integration of Ayurvedic surgical practices, especially in the context of traditional knowledge systems and modern healthcare challenges

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Jain Pankaj; June 2025, the decline and revival of surgery in the ayurved science; www.ijao.in, vol 10, issue 7, p 280-288.pdf

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References

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  • 4. Ministry of AYUSH. (2022). Annual Report. Government of India.
  • 5. Tanna, N., & Fung, R. (2015). The Indian method of rhinoplasty: Historical origins and modern implications. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 48(2), 125–128.
  • 6. The Gentleman's Magazine. (1794). An extraordinary case of the restoration of a nose, lost in war. October Issue, 891–892.
  • 7. Jain, P. (2017). A review on history of Manasa and Manasa psychological disorders) in Indian texts. International journal of ayurveda orientation, 2(2), 70–80. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15834526
  • 8. Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth 14(2):p 243-245, Mar–Apr 2021. | DOI: 10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_710_20
  • 9. Dwivedi, R. R., & Dwivedi, S. (2007). History of Medicine: Sushruta–the Clinician-Teacher par Excellence. Indian Journal of Chest Diseases and Allied Sciences, 49, 243–244.
  • 10. Sharma, P. V. (1996), Sushruta Samhita: With English Translation of Text and Dalhana's Commentary, Chaukhambha Visvabharati.
  • 11. Sharma, A., & Chaturvedi, A. (2020), Ksharasutra therapy in fistula-in-ano: An overview of clinical evidence. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 11(3), 325–332.
  • 12. Kumar, A., & Pandey, A. K. (2018). Agnikarma in musculoskeletal disorders: Evidence-based review, Ayushdhara, 5(2), 1124–1129.
  • 13. Patwardhan, B., & Tillu, G. (2022). Evidence-based Ayurveda: Scientific rigor and traditional wisdom. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , 28(6), 456–462.