Basavarajeeyam: A historical perspective

Area of Science:

• Ayurvedic medicine
• History of Medicine
• Sanskrit and Telugu Literature

Background:

• Basavarajeeyam is a significant Ayurvedic handbook from the Andhra region, written in Sanskrit and Telugu.
• Scholarly opinions on the exact date and origin of Basavarajeeyam vary, with some scholars attributing it to the 12th century based on connections to Basava and King Bijjala.
• Previous historical analyses are considered one-sided and lack robust evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine and establish the correct historical period of the Ayurvedic text Basavarajeeyam.
• To analyze internal textual evidence to ascertain the authorship and chronological placement of Basavarajeeyam.
• To refute previous scholarly attributions based on a comprehensive review of historical and textual data.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of internal evidence within Basavarajeeyam, including cited sources and disease mentions.
• Comparison of textual content with known Ayurvedic works like Charaka, Vaidyachintamani, and Nithyanatheeyam.
• Examination of specific medical treatments and dosage units mentioned in the text, such as 'Ekanni' for Sankhadravaka.
• Inclusion of references to diseases like Phirangiroga (syphilis) and their management.

Main Results:

• Basavraju cited numerous works, including Nithyanatheeyam (1360 AD) and Kashikhandam (1435 AD), indicating a post-15th-century composition.
• The text reproduces chapters from Vaidyachintamani (15th century) and mentions Phirangiroga, suggesting a post-Bhavaprakasha period.
• The dosage unit 'Ekanni' refers to a copper coin circulating from 1794 AD in British India, strongly indicating an 18th-century origin.

Conclusions:

• Internal evidence, particularly the mention of 'Ekanni' and Phirangiroga, firmly places Basavarajeeyam in the 18th century.
• The author, Basavraju, should be considered an 18th-century Ayurvedic physician.
• This revised dating challenges previous scholarly consensus and provides a more accurate historical context for the text.