Brahmins who migrated from Angavarta learned Astang-ayurveda and practiced medical profession. They
have specialized in the eight fields of Kaya chikitsa, Bala chikitsa,
Griha chikitsa, Urdhvanga chikitsa, Salya chikitsa, Visha chikitsa,
Rasayana chikitsa and Vajeekarana chikitsa. Since they and their
generations specialized and practiced in the eight fields of ayurveda,
they were called Astavaidyas. To maintain continuity in their family
profession, they married within the Astavaidya families. But some got
married from outside the group and engaged in other professions and thus
the member of Astavaidhya families got reduced gradually. Earlier there
were 18 astavaidya families in Kerala. Now the number is reduced to
eight. Vayaskara Moos, Cheerattaman Moos, Eleedath Thycat Mooos, Vellode
Moos, Pulamanthole Moos, Aalathiyoor Thampi and Vaidya Matom are the
existing Astavaidya families.
It is believed that Vagbhata author of Astangasamgraha and Astanga Hrdaya taught
Astangayurveda to these Astavaidyas. Since Astavaidyas had to perform
autopsy surgery etc. they were not allowed to participate in yagas. But,
since it has been found that medical assistance is required to priests
in longer yagas. Vaidyamatom Nampoothiris were asked to stay away from
autopsy and surgery and, so they were permitted to yagas.
Kasyapa's 'Krishisookthi'
Krishisookthi written by
Kasyapa is a very ancient book giving detailed information on ancient
farming in India. There are several references of the ancient work in
Varahamihiras Brihatsamhita. Vrkshayurveda is an important chapter of
Brihatsamhita. Vrkshayurveda is an authentic document touching the various
aspects of farming. We are to perceive Kasyapa’s Krishisookthi as a basic
work forming the foundation of this. It is accepted by all, that the period
of Brihatsamhita is fifth century BC. But no one could so far ascertain when
the book Krishi-sookthi was written. If the author of Krishi-sookthi is the
Kasyapa Muni mentioned in Vedas and Puranas, it would be a pre–Vedic period
that would suit the work.
The maize ears recovered from
Mexican caves (north America) have been officially recognized as belonging
to 440 BC. Then it must be thousands of years earlier that a group of people
from India had migrated there with the original wild species of those maize
varieties and American cotton varieties. It must have been after their
settlement in their new place of migration that maize and cotton got
subjected to evolutionary changes. When this fact is also taken into
account, the dating of India’s original agricultural culture will be found
to go back to a very distant part. We can only imagine that these evidences
are such that would indicate the reality of our “Chathurvarnya” concepts.
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