Posted on: 19 September 2016

The most exhaustive critical study of the CHARAKASAMHITA has been undertaken at the University of Vienna, Austria.

The project addresses these points by providing a critical edition and translation of two vitally important sections of the Carakasamhita, namely Vimanasthana 1-7 and Sharirasthana 1-7. These two parts of the work cover topics that include etiology of diseases, anatomy, pathology, epidemiology, epistemology, embryology, the embodied soul, the microcosm and macrocosm, and the path to spiritual liberation. Even the most medically-oriented topics are discussed in terms that contain philosophical implications.

The project builds on the success of the previous projects, which have established the University of Vienna as an internationally-recognized centre of excellence in editing, translating and interpreting early classical Ayurvedic literature. These projects have also created the largest digital archive of Sanskrit medical manuscripts in the world. The innovative use of information technology adopted from evolutionary biology in conjunction with traditional philological methods of textual analysis has led to new breakthroughs in stemmatic analysis and the analysis of manuscript cross-contamination. Building on this foundation, the project aims to develop and extend the larger research project into new areas. The previous projects focussed especially on the important early Sanskrit medical accounts of the processes and theory of formal debate, that bear a strong relationship with early Nyaya theories of debate. The present project moves on to consider, among other topics, the use of early Vaisesika, Samkhya, Yoga and Buddhist materials in the Carakasamhita. The chapters chosen for this project present fundamental epistemological and systemic issues that are central to Ayurvedic reasoning as well as the investigation of the question “What is Man?” in the most profound philosophical and physical senses.

Three basic resources established by the previous projects enormously benefit the progress of the project. The first resource is the digital archive of manuscripts, which was assembled by a great deal of bureaucratic negotiation and numerous painstaking tours of Indian libraries. Not only have almost all surviving manuscripts of the Carakasamhita been located, but in most cases digital copies exist already in Vienna. The second basic resource is the development of the stemma codicum for Vimanasthana, chapter 8, of the Carakasamhita. This analytical achievement organises and structures the testimony of the available manuscripts in a manner that guides the editor through the forest of their variant readings and possible relationships. This stemma is likely to apply to the project with little modification, and will thus save great time and effort in collating and editing. The third basic resource is the human scholarly tradition that has built up at the University of Vienna in working with Sanskrit manuscripts, Ayurvedic texts, and the processes of collation and critical editing. The value of such a tradition of working is enormous. The participants of the previous projects, several of whom continue to work on the project either directly or as project advisors, have developed methods of collaboration, communication, and working that have taken years to build up, and that embody substantial expertise of inestimable value for the project.

The project will lead to the publication of numerous original research articles on topics in Ayurveda and Indian philosophy as well as to major critical editions and translations of two philosophically-important parts of the Carakasamhita. They will also explicitly exemplify the highest professional standards of work in Indology.

Website:
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We are at the mercy of foreign Universities to propagate the. Century old Studies based on Ayurveda. I fear that they would produce scores of patents based on Ayurvedic techniques.

If such projects are sponsored by the Government the pseudo secularists and sons of Marx start shouting that the country is being sent to docks. Even the study of Sanskrit in school has been abolished gradually by the Congress Government in cahoot with the Marxists.

Just FYI - RBSI had shared one of the vienna faculty member's article in 2013 ( https://www.facebook.com/196174216674/photos/a.212955701674.174468.196174216674/10151476516426675/?type=3&theater )

such a paradox, Indian academics and intellectual fail to do something about it.

It will stop people from making fun of Ayurveda.

Now they are after the treatises of the "DIRTY INDIANS" !

Superb

Thank you for sharing this informative postings

How could be avail the facility of reading the Books

Excellent.

Tunisha Salwan

Sad that this study was not taken up by an Indian institution,our institutions seem to be busy only in imitating the western knowledge.

Research into Ayurveda has been on in India since 1978. http://www.ccras.nic.in/about_ccras/about_research_in_ayurveda.htm

Really brilliant and heartening to note that such researches, brings into focus, the validity of the Vedic System, in all spheres of activity . The contribution of Indian intellect in unfolding the mysteries of both human and spiritual mastery, can no longer be hid under the bushel of western ignoramus, who take credit for every thing, when, they only rediscover or unearth the wheels lying submerged p, without any recognition from the world at large. They are now waking up to the realities of the immense potential, vedic thought and philosophy has to offer, if only we care to turn our gaze to it, instead of aping alien culture and tradition. Thanks for sharing.

We only gloat over the achievements of ancestors whereas researches based on our treaties is undertaken in all seriousness in Vienna & elsewhere .

We do not look at anything critically. Our problem . If a factual adverse comment is made we condemn the person. For example Prf A L Basham.

Ayurved,sanskrit must b propagated by India no matter how much Marxists bark

Europeans are experts at Plagiarism of Ancient Indian Texts. Now they are doing "Research". Oh really ? ! ! I would submit that the Charakasamhita itself is the " Original Research " ! ! NOT the translation & analysis being done by Vienna University for the sake of Western Consumption with a Plastic Lunchbox Packaging !

We have forgotten our own heritage, others are taking advantage of it

They will learn from our text and teach it to us and our anglicised people will swear by it.

Such encouraging news! Scholars in India who are working on it will be needed for their views.

The outside world appreciates our literature. This is absolutely Awesome.

Why we are not doing the same...Charaksamhita is very comprehensive. ..

What a fallacy !!!!

Very difficult to understand how to comment...

Very Good,चरक संहिता

i just want to know the person/persons who is managing this greaat page.... can you please let all of us know your name sir Mr. Rare Book Society of India

hey guys this facebook page seems to be created to spread distorted history, culture, stories and indian civilization in the name of rare book society of india.... i have gone through this page and if you carefully observe most of the books in this page shown have been translated and distorted to the core by foreign authors & sepoys (indians psuedo intellectuals & scholars but support beaking india forces) ... AS Rajiv Malhotra BEAUTIFULLY explained very well in ALL his BOOKS ABOUT THESE DANGAROUS GUYS... these breaking india forces and so called authors and pseudo scholars who are sitting in columbia , harvard universities of comparative religions etc (ivy leagues) are all outsiders who wants to break india.... what do they mean by a rare book?? translated in western stand point of view and publish it as a rare book of india?..... rare book is book which is its original form not translate by some liftest & marxist and published in missionaries in foreign countries and culcatta... please PLEASE be aware and OPEN YOUR eyes now