Diseases: Causes and Remedies
My Findings 1.
I shall now describe the primary causes of diseases and remedial measures as
given in this work
NOTES
According to ancient Hindu conceptions certain types
of diseases such as tuberculosis, cancer, etc,, are Karma Vyadhis being the
consequences of certain prohibited acts which the native must have done in his
past life. The Western medical men try to find for every disease causes within
the body, and they are treated by medicines, surgery, etc., The majority of
Hindus however still believe in the ancient theory of our suffering, physical,
mental, etc., in this life, being the consequence of certain acts done in our
previous life or lives. Karma Vipaka is an ancient work listing the various
diseases, how they arise and what remedial measures, which mainly consist of
japa, homa, dana, etc., should be adopted. Western medical science has not said
and cannot say the last word on ill-health and its healing. We have to consider
what the sages say with respect and faith.
Rajayakshma
(Consumption)
My Findings 2.
The reason for the terrible disease consumption is that in the previous birth,
the native might have caused violence to Brahmins, hated the preceptors and
elders or might have indulged in sexual enjoyment at the times of eclipses. The
remedies are chanting the Sahasra Nama, Rudra Sukta, Aindragni and Suktas
accompanied by Havana; and giving clothes as gifts.
Karsya
(Emaciation)
My Findings 3.
According to smritis stealing food is the main cause for karsya or emaciation.
As a remedial measure, an image of Siva should be gifted.
Kushta
Roga (Leprosy)
My Findings 4.
The primary cause of leprosy can be found in murdering Brahmins, enjoying the
wife of the preceptor, engaging in illicit sale of medicines or attempting to
poison a trusted person. The remedial measures are: chanting rudra sukta,
ayusukta and gifting the images of the Sun and the bull made of gold to
venerable Brahmins and performing kushmanda homa.
Swetakushta
(White leprosy)
My Findings 5.
Besides the causes specified in the previous stanza, misappropriation of large
quantities of cotton rolls, clothes and bronze vessels will also lead to one
suffering from white leprosy.
Remedial
measures are also the same as given in My Findings4.
Visarpa
(Serpis)
My Findings 6.
Killing serpents or having them killed by others is the cause for one suffering
from Visarpa. The remedy is nagadana or gifting the image of a serpent as
specified in the smritis.
Pandu
Roga (Leucoderma)
My Findings 7.
Stealing the wealth of the Deities and Brahmins and eating forbidden foods give
rise to leucoderma. Performance of kushmanda homa and gifting of gold are the
palliatives.
Atisara
(Dysentery)
My Findings 8.
Destroying tanks and wells is the cause for Atisara. The remedy as per sages is
the recitation of Rudrasukta and Varunasukta.
Grahani
(Face Disease)
My Findings 9.
Tearing away the lips, breaking the teeth and cutting away the tongues of
others; talking ill and disparagingly of elderly persons; uttering falsehood
and becoming a false witness are the causes for disease in the face. The
remedies are Kushmanda homa, Gayatri Japa and giving in charity a gold figure
of the elephant, grains and medicines.
Arsa
Roga (Piles)
My Findings 10. The causes of piles are misappropriating
of the wealth of the learned and the blind; stealing food, having sex relations
on prohibited days and killing cows. The remedy is the gifting of the figure of
a cow made of gold.
Netra
Roga (Eye Disease)
My Findings 11.
Eye diseases are the consequence of ingratitude, casting wily glances at other
women and injuring others' eyes. The remedies are giving payasa prepared with
milk or dhal, gold, ghee and gifting the figure of Garuda and performance of
Homas and chanting Netra-raksha sukta or Netraraksha mantra with devotion.
Nakandhya
(Partial Blindness)
My Findings 12.
The disease of nakandhya is due to the injuring or blinding of cow's eyes. The
remedies are, giving in charity the image of Gopala.
Kama
Roga (Ear Disease)
My Findings 13.
Back-biting, tearing away others' ears and obstructing others' actions are said
to be the causes of Karnaroga. Giving in charity land, gold, grains and woollen
goods and chanting Surya Mantra are the palliatives.
Jihwa
Roga (Lingual Disease)
My Findings 14.
The causes for lingual disease are scolding preceptors and elderly persons,
uttering falsehood, causing grief to others, tearing away others' tongues.
Gifting grains, medicines, performing kushmanda homa and chanting Rahu mantra
or other Suktas are the remedies.
Vatha
Roga (Rheumatism)
My Findings 15.
Criticizing pious and respectable people, hating parents and preceptors and
stealing food are the causes for rheumatism. The remedial measures are giving
in charity the image of a deer made of copper along with clothes and wholesome
food and reciting or chanting Vayu Sukta and other Vayu Mantras.
Soola
(Colic Trouble)
My Findings 16.
Having relations with virgins, animals, widows and maid-servants; consuming
prohibited food, abandoning the performance of essential rituals, indulging in
back-biting, killing a person by poison or sharp weapon are the root causes for
colic troubles. The remedies are thila dana and padma dana and gifting away a
trident made of silver or gold.
Gulma
(Spleen Disease)
My Findings 17.
Deep-seated enmity towards and ill-treatment of the preceptor, envy and misuse
of another's food are the main causes for the disease Gulma. The remedies are
Homa with Aindragni-sukta, chanting of Rudrasukta and Vayusukta, chanting of
Gayatri Mantra and gifting of the image of Ganapati.
Prameha
My Findings 18.
Sexual relations with animals, unmarried virgins, wives of preceptors and
widows, hatred of teachers, stealing of food from Brahmins and causing grief to
others are the causes of Prameha. Besides these, illicit relations with mother,
mother-in-law and brother's wife cause madhu meha or diabetes.
My Findings 19.
Homas and gifting of gold, cow, water and food and chanting of varuna mantra
relieve one of diabetes.
Mahodara
(Dropsy)
My Findings 20.
The cause of this disease is sex relations with the wife of the preceptor and
causing of abortions. The remedies are chanting Rudra sukta and Varunasukta and
giving in charity the image of a crocodile and water.
Mootra
Krucha (Urinary Disease)
My Findings 21.
Physical intimacy with unmarried virgins, animals and widows and ill-treating Brahmins
are the main causes for urinary diseases. The remedies are gifting gingelly
seeds and lotus flowers. Performing 'Homas' with insufficient fire leads to
Agnimandya. The palliative is the chanting of Agnimantra.
Bhagandara
(Fistula)
My Findings 22.
Disregarding the advice of elders and preceptors and sex-relations with the
wife of the preceptor cause Bhagandara- The remedies are giving jewels, silver,
gold and image of an elephant made of gold and chanting Gayatri mantra,
Aditya-sukta and Rudrasukta.
Vidhradhi
My Findings 23. Stealing fruits is the cause of Vidhradhi
roga. The remedies are performing amradana asper the injunctions of Smritis.
Kantha
Roga (Throat Disease)
My Findings 24.
Stealing public prosperty results in one suffering from throat disease. Grahasanti
and gifting ratnas are the remedies.
Siro
Roga (Headache)
My Findings 25.
The cause of disease of the head is hatred towards Brahmins. The remedies are
repentence and gifting of the sacred thread.
Asrugadhara
My Findings 26.
This disease is caused by destroying Aswatha and other sacred trees and
injuring cows. The remedy consists of gifting a red cow.
Apasmara
(Epilepsy)
My Findings 27.
The cause of Apasmara is the killing of preceptors and masters. Japa, Dana and
other measures recommended in Smritis of the sages are the remedies.
Mookathwa
and Unmada (Dumbness and Insanity)
My Findings 28.
Ridiculing elderly persons, always engrossed in pleasures and casting eyes on
others' wives and breaking of promises lead to dumbness, lunacy etc. The
remedies suggested are gifting of an elephant image.
Fevers
My Findings 29.
Fevers arising from cold and heat and recurring fevers are caused by
intimidating others with the help of a dog. Remedies are the performance of
Abhisheka for Vishnu and Siva and chanting of Panchadurgamantra and Rudrasukta.
NOTES
For fevers arising from cold and heat Abhisheka of
Siva and Vishnu are said to be more appropriate. For intermittent fevers
remedies other than the two mentioned here are recommended.
Daha
(Thirst)
My Findings 30.
Daha or extreme thirst arises because of sins such as intimacy with the
preceptor's wife. The remedy is giving water to the thirsty.
Vrana
Roga (Ulcers)
My Findings 31.
Stealing vegetables, obstructing others' speeches, maltreating others and
immoral relationship with undesirable women and destroying trees lead to
ulcers. The remedy is gifting Ratna or pearls or precious ring.
Ulcers
in the hands and the legs
My Findings 32.
Ulcers in the hands and legs are respectively due to causing abortion and
having immoral relationship with the preceptor's wife. Giving Ratna as a gift
to Brahmins is the remedy.
Childlessness
My Findings 33.
The causes for one getting no issues are: killing children, eating eggs, hating
preceptors and others' children, killing animals, causing dissensions between
mother and child, killing young pet animals and not performing the annual
sraddha ceremony. The remedy is gifting a cow's image made of gold.
Aruchi
and Chardhi
My Findings 34.
Giving in charity anything without due regard and devotion will lead to a
disease known as "Aruchi". Betraying a person who trusts the native
will lead to a disease known as Chardhi. Let learned men suggest suitable
remedies for these two.
Mookatwa
(Dumbness)
My Findings 35.
Plagiarism leads to the disease of muteness. The remedy is gifting the image of
Goddess Saraswati.
Kamila
(Blindness)
My Findings36.
The cause of the disease 'Kamila' (blindness) is taking food without washing
one's feet and cleaning the hands. Gifting the image of Garuda is the remedy.
Anthra
Vriddhi (Intestinal Trouble)
My Findings 37.
Obstructing the performance of Yagna results in this disease. Gifting the image
of Vishnu is the appropriate remedy.
My Findings 38.
For the disease Gulma iron vessels should be gifted; for leprosy, silver coins
and images; for Vatha roga (rheumatism) cow's milk; for eye diseases, gold
coins immersed in cow's ghee; for pains in the body — beds, pillows and cots;
for diseases in the stomach — fertile plots of ground.
My Findings 39.
For Arsas (piles) and Bhagandhara (fistula), gold and diamonds should be gifted
and Rudrasukta chanted. For all diseases, besides the special ones recommended
in their proper places, Sahasranama, Satarudreeya and Rudrasukta should be
chanted.
My Findings 40.
Kings and rich people should establish free hospitals. Ordinary people should
at least give food and medicines to the sick. Then their sicknesses will
disappear.
My Findings 41.
The 'gift of health' is the most important of all the gifts. If anybody wants
to be free from diseases and be healthy he should help the sick with food and
medicines.
