Father of Indian Medicine-Maharishi Sushruta
Why in News?
Maharishi Sushruta is prominently in the global news because the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) in Scotland on June 19, 2026—the world's oldest and most prestigious surgical institution—unveiled a permanent 90-kilogram bronze statue of him.
Historical Background & Identity
- The Era: Medical scholars and historical records place Maharishi Sushruta’s life and practices around 600 BCE to 1000 BCE in ancient India.
- The Pioneer Titles: He is universally revered across global medical history as the "Father of Surgery" and the "Father of Plastic Surgery".
- Varanasi Roots: Sushruta lived, taught, and operated in the ancient holy city of Kashi (modern-day Varanasi) on the banks of the River Ganga.
- Lineage: Civilizational texts record him as a premier disciple of Lord Dhanvantari, the mythological Hindu deity of Ayurveda.
The Sushruta Samhita (The Compendium)
- Foundational Text: He authored the Sushruta Samhita, a classical Sanskrit medical treatise that stands as one of the pillars of Ayurvedic medicine (alongside the Charaka Samhita and Astanga Hridaya).
- Encyclopedic Scale: The text spans 184 chapters and systematically categorises 1,120 illnesses, over 700 medicinal plants, and 300 unique surgical procedures.
- The Eight Branches: It laid down the foundations of Shalya Tantra (Surgical Science) while also documenting toxicology, paediatrics, and pharmacology.
Revolution in Surgery & Plastic Reconstruction
- Invention of Rhinoplasty: Long before modern reconstructive practices, Sushruta invented rhinoplasty (reconstructing mutated or severed noses) utilizing a flap of skin from the forehead or cheek.
- Advanced Procedures: His text provides explicit operational details for treating fractures, dislocations, extracting cataracts (couching), performing bladder stone removals (lithotomy), and Caesarean sections.
- Surgical Tools: He designed and utilized more than 120 unique surgical instruments (including knives, probes, forceps, and needles), many of which share a striking structural resemblance to modern operating theatre tools.
- Anatomical Dissection: Defying rigid ancient religious taboos, he became the first in human history to mandate that surgeons dissect human cadavers, developing a unique water-submersion method to study tissue layer by layer.
- Early Anaesthesia: Sushruta pioneered the use of henbane (cannabis) and heavy wine as early forms of surgical anaesthetics to manage patient pain during invasive operations.
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