The history  of ayurveda documents an ancient clinical work entitled Netra Prakashika[1].  It is estimated to be a work of Pujyapada Muni, who lived during 464-524 .  A stone carving laid in Nagara taluk of Shivamogga district provides a solid proof of the excellence of medical writings of this Pujyapada Muni[2].  British historian Edward Peter Rice[3], has accepted that: Pujyapada, also known as devanandi, belongs to the sixth and seventh century. He was a jain muni, who practiced yoga and was believed to have acquired extra ordinary psychic powers.  He travelled throughout South  India and went as far as Videha (Behar in the north) … He wrote a treatise in Sanskrit on medicine which long continued to be an authority

The sanctity of  Pujyapada is legendary in the minds of  jain scholars[4] .  Pujyapada remained immortal in Kanakagiri, a jain pilgrimage centre in Karnataka (near Mysore).  Acharya Pujyapada had a celestial power of contemplating with shri mandaraswamy of videha kshetra. He inspired his nephew Nagarjuna to install the sacred foot prints of 24 prophets amd finally attained nirvana in Kanakagiri. The name – kanaka-giri, literally mean the mountain of gold.  It is the result of alchemy experiments of Nagarjuna, who tried to  convert entire mountain into gold.  It is also said that Pujyapada himself taught the secrets of rasa shastra to Nagarjuna, the tallest personality in the history of Rasa Shastra.

This ancient book on eye diseases authored by Pujyapada NANDIKESHVARA is now published by Chaukhamba Vishvabharati, Varanasi, with English rendering, illustrating most of the conditions quoted in the text.

The  reference of  Netra Prakashika is found in – ‘A check list of sanskrit medical manuscripts in India’ edited by Bhagavat Ram Rao , published by institute of history of medicine, Hyderabad in 1972 in association with CCRAS, New Delhi, in page number 38, manuscript  in devanagari script (TSML) – 11073. The abbreviation TSML refers to Tanjavur Saraswati Mahal Library, located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.  

Importance  of  NETRA PRAKASHIKA

1.      Ophthalmic complications of systemic diseases :  Several systemic  diseases will lead to ocular complications.  Such specific diseases and their ophthalmic complications are not illustrated  in the front line texts of ayurveda.  Netra Prakashika has enlightened the readers about the specific complication of internal diseases like Prameha, Granthi, Kamala and  Grahani. Such description will herald new horizons in the understanding retinal problems  like diabetic retinopathies.

2.      New diagnostic method for different dosha invasions of the eye : There are new clues towards the diagnosis of vataja dristi, Pittaja dristi, Kaphaja dristi along with the  clinical judgment  on shuddha dristi and ashuddha dristi ( normal and abnormal eye).

3.      Iotrogenic diseases of the eye:  The  eye complications produced due to improper treatment of other diseases are given due importance.  A separate chapter is devoted towards the diagnosis and management of them, entitled – nana kritrima sanjata netra roga.

4.      Pilla Roga and Patala Roga :  Most of the diseases mentioned in Netra prakashika are not found in other ayurvedic texts.  Though Yogaratnakara, Gadanigraha and Bhaishajya ratnavali have described new therapeutics for eye diseases like patala roga and pilla roga, the explanation of  these diseases are not found in the texts.  Vagbhata has separately classified 18 chronic disease as pilla roga, but their separate clinical features are not provided.  Netra Prakashika has given comprehensive  account of  ten types of pilla roga of the  eye lids and thirteen types of patala roga  that trouble the conjunctiva.

5.      Special classification : Eye diseases are classified  based on the presenting symptoms like disturbance to the appearence of  conjunctiva( drik shukla rupa),  corneal opacities (pushpa)  etc.,

6.      Karmaja netra roga and Karma shanty :  A great stress is laid upon the  bad deeds in the origin of incurable diseases.  A novel therapeutic regimen with charity , prayers and  worship of God are specified  to  restore health.

7.      Ten stages of eye diseases: The different stages of the eye diseases and their termination in visual loss is depicted with great details.  Immediate attention at the earliest stage is advocated for complete remission of the disease. They start from slight pain, redness, pus discharge,dryness, softening of the lens, staphyloma, foulsmell, phthisis and blindness.

Shula vedha

Aruna mamsaka

Puya samvardha

Shukla jataka

Daha ruksha

Mani mandaka

Budbudakara

Dagdha durgandha

Mani bhinnaka

Netra hina

8.      Importance of chronicity : Eye diseases are  clinically classified as roga bala(acute stage), roga kaumara kala(sub acute stage) and roga vardhakya kala(chronic).  The eye disease with long duration ( chronic) are always considered as of guarded prognosis .

9.      Occular tumours and visual problems :   There are details of several ocular tumours and diseases that reduce the visual perception, which are not even mentioned in any other text of ayurveda.

10.  Protection of eye:   Prevention of eye diseases with carrot and other green leaves, yoga and pranayama are explained separately in netra traniya adhryaya.

11.  Therapeutic excellence :Separate chapters are provided for the topical medications like anjana.  Most drug formulations mentioned in Netra prakashika are original and are not found in any other books of ayurveda.

12.  Medicated oils to cure eye disease: A novel drug delivery system by medicated oils is advocated in the treatment of eye diseases.  Specific oil formulations  are advised to each disease in the form of shiro basti, shiro taila, abhyanga and basti.  In addition, the role of panchakarma like vamana, virechana, rakta moshana  and nasya karma are emphasised.

13.  One hundred eye diseases : There is a passing reference about the  classification of  eye diseases in Chakrapanidatta commentary[5] The ancient authorities like Videha has enumerated 76 diseases, Satyaki 96 diseases and Karala 80 diseases in the eye.  Vagbhata and Sharangdhara have enlisted  94 pathological conditions in the eye[6] .  Netra Prakashika has accounted highest number – 100 of ailments in the eye.

The diseases are classified based on the site of affection and the etiological factors as follows:

Diseases of the eye lids and eye lashes                                                  24

Diseases of the shukla sandhi                                                                  09       

Diseases of shweta mandala                                                                    13

Diseases of the krishnamandala                                                              05

Diseases produced as a complication                                                     22

Diseases extending to entire eye ball                                                      20

Diseases disturbing vision                                                                       07

                 

Thus publication of Netraprakashika is a historic event in Shalakya Tantra. It is a    valuable addition to the understanding of ancient treatment methods of eye diseases, refreshingly different from the front line texts of ayurveda.  It is hoped that Shalakya  horizon will see new light with this book .

---

[1] Gupta Bhagavatram: ayurveda ka pramanik itihas

[2] Vidyalankara Atrideva: ayurved ka brihat itihas

[3] ‘ A history of kanarese language’  . published by Oxford University Press Publication in 1918. 

[4] – www. Jainheritagecentres.com

[5] on Charaka Samhita (chikitsa 26/130) 

[6]Shargdhara Prathama. 7/153-171).