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| History of Father Of Surgery Sage Sushruta |
Sushruta lived in the ancient and chaste city of Kasi of Western India, which today is better known as Banaras or Varanasi. During those days, intellectual people were called sages or Maharishi. One such intellectual person was Sushruta Sage .
Sushruta acquired his knowledge of medicine from Kashiraj Divodas, the king of Kashi. And he became a physician. As a physician, he treated soldiers who got injured on the battlefield. Looking at the condition of those soldiers, Sushruta found his inspiration for surgery.
He would fix the broken parts or injury through surgery. In those days, the punishment for any illegitimate crime was to chop off the criminal's nose. Sushruta invented the Rhinoplasty or the nose surgery, through which he could reconstruct the broken nose. Sushruta was also the first cataract surgeon, who treated many eye problems.
Sushruta who did his work with love and affection, invented a scientific skill like surgery which was a new concept in those times. Due to these reasons, he is also considered as the Father of All Surgery. Along with inventing surgery, he realized that he'll need several surgical instruments. And necessity is the mother of all inventions. Keeping this necessity in mind, Sushruta invented 121 surgical instruments. And he was the first surgeon in the world to do this.
These inventions prove that Sage Sushruta's knowledge has stood the test of time. Sushruta recorded his knowledge in detail in the form of a Sanskrit script, which is also called the Sushrut Samhita. This Sanskrit script which explains the procedure of surgery, is one of the three pillars of Ayurveda, as well as a chapter in the Atharva Veda.
Sushrut Samhita explains how Sushruta performed the dissection of a dead body and examined them without a knife. His method of learning human anatomy was like this...He would keep the dead body in water and let it decompose. And he would study the decomposing body with passing time. This is how he examined the structure of the body layer by layer.
This method helped Sushruta invent complex surgeries like Caesarean, abdominal surgeries and brain surgery. Chapter 1.16 of Sushruta Samhita explains nose reconstruction surgery or Rhinoplasty in detail. Sushrut is also known for Cataract surgery. It's written in great detail in one of Sushrut Samhita's volumes called Uttartantra.
This process looks like the extraction of extracapsular lens extraction to modern surgeons. But Sushruta performed this surgery without modern equipment, which defines his skills. Sushrut Samhita was written in 600 BCE.
This unique Sanskrit script about surgery and medicine, was brought before the world in 800 AD in the form of Arab translation. And it was called Kitab Shah Shun Al - Hindi. And Kitab - I - Susurud. At the beginning of the 19th century, Hessler translated Sanskrit script into Latin, and Muller in German.
In this way, Sushrut Samhita and its author Sage Sushruta received worldwide recognition, but with time, his name and importance dissipated. In 1907 Kolkata Kaviraj Kunja Lal translated Sushruta Samhita into English. But the translation didn't receive enough recognition.
In the 20th century, when the world started looking at Ayurveda from a new perspective, they realized the importance of Sage Sushruta's medical science, and his contribution to surgery.
Sushruta Samhita is believed to be one of the gems of ancient Indian medical literature. One of the manuscripts from the Sushruta Samhita written on palm leaves, is kept in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Sushruta gave a new meaning to the art of surgery in medieval India. The year 620 BCE is known as the golden age of surgery.
In 2018 the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons constructed a statue of Sushruta on their campus. Inspired by Sushruta's incomparable knowledge, American surgeon Allen Ripple said..."All in All, Sushruta must be considered as the greatest surgeon of the pre-medieval period. "Sushruta means one of good reputation. Sage Sushruta made his name proud.
He became famous all over the world because of his work,but he also developed the Indian medical knowledge much more as compared to others.
Note
1. Sushruta lived in the ancient and chaste city of Kasi of Western India(Banaras or Varanasi)
2. Sushruta acquired his knowledge of medicine from Kashiraj Divodas
3. Sushruta invented the Rhinoplasty or the nose surgery
4. Sushruta invented 121 surgical instruments.
5. Sushrut Samhita was written in 600 BCE.
6. "Sushruta means one of good reputation.
1. Who is Sushruta ?
Ans- Sushruta, an ancient Indian physician who lived in the seventh or sixth century BCE, is recognized as the first surgeon in history and is credited with creating and perfecting surgical techniques. In addition, he is referred to as "the Father of Surgery" and "the Father of Plastic Surgery."
2. Sushruta was a descendent of which sage?
Ans- Vishwamitra