Life Story and Contributions of Maharishi Sushruta: Author of Sushruta Samhita

Maharishi Sushruta is one of the most remarkable figures in the history of medicine. He lived in ancient India and is remembered not only as a great healer but also as a pioneer of surgery whose influence is felt even today. He is known as the “Father of Surgery” in India.

Origin Story of Maharishi Sushruta

According to ancient Indian texts, medical knowledge was considered a divine gift. These texts mention that God Indra taught medicine to Sage Dhanvantari, who incarnated as King Divodasa of Kashi (Varanasi). Divodasa, in turn, passed this sacred knowledge directly to his student Sushruta. Thus, Maharishi Sushruta belonged to a respected line of sages and scholars, who learned medicine from Divodasa Dhanvantari.

Although some texts suggest he was the son of Rishi Vishvamitra, accurate details about his immediate family or parents are not available from historical records. Recently discovered ancient manuscripts suggest that Rishi Sushruta might have written his biggest work in the time period between 200 BCE and 400 CE. He is believed to have lived and practised medicine near Varanasi. During that period, Varanasi was already known as a great centre for medical studies.

Scholarly Contributions: Sushruta Samhita

The Sushruta Samhita is an ancient Indian medical book written by Maharishi Sushruta. Though it was written more than 2500 years ago, this extraordinary book contains detailed instructions on surgery and medicine.

1. How big was this book?

   The Sushruta Samhita is a detailed text that contains 184 chapters. This work lists more than 300 surgical procedures, describes more than 120 surgical instruments, and details various types of wounds, fractures, dislocations, conditions, and their treatments. It also includes descriptions of over 100 medicinal plants, including their taste, usage, and effects. This text remains one of the most important contributions to both Ayurveda and the early history of medical science.

   
   

2. A book created over centuries!

   The Sushruta Samhita has been added to over the centuries and is divided into two parts in the present form: the Purva-Tantra and the Uttara-Tantra. The Purva-Tantra has five main sections—Sutra Sthana, Nidana Sthana, Sharira Sthana, Chikitsa Sthana, and Kalpa Sthana—spanning 120 chapters.

   Uttara-Tantra, the final section of Sushruta Samhita, contains Shalakya Tantra, which deals with diseases of the eyes, ears, nose, and head as well as text on Kaumarabhritya (children’s health), Agada Tantra (about poisons), and Bhuta Vidya (mental diseases). It also includes Aupadravika, a section that describes complications from surgical procedures.

   
   

3. How were ancient doctors trained?

   The Sushruta Samhita emphasizes the importance of hands-on training for students of surgery. It outlines a methodical and structured approach to surgical education, including anatomical dissection and repeated practice, akin to modern medical education.

   Sushruta taught his students surgical skills using experimental models of organic materials. They practised incisions on soft fruits and vegetables to develop precision. Students trained under him for many years before beginning actual surgeries.

   
   

4. Surgical techniques of yore

   Sushruta described surgery under eight types:

   1. Chedya (excision)

   2. Bhedya (incision)

   3. Lekhya (scarification)

   4. Vedhya (puncturing)

   5. Eshya (probing/exploration)

   6. Aharana (extraction)

   7. Vishravana (drainage/evacuation)

   8. Sivana (suturing)

Sushruta Samhita Surgical Techniques

The Sushruta Samhita emphasizes core principles of surgery such as planning, precision, hemostasis (stopping blood loss), and clean technique. To reduce pain during surgery, Sushruta used natural anesthetics, including wine and cannabis-like substances.

Sushruta also described reconstructive surgeries in detail. Plastic or reconstructive surgery is when doctors fix or improve parts of the body to help them work better or look more normal, especially after an injury or illness. Sushruta treated injuries like Nasa Sandhana (rhinoplasty - nose reconstruction), Oshtha Sandhana (lip repair), and Karna Sandhana (ear reconstruction).

Legacy and Recognition of Maharishi Sushruta

Maharshi Sushruta’s detailed procedural account of rhinoplasty, found in the Sushruta Samhita (Sutra Sthana, Chapter 16, and Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 26), is considered the earliest known written record of plastic or reconstructive surgery. His method, especially the technique known as the “Indian flap”, is still referenced in modern plastic surgery. He is widely regarded as the “Father of Plastic Surgery”.

One of the early English translations of the Sushruta Samhita was done by Kaviraj Kunjalal of Calcutta in 1907. A palm-leaf manuscript of the text is preserved at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the United States. In 2018, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons honoured Maharishi Sushruta by erecting a statue of him on their campus in Australia.

The “Sushruta Project” is an ongoing project by experts who are trying to study the Sushruta Samhita and its historical impact. A major discovery from the project is a palm-leaf manuscript dated to 878 CE, which is nearly a thousand years older than previously known copies. This finding has helped scholars better understand Sushruta’s work and its importance in the history of medicine. Maharishi Sushruta’s life and work show how deeply scientific thinking existed in ancient India. His legacy continues to inspire students of medicine and surgery all over the world.