The Legacy of Vagbhata

by M.S. Valiathan

Vagbhata completes the “Great Three” (Brhatrayi) of Ayurveda, with his predecessors, Caraka and Susruta. His identity and period are controversial but a major section of the scholarly community believes that he was a native of Sindh, who lived in the sixth century and write Astangahrdayam and Astangasngraha. The two texts frankly acknowledge the authority of Samhitas of Caraka and Susruta and closely follow in the footsteps of the earlier masters.

The Legacy of Vagbhata is based on a study of Astangahrdayam and employs a thematic approach with the plentiful use of tables. As in the earlier volumes on Caraka and Susruta, great care has been taken in this volume on Vagbhata to maintain fidelity to the original text while ensuring easy readability for the students of Ayurveda, medicine and the sciences.

About the Author:

Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan, more commonly known as M. S. Valiathan, is an Indian cardiac surgeon and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Valiathan received his initial medical education in India, and specialized training in cardiac surgery in UK and USA. His medical interests have spanned the fields of pediatric cardiac surgery, tropical heart muscle disease and development of cardiovascular devices.

He is former Director of the Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram and former Vice Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Mahe). He was invited to deliver the Hunterian Lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in London.