This document provides an overview of the ancient Ayurvedic text "Netra Prakashika" on eye diseases. It discusses:
1. The text is divided into 14 chapters covering the fundamentals of the eye, 100 eye diseases, and treatments.
2. It describes diseases in a unique way compared to other texts and mentions diseases not found elsewhere.
3. The text outlines eye examination, disease stages, causes, and specialized herbal formulations for treatments including medicated ghee and eye ointments.
3. 3Expounded by worshipful HAYAGRIVA
COMPILED BY PUJYAPADA NANDIKESHWARA
ENGLISH RENDERING; Dr.Udaya shanker
4. ABOUT THE GRANTHA
Netra prakashika is one of the rarest books on ancient indian
expertise in the diagnosis and management of 100 eye diseases.
Its devided into 3 major sections:
1.The fundamentals
8 chapters to explain the anatomy,neurological connections,
karmaja causes,harmful and favourable factors etc
2.The diseases of eye
4 chapters provide in-depth information about the disease of
lids,corneal opacities,conjunctival degeneration etc
3.The management of these diseases
2 chapters devoted to prepare eye medicaments like
anjana, and shiro taila
The description of diseases in Netra prakashika is refreshingly
different from all other books on eye diseases.
4
5. 5
Publisher :- Chaukambha vishwabharathi , Varanasi
Distributors :- Chaukambha bharathi academy
Price :- 395/-
Rendering by, Dr.Udaya shanker M.D. (Ayu.)
Prof.Dept. of salakya Tantra
K.V.G. Ayurveda medical college ,sullia
A graduate of SDM college of Ayurveda, Udupi(1987)
Post graduate of Gujarat Ayurved university, Jamnagar(1990)
Actively involved in clinical practice and teaching at Beneka Ayurveda
centre,madikeri and KVG Ayurveda medical college for last two
decades.
He has presented research papers and chaired sessions in national level
Salakya conferences.
6. 6
The authorship of the book is controvercial.
The author Pujyapada, also known as Devanandi who was a
digambara jain monk belongs to the 6th & 7th century.
He was born in a Brahmin family of Karnataka as the son of
Madhava bhatta and Sridevi.
He was a great yogi, brilliant poet, and was believed to have extra
ordinary powers.
He attained nirvana in Kanaka giri, a jain pilgrimage centre in
Karnataka.
He is the author of many other non medical and medical books like
Ratnakara oushada yoga, Jainendra vyakarana, samadhi tantra etc.
About the Author
7. The discovery of Netra prakashika,a very ancient manuscript on
eye disease found in Saraswathi mahal library, Tanjavur,promises
to be a hidden treasure in this field.
This manuscript written by Acharya pujyapada devotted to eye
diseases in all its 14 patalas.
The discription is present in the form of dialogue between the
student and the teacher. Pujyapada appears as the student Lord
Hayagriva appears as the teacher.
7
8. 8
Chronological order
Its as follow,
Maheshwara , Uma ,Nandi, Dhanwanthari ,Hayagriva,
Pujyapada nandikeshwara
The author of the book is considered as Nandikeshwara as evidenced from
following pushpika found at the end of each chapter,
“Uma maheshwara samvade ayurveda shatpannasare
nandikeshwara virachithayam netraprakashikayam …
patala samapthah.”
11. PRADHAMA PATALA
Starts with prayer “HARI OHM”
Next to that describes the location of learning as
Darukavana.
Hayagriva describes about the medical
knowledge to pujyapada.
600 verses are there total out of that 100 are
confidential.
It explains total 16 patalas but 2 patalas are
missing so 14 patalas are described in this book.
INHERITANCE
MAHADEVA
PARVARVATHI DEVI
11
13. 13
DWITHEEYA PATALA
Synonyms of eye –
Shivashakti (union of God Shiva Sakthi)
Trimurti (Trinity)
Trikala (which has 3 layers)
Bhuta saraka (Sara panchamahabhuta)
Linga akara (Shaped like shiva lingam)
Linga (Shiva lingam)
Vataja, pittaja ,kaphaja & sannipathaja netra lakshana are clearly
explained.
Features of sudha and asudha drishti are explained as,
14. 14Sudha drishti (Healthy eye)
The colour of neela and sukla are clear.
Inner canthus are neither excessively or deficiently red etc..
Asuddha drishti (damaging eye)
Both neela and sukla are not bright and clear.
TRITIYA PATALA
This patala deals with the cause and remidies of eye diseases.
Some of the cause are as follows,
Pradhyananam saapa (curse of most learned scholars)
Sarpa vadha
Sivavaishnava ninda
Anya jaathi sambhoga
Abhakshya bhakshanath
15. 15
Nayanotpatana of other animals
By obstructing the deepa
Gavaadinam dooshana
The remedies for this are also explained such as.,
Rudrabhisheka(worship of Lord shiva)
Pancha gavya abhisheka
Sahasra nama Pooja
Gavaam samrakshana
Digging lake, well etc water resources.
16. 16CHATHURTTHA PATALA (General cause &
clinical features)
Some of nidanas are,
Nidrabahulyath
Kopadhikathaya
Looking at swarna &ratna
Krithrima aabhichaara
Lokothara mada
Complication of mehadi rogas
This aggravate Tridosha and produce disease.
General symptoms in eye diseases are,
Daha, jwara, murcha, sula, anidra, asrusrava etc
Dosha dushti lakshana ,
VATA -Shira sula , netra sula(intence)
PITTA -Netra sosha, daha, samkocha, arunatha
KAPHA -Presence of puya, mala, jala etc..
TRIDOSHA-All the features above
18. 18
SHASHTA PATALA (NETRA TRANIYAM)
Sodhana karma for promotion of eye health.
Regular sodhana are to be done like Vamana , Virechana,
Nasya, Chitta nirmalatha (purity of mind).
Some of the other things to be followed are mentioned,
> Shiva Pooja , Maha vratha, Punya nadee snana ,
Hamsodaka pana , Naalikera paya pana
> Aroma therapy with chandana , karpoora , agaru
> Dinacharya paalana
> Observing achara rasayana
> Intake of triphala
> Washing feet, using footwear
> Looking at full moon through the gap of palm.
19. 19SAPTHAMA PATALA (NETRAMAYA NIDANAM &
NO; OF ROGA)
Describes the connection of eye diseases with nervous system
First explains the shadadhara of sarira ie,
Mooladhara, swathishtana, manipuraka, anahata,
vishudhi & ajna.
These are connected with 70,000 nerves , out of that 10 are vital
in nature, out of these 10 nerves 3 are crucial ie ,
Ida
Pingala
Sushumna
The two eyeball are located in terminal point of all these 10 nerves.
20. 20
ASHTAMA PATALA (NETRA ROGA SATHAM)
In this chapter the 100 diseases are enumerated based on
site & sadhyasadhyatha.
Some of them are,
> pakshma vridhi > pakshma shyla
> Roma vridhi > Dhumavarana
> Nila kacha > pushpa kila
Chronicity of diseases is analysed as
# Roga bala kala –Moment of entry of disease
# Roga kaumara kala –After disease start manifesting
# Vridha pakva kala --Stage of dying of part effected
10 stages of netra rogas
1. Shula vedha
2. Aruna mamsaka
3. Puya samvardha
21. 214. Shukla jataka
5. Daha ruksha
6. Mani mandaka
7. Budbudakara
8. Dagdha durgandha
9. Mani bhinnaka
10. Netra hina
NAVAMA PATALA
Features of different muscular growth (occurring in eye lid) is
mentioned.
DASHAMA PATALA
Diseases producing whitish disclouration in the eye mentioned
such as antah sukla, bahi sukla etc.
22. 22EKADASHA PATALA
Mentions the diseases produced in the eyes & acquired diseases
DWADASHA PATALA
Diseases affecting vision (jyothirmandala) explained detail.
At the end of the chapter dhyana to Kacha deva is described as a
treatment measure.
Appearance of Kacha deva are ;
krisangatha , Krishna varna , broken eye , blood filled skull
in hand, dry mouth, vakra danta (irregular teeth) , malina
vasthra.
23. 23TRAYODASHA PATALA
13th patala deals with Netranjana gutika nirmana
Gutika anjana will give expected result like a fruit in hand ;- Says
LORD HAYAGRIVA.
Some Gutika anjanas explained here are ;
Shyamala gutika
Ingredients :- Shanka bhasma, Marathaka, Tamra bhasma,
Netraka
triturate with lemon juice for one yama ,
rolled as pills and dried in shade.
Indications :- Applied in netra for lekhana purpose.
24. 24
Chandrodaya gutika
Ingredients:- Haritaki, Vacha , Kushta, Pippali , Maricha, Nishi,
Vibhithaki bija, triturated with Mesha kshira.
Indication :- Apply for 5 nights continuously in Kacha ,Timira, Kandu,
& Nishandya.
Chandanadi gutika
Ingredients:- Hima , Sashi , Vari ,Tutta , Gairika, Laksha, Yashti,
Gorochana , Jaji pushpa, Kunkuma kesari.
Indication :- As anjana in Daha , Sosha , Dhuma , Kandu , Lohitha.
Garudanjana
Ingredients:- Parada , Tankana , Nagara , Tamra, Saidhava, Tutta ,
Trikatu , Triphala, Sphatika, Karpura, Kathaka , Anjana
With Karanja moola swarasa as pill.
25. 25
Indication :- Applied with breast milk in six types of incurable
diseases of vision. This is called as Garudanjana as it
enhances the vision equal to an eagles eye.
Some of the other Anjana yoga explained are ,
Netrabharana gutika
Kanchanadi gutika
Tuttadi gutika
Maha ratnadi gutika
Prasuna rajadadi gutika etc…
26. 26CHATHURDASHA PATALA
Explains Taila Nirnaya in Netra roga
ARKA TAILA
Ingredients:- Leaves of Shwetha arka , Tilaka sara, bark of Neem
root & pasted & oil is prepared.
Used as Abhyanga.
Indication:- Sula, Murdha sula, Karna sula, Kapala sula etc
NIRGUNDI TAILA
Ingredients:- Nirgundi swarasa , Aja kshira , Sneha, Rasna, Krishna,
Murva , Chavya, Yashti, Darvi , Satahwa , Nagara ,
Champaka , Nisha ,Kesara , Manjishta , Anjana
Indication:- Netra vaya , Vataja shirasoola, Suryavarta
28. 28MERITS
100 Eye diseases are mentioned completely.
Most of the disease name mentioned in this text are not found in any
other Ayurvedic texts.
Ten stages of eye disease in visual loss are explained.
Renderer has given an article which is based on netra prakashika .
Separate chapter is given for Anjana yogas.
Unique formulations like ,
Maha kandugna anjana , Maha ratnadi gutika ,Netrabharana
gutika , Bhringa saradi taila etc are mentioned.
29. 29
DEMERITS
Proper title for every patala are not given.
Diseases are not arranged in a systematic manner.
While explaining formulations in ingredients section the name of
drug mentioned are rare & unique synonyms which is difficult to
understand.
Eg; - Garuda (Tutta)
Adithya (Tamra)
Netraka (Sphatika)
Shishira (chandana)