Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad's keynote address on the relevance of Charaka's 'Indriya-Sthana' in the modern era discusses its historical significance and the applicability of its prognostic evaluations in contemporary healthcare. The address emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of ancient Ayurvedic practices against current medical understanding, suggesting that many of Charaka's observations, particularly regarding symptoms and diagnostics, are still valid but require contextual adaptation. Various factors such as race, geography, season, age, and genetics are highlighted as influential on health, thus underscoring the importance of individualized patient examination.

1. Rationality of
Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’
at present scenario
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Keynote address delivered at CAME on Rationale of Indriyasthan
in Modern era on 25-04-2014 at MHACH&RC

2. Introduction
• Charaka Samhita one of three major treatise
followed in Ayurveda described in 8 sections –
– Belongs to 14000 years old i.e. based on event of
Ramayana –
• Astronomical references
• Ecological references
• Remote Sensing pictures
• Oceanographic reports
• Paleo-botanical research
• Archaeological excavations
• Anthropological research reports
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

3. See www.technoayurveda.com for further details
• Astrologically, another important landmark is the
initiation of Medicine on “Pushyami” star day.
• Pre Ramayana periods used to calculate the
Zodiac from Pushyami and it is said as the new
year start.
• Today we fixed the Ashwini and Chaitra as the
New Year day and celebrate as “Yugadi”.
• Ayurveda even today practices Pumsavana, etc,
auspicious medicinal distribution on Pushyami
star day.
– It is evidential that the Ayurveda belongs to pre-
Ramayan era.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

4. Indriya Sthana
• Indriya sthana is described after Shareera and
before affirming Chikitsa in 12 chapters.
• The Indriya means –
– “rista” (indriyam ristam) = lingam
– Avyakta lingam (unexpressive symptom)
– Sadhya – Sadhaka hetu
• The main motto of this section is –
– To determine the disease prognosis
– To understand the complications of the disease
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

5. What does the 12 chapters say?
1) Varna swariyam
colour, Speech
2) Pushpitaka
smell, taste
3) Parimarsha
touch
4) Indriyaaneeka
senses
5) Poorvaroopeeya
pre-disease symptoms
6) Katamaani
bad prognostic condition
7) Pannaroopeeya
eye (pupil) examination
8) Avakshirashiya
prognostic symptoms
9) Yasya Shyavanitteya
eye examination
10) Sadyomaraneeya
symptoms of death
11) Anujyoteeya
eye examination
12) Gomayachurneeya
symptoms of death
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

6. Rationality in 21st C
• An old prognostic observational documentations
of Charaka in 12 chapters are not fit to the
present circumstances and becomes the
“History”
• History is not considered as Science
• The clinical observations based on the past
exampling are to be omitted
• The applicable and expandable areas of
Charaka is re-explained with relevance and
reference to present circumstances
• Examples of rationality observed are -
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

7. How to examine a patient?
• Ayurveda describes many methods of
examinations in different occasions.
• The “Symptoms of Prognosis” to evaluate the
“Expected death time” is through the “Rista
pareeksha”
• It examines the patient for –
– Indriya – Indriyartha –
– Manas – Buddhi – Suchi –
– Swabhava (Shareera, Ahara & Achara) –
– Upasthambha (Swapna, Ahara & Brahmacharya)
– Vyadhi (Upaya & Apaya) – Nidana Panchaka –
– Sthaana – Doota (messenger) – Aushadha, etc.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

8. Prognostic Examination protocol
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
Patient
Prakruti
Ashraya (associative) Anashraya (Non-associative)
Vikruti
6 types – Jaati, Kula, Desha,
Kaala, Vayah & Pratyatma
3 types – Lakshana Nimitta, Lakshya
Nimitta & Nimittaanuroopa
Examined by AptopadeshaExamined by Pratyaksha &
Anumana
(Demographic data)
(Disease data)
See Introduction to Evidence Based Panchakarma for further reading

9. Jati (racial ) Prakruti
• “Jati” - the racial problems which are
• constituted in particular, viz. Caucasoid,
Mongolian, etc
– HIV and AIDS continue to affect women in
racial/ethnic minorities and lower
socioeconomic classes disproportionately.
– Caucasians are affected much more
commonly than members of other racial
groups for pulmonary lymphangioleio-
myomatosis.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

10. Kula (occupation) Prakruti
• Olden days specifications of skilled
workers / workgroup categorized as the
caste – Kula (occupation)
– Present day occupational disorders -
occupational asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome,
and carbon monoxide poisoning, etc.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
See Introduction to Evidence Based Panchakarma for further reading

11. Desha (geographical) Prakruti
• Desha refer to the country of born and
living i.e. geographical considerations of
individuals.
– Allele frequencies vary among ethnic groups
and geographical regions. Heterozygous
mutations in the CFTR gene are relatively
common in populations of European origin but
are rare in the African population.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
See Introduction to Evidence Based Panchakarma for further reading

12. Kaala (season) Prakruti
• “Kaala” the season and circadian rhythmus
influences the human by all means and always.
– Seasonal changes, the daily occurrence of the light-
dark cycle, sleep, meals, and stress are examples of
the many environmental events that affect hormonal
rhythms.
– Angina pectoris may be atypical in location and may
not be strictly related to provoking factors. Its
occurrence can be seasonal, being more frequent in
the winter in temperate climates.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
See Introduction to Evidence Based Panchakarma for further reading

13. Vaya (age) Prakruti
• “Vaya” is Age - relations in the
pathological manifestations that occur
specifically.
– Susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss or
age related hearing loss (presbycusis) may
also be genetically determined.
– As in the case for streptococcal sore throat,
acute rheumatic fever most often occurs in
children; the peak age-related incidence is
between 5 and 15 years.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
See Introduction to Evidence Based Panchakarma for further reading

14. Pratyatma Niyata (genotic)
• Pratyatma Niyata has to understand it as a
fundamental (genetical) physiological
constitution which is based upon the
genes of the individual.
• These individuals have either normal or
above-average stature, owing to failure of
estrogen-mediated epiphyseal closure in
the presence of a normal chromosomal
constitution.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
See Introduction to Evidence Based Panchakarma for further reading

15. Sleep (Nidra)
• Sleep is the index of health
• Charaka classifieds 7 types of sleep
– Drusta
– Shruta
– Anubhoota
– Prardhita
– Kalpita
– Bhavita
– Doshaja
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

16. Chaya (complexion)
• Chaya & Varna are associative of Prabha
(luminaries)
• Luminaries is dependent on Agni
• Panchabhoota interpretation / attribution in
Ayurveda is fundamental expression. They are -
– Akasha
– Vayu – hazardous
– Teja
– Jala
– Pruthvi
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

17. Gomaya churna
• A person who have dust resembling cow-
dung on his head will die in a month
– Explanation: (dict) powdery deposits on the
skin, especially the face, of urea and uric acid
salts due to excretion of nitrogenous
compounds in the sweat; seen in severe
uremia
• The complex of symptoms due to severe persisting
renal failure that can be relieved by dialysis if not
patient will die.
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

18. Conclusion
• Many explanations can be made from the
ancient historical observations
• Most of the symptoms dealt in Charaka Indriya
are as bad prognosis discussed belongs to –
– Examination of Eye
– Colour & complexion
– Audible sounds & speech
– Symptoms of Death
– Omens & Messenger
– they require re-emphasis as many symptoms of that
time are manageable at present
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

19. Sarwe janah santu niramaya
Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario

20. Dr. K. Shiva Rama Prasad, at http://www.technoayurveda.com/
Rationality of Charaka ‘Indriya-sthana’ at present scenario
When I did not follow the Prognostic tools