The Surgico-pharmacological Nexus in Sushruta Samhita: A Critical Review of the Interrelationship Between Shalya Tantra and Dravya Guna
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/irjay.2026.9.06.01Keywords:
Sushruta Samhita, Ayurveda, Shalya Tantra, Gana, surgical history, reconstructive surgeryAbstract
The Sushruta Samhita is one of the earliest systematic treatises on surgery and a major source of Ayurvedic pharmacological thought, combining operative technique with the use of medicinal plants. This critical literary review draws on the Sushruta Samhita, Acharya Dalhana’s Nibandhasangraha commentary and peer-reviewed secondary literature. It aims to map Sushruta’s classification of surgical procedures and instruments to modern equivalents and to appraise the pharmacological evidence for the Gana system. The text describes over 300 procedures within eight operative categories (Ashtavidha Shastra Karma), including rhinoplasty and cataract couching, and 121 instruments (101 Yantras, 20 Shastras). It also organises 37 Ganas (drug groups) used to manage inflammation (Shotha), arrest bleeding (Rakta-Stambhana) and cleanse wounds (Vrana-Shodhana). Structured pre-operative (Purva Karma), operative (Pradhana Karma) and post-operative (Paschat Karma) care, with fumigation and boiling of instruments, indicates a systematic concern for patient safety and wound hygiene, although equivalence with modern asepsis is not established. A putative phytochemical and molecular-target correlation for the Ganas is offered as a hypothesis-generating framework; most supporting data are preclinical, and clinical validation for surgical applications is lacking. Comparisons with modern surgery are interpretive, and the review is limited by its narrative design and its reliance on translated texts.
Downloads
References
1. Dubey, A., Parveen, S., Syed, A. A., Mujoo, S., & Ali, F. (2020). Sushruta: The unrecognised pioneer in oral and maxillofacial surgery. World Journal of Dentistry, 11(6), 506–509. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1777
2. Sharma, P. V. (1999). Sushruta Samhita (Vols. I–III, 1st ed.). Chaukhambha Visvabharati.
3. Mallinath, I. T., Adithya, J. V., & Aradhyamath, S. (2022). Acharya Sushruta’s contribution in the field of surgery. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences, 7, 75–85.
4. Singhal, G. D., & Singh, L. M. (1981). Ancient Indian surgery based on Sushruta Samhita (Vols. I–X). Singhal Publications.
5. Kumar, A., & Kumar, B. N. (2020). The principles of surgical practice: Sushruta Samhita and its importance to present day surgery. Journal of Surgery Open Access, 6(2), 1–5.
6. Deshpande, A. D., Kulkarni, R. V., Gosavi, S. A., & Aravind. (2024). A comparative review of plastic surgery concepts in Ayurveda and modern sciences. Journal of Research in Traditional Medicine, 10(2), 57–64.
7. Vijaya, K., & Kaushal, R. (2023). Evaluation of Vidarigandhadi Gana of Sushruta Samhita. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 12(5), 27609. https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20235-27609
8. Dipti, S., Sharma, P., et al. (2020). Vidarigandhadi Gana: Clinical indications and pharmacological basis. Journal of Natural and Ayurvedic Medicine, 4(2), 262. https://doi.org/10.23880/jonam-16000262
9. Rabb, U. N. (2023). Acharya Sushrutokta Gana and their pharmacological actions. Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine, 11(2), 672. https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v11i2.672
10. Gaikwad, M. S. (2026). Shalya tantra in Sushruta Samhita: A classical and contemporary review. Ayurveda Journal of Advanced Sciences, 12(6), 175–184.
11. Yadav, V., Tuli, A., Choudhary, K., Bhardwaj, A., Chauhan, R., & Sharma, J. (2021). Surgical procedures in Sushruta Samhita and its relevance in modern surgery. Ayushdhara, 8(4), 114–122.
12. Loukas, M., Lanteri, A., Ferrauiola, J., Tubbs, R. S., Maharaja, G., Shoja, M. M., et al. (2010). Anatomy in ancient India: A focus on the Sushruta Samhita. Journal of Anatomy, 217(6), 646–650.
13. Sabharwal, P., & Jidani, S. (2024). A pragmatic comprehension of scientific and classical aspects of Rachana Sharir—A systematic review. Future Health, 2(3), 133–137. https://doi.org/10.25259/FH_34_2024
14. Dave, T., Habte, A., Vora, V., Sheikh, M. Q., Sanker, V., & Gopal, S. V. (2024). Sushruta: The father of Indian surgical history. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open, 12(4), e5715. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000005715
15. Gandhi, M. A., & Patil, B. K. (2024). Sushruta: The father of surgery and ancient medical innovations. Cureus.
16. Singh, M., Sharma, S., Sharma, S., & Sharma, R. (2019). A review article on surgical concepts of Acharya Sushruta. Environment Conservation Journal, 20(8), 109–114. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.2019.1008.1217
17. Singh, V. (2017). Sushruta: The father of surgery. National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery, 8(1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.4103/njms.njms_33_17
18. Sharma, P. V. (2001). Sushruta Samhita with English translation. Chaukhamba Orientalia.
19. Aggarwal, B. B., & Harikumar, K. B. (2009). Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against chronic diseases. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 41(1), 40–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2008.06.010
20. Singh, R. H. (2011). Exploring the phytochemistry of classical Ayurvedic formulations. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 10(4), 577–586.
21. Patwardhan, B., Vaidya, A. D. B., & Chorghade, M. (2004). Ayurveda and natural products drug discovery. Current Science, 86(6), 789–799.
22. Mukherjee, P. K., et al. (2017). Phytochemical and pharmacological basis of Ayurvedic formulations. Phytotherapy Research, 31(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5736
23. Celsus, A. C. (1938). De medicina (Vol. III, Books 7–8; W. G. Spencer, Trans.). William Heinemann.
24. Breasted, J. H. (1930). The Edwin Smith surgical papyrus. University of Chicago Press.
25. Adams, F. (Trans.). (1849). The genuine works of Hippocrates. Sydenham Society.
