Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purna
History of Medical Tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism in Purana Literature -10
History of Medical Tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism in India, South Asia - 54
(Special mentions of History of Medicines in India)
By: Acharya Bhishma Kukreti (Medical Tourism Historian)
Skanda Purana is one of the largest Puranas and is an encyclopedia of that time. Gyanendra Pandey states that Before Skanda epic creation (600- 1300 BCE) there was no formal hospital concept as such. The great physicians and their disciples used to visit to patients in person as medical attendants.
There are many references in any texts including Skanda Purna that Kings, dignities and common people used to call physicians and in response physicians were required to visit the patients and shown their miraculous skills for recovering the patients. Skanda Purana stressed on building formal hospitals though, in past including Maurya and Gupta era, there were hospitals sponsored by the states and dignities. Therefore it might be said that in past the medical tourism was of two types – physicians visiting patients and 2nd, patients visiting physicians and hospitals if any there.
Skanda Purna also depicts twelve Adityas situated in Kashi (Banaras) They are forms of Sun deity. (Skanda Purana Kashi Khand 46 -51 ( Hertel )
According to Skanda Mythology, Aditya has power of get ridding of diseases and pilgrims were advised to visit and take bath/visits in those Adityas in Kashi as follows (3) -
Lolrka – removes skin diseases
Uttarrka (Bakri Kund) for contentment and long life
Sambaditya- Complete freedom from diseases
Draupadaditya – abolishes hunger and thirst
Arunaditya – grants removal of grief, illness, difficulties
Buddhaadity- offers youth, fitness and mental agility
Keshvaditya- abolishes sins, insanity and paves the way for living in present ( Welness)
Vimaladitya – Diseases demolisher (Rog Nashak)
Gagaditya – offers grit and confidence.
Kakoladitya – grants good health (wellness) and fulfil human wants.
Yamaditya – saves from sever difficulties in Yamloka or after death
Mayukhaditya – devotion to Shiva and Parvati
The above descriptions about Adityas and their powers for removing diseases create Psych –medical tourism for Banaras. Still Skanda Purana influences millions of Hindus and they come to Banaras visit Adityas in Banaras and hope for getting rid of illness.
References-
Gyanendra Pandey, (1997), Traditional Medicines in South East Asia and Indian medical Science, Sri Satguru Publications, page 179
2- Bradley R . Hertal Cynthia A Humes , et all, Living Banaras : Hindu religion in Culture context , State University of New York Press , NY, page 241
3- ( Taken from essence of Skanda Purana , ( seen on 14/11/2018) (
www.kamakoti.org/details/kamakoti/skandapurana38.html)
Copyright @ Acharya Bhishma Kukreti, //2018 bjkukreti@gmail.com
History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India will be continued in next chapter –
Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , North India , South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , South India; South Asia, Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , East India, , Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , West India, South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , Central India, South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , North East India , South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , Bangladesh , South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India, Pakistan , South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , Myanmar, South Asia; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , Afghanistan , South Asia ; Glimpses of Medical Tourism in Skanda Purana, History of Medical, health and Wellness Tourism in India , Baluchistan, South Asia, to be continued