Biography of Mădhavakara: his scholarly contribution.

ABSTRACT

Mădhavakara, the author of renowned work on 'Nidăna-Rŏgaviniścaya', popularly known as Mădhava Nidăna. It may be the first or earliest compendium detailed description of the diseases based on Nidăna Pancăkam (Five groups of subjects concerned to aetio-pathogenesis). He was the son of Indukara according to the colophon of a manuscript of Văcaspati's commentary on Mădhava Nidăna. He is probably lived between 700-800 A.D., because he is quoted by Vrnda, who belongs to 8th century A.D. The book Mădhava Nidăna was translated in to Arabic as evidenced by the writings of Ali Ibn Sahl 849-850 A.D. and other Arabic authors. Hence, he probably lived between 700-800 A.D. Madhava Nidana is a popular work on Nidăna (aetiopathogenesis) and it is the best in the field of ayurvĕda. "Nidăne Mădhavam srestah" and it is popularly known by the name of the author, but the title of the work is "Rugviniscaya" or "Rŏgaviniscăya". The subject matter explained in 73 chapters. The 1st chapter deals with Nidănapancakam and the other chapter's deals with diseases. The major contribution of Mădhava is the new order of arranging diseases, description of new diseases and recognizing some disorders as independent diseases. The other works attributed to Mădhava are Mădhavacikitsă, Paryăyaratnamăla etc. The important commentaries on Madhavanidana are "Madhukŏśa" by Vijayarakşita and Srĭkaņţhadatta and "Atankadarpana" by Vidyavăcaspati. The work is translated into English, Italian, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu etc., including some regional languages of India.