SOWA-RIGPA Tibetan System of Medicine
SOWA-RIGPA Tibetan System of Medicine
SOWA-RIGPA Tibetan System of Medicine
SOWA-RIGPA
RIGPA Tibetan System of Medicine
Pravin Jawanjal
Phd Scholar, Department of Rasashastra Bhaishajya Kalpana, IPGT&RA, Gujarat Ayurved University,
University
Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
ABSTRACT
Rigpa” commonly known as Tibetan system of
“Sowa-Rigpa” of the classic examples of it. rGyud-bZhi
rGyud (four tantra)
medicine is one of the oldest, Living and well the fundamental text book of this medicine was
documented medical tradition of the world. It has composed by YuthogYontenGonpo who is believed to
been originated from Tibet and popularly prac
practice in be the father of Sowa Rigpa. rGyud-bZhi
rGyud which is
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and Russia. The based on indigenous medicine of Tibet enriched with
majority of theory and practice of Sowa
Sowa-Rigpa is Ayurveda, Chinese and Greek Medicine. The impact
similar to “Ayurveda”. of Sowa-Rigpa
Rigpa along with Buddhism and other
Tibetan art and sciences were spread in neighbouring
Keyword: Sowa-Rigpa Himalayan regions. In India, this system is widely
practicee in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling
INTRODUCTION (West Bengal), Dharamsala, Lahaul and
“Sowa-Rigpa”
Rigpa” commonly known as Tibetan system of Spiti(Himachal Pradesh) and Ladakh region of Jammu
medicine is one of the oldest, Living and well & Kashmir.
documented medical tradition of the world. It has
been originated from Tibet and popularly practice in PRINCIPAL
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and Russia. The Sowa-Rigpa
Rigpa is based on the principles of Jung-wa-nga
Jung
majority of theory and practice of Sowa Sowa-Rigpa is (Skt: panchamahabhutas) and Ngepa-SumNgepa (Skt:
similar to “Ayurveda”. The first Ayurvedic influence Tridosa). Bodies of all the living beings and non- non
came to Tibet during 3rd century AD but it became living objects of the universe are composed of Jung-
Jung
popular only after 7th centuries with the approach of wa-nga;
nga; viz Sa, Chu, Me, Lung and Nam-kha
Nam (Skt:
Buddhism to Tibet. There after this trend of Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu and Akash). The physiology,
exportation of Indian medical literature, along with pathology
thology Pharmacology and metria-medica
metria of this
Buddhism and other Indian art and sciences were system are established on these theories. Our body is
continued till early 19th century. India being the birth composed of these five Cosmo physical elements of
place of Buddha and Buddhism has always been Jung-wa-nga;
nga; when the proportion of these elements
favourite place for learning Buddhist art and culture is in imbalance
mbalance in our body disorder results. The
for Tibetan students; lots of Indian scholars were also medicine and diet used for the treatment of disorders
invited to Tibet for prorogation of Buddhism and are also composed of the same five basic elements. In
other Indian art and sciences. This long association the body these elements are present in the form of
with India had resulted in translation and preservation Ngepa-Sum (Skt: Tri-dosa)
dosa) Lus-sung-dun
Lus (Skt: Sapta
of thousands of Indian literatures on various subjects Dhatu) and Dri-ma-SumSum (Skt: Trimala). In drugs, diet
like religion, sciences, arts, culture and language etc. and drinks they exist in the form of Ro-dugRo (Skt:
in Tibetan language. Out of these around twenty-five Shast-rasa) Nus-papa (Virya) Yontan (Skt: Guna) and
text related to medicine are also preserved in both Zhu-jes
jes (Skt: Vipaka). It is in context of this theory
canonical and non-canonical
canonical forms of Tibetan that a physician would use his knowledge, skills and an
literatures. Many of these know ledges were further experience in treating a patient, using the theory of
enriched in Tibet with the knowledge and skills of similarity and dissimilarity (Skt: Samanaya and
neighbouring countries and their own ethnic Vísesa) of five elements.
knowledge. “Sowa-Rigpa”
Rigpa” (Science of healing) is one