Issue : 01 DOI :

INTERNATIONAL

JOURNAL

DIAGNOSTICS

AND

RESEARCH

Volume : 02

Abstract

Rishi Galava was one of the disciples of Kashi king Divodasa Dhanwantari along with Sushruta and other.

Acharya Dalhana had mentioned him in his commentary ‘Nimandha Sangraha ‘on ‘Sushrut Samhita’. Rishi

Galava was the son of illustrious Brmharishi Vishwamitra. He was the brother of famous surgeon Sushruta.

His mother’s name was ‘Renu. His father wrote ‘Vishwamitra Samhita’ on Ayurveda. In the absence of sage

Vishwamitra, his mother Renu had to bring up the son ‘Galava’ in a poor state. Mother Renu put the rope in

the neck of Galava and was about to sell him in return of 100 cows out of poverty. Since this son of

Vishwamitra was tied around the neck (Gala) with the rope, he got the name ‘Galava’. He took formal

education at Gurukula (School) of Vishwamitra. Galava narrated the importance of Shaligram stone to

Painjwana. Rishi Galava was truthful, noble, and very kind hearted person. He observed great penance at a

place called ‘Fullagrama’ near south sea to get the boon from lord Vishnu. Maharishi Galava was present in

the conclave of rishis conducted beneath the mountains of Himalayas, some 5000 years ago. This shows his

interest in alleviating the sufferings of the mankind. Acharya Dalhana had mentioned about the ‘Galava

Tantra’ a treatise on ancient surgical practices by rishi Galava. Hence, it becomes essential to explore the life

of rishi Galava to know about his contribution to the Ayurveda.

Keywords – Vishwamitra, Divodasa, Renu, Madhavi

ISSN No. : 2584-2757

Volume : 03

Issue : 02

Publisher

ROGANIDAN VIKRUTIVIGYAN PG ASSOCIATION

FOR PATHOLOGY AND RADIODIGNOSIS

DOI

: 1 0 . 5 2 8 1 / z e n o d o . 1 8 2 5 9 2 8 9

Reg. No. : MAHA-703/16(NAG)

Year of Establishment – 2016

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DIAGNOSTICS AND RESEARCH

Corresponding author: Dr. Subhash Waghe

Article Info: Published on : 15/01/2026

Impact Factor : 1.013

An Introduction To Charak Samhitokta Rishi Galava and Evaluation of His

Contribution To Ayurveda

Prof. Dr. Subhash Waghe

, Dr. Vishwanath Kakde

HOD – Dept. of Roga Nidana & Vikruti Vigyana SAM College of Ayurvedic Sciences , Raisen – 464 551 (MP)

HOD - Dept. of Samhita Siddhant,Future Institute of Ayurvedic Medical Sciences, Bareilly (UP)

Cite this article as: - Dr. Subhash Waghe (2026) ; An Introduction To Charak Samhitokta Rishi Galava and Evaluation of His

Contribution To Ayurveda;Inter .J. Dignostics and Research 3 (2) 59-64 , DOI : 1 0 . 5 2 8 1 / z e n o d o . 1 8 2 5 9 2 8 9

Issue : 02

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DIAGNOSTICS AND RESEARCH [ISSN No.: 2584-2757]

Volume : 03

Introduction :

Maharishi Galava was present in the conclave of

rishis conducted beneath the mountains of

Himalayas, some 5000 years ago.

[1]

He was the son of famous Bramharishi

Vishwamitra. His mother’s name was Renu.

Famous Ayurvedic Acharya Sushruta was his step

brother. Acharya Dalhana had mentioned about the

‘Galava Tantra’ a treatise on ancient surgical

practices by rishi Galava.

Material And Method :

Literary method of research is followed in this

article. All the available Ayurvedic and Indological

literature is explored to find the maximum

information about the rishi Galava.

Review Of Literature :

Parents of Rishi Galava :

Rishi Galava was the son famous Rajarshi

‘Vishwamitra’. His mother’s name was ‘Renu’.

[2]

Reason For Name As Galava :

In the absence of father Vishwamitra, his mother

Renu raised the son ‘Galava’ in a poor state.

Mother Renu put the rope in the neck of Galava and

was about to sell him in return of 100 cows out of

poverty. But the Ayodhya prince Satyavrata alias

Trishanku saved the Galava from getting sold and

took him to his shelter. Since this son of

Vishwamitra was tied around the neck (Gala) with

the rope, he got the name ‘Galava’.

[3]

Education of Galava :

Galva joined Gurukul of Vishwamitra as disciple.

Pleased with his service, Vishwamitra asked sage

Galava to return to home peacefully after

completing the studies. But sage Galava insisted on

fees of the course (Gurudakshina). On repeated

insistence, Vishwamitra got annoyed and put

difficult demand to Galava to give 800 horses

having one black ear. Galava got depressed with

this demand as it was beyond his paying capacity.

[4]

Galva meet Garuda on the way. Garuda consoled

him and gave him knowledge about kings of

different directions from where Galava can get

help. Gauruda introduced Galava to famous king

Yayayti for having the 800 Shyamkarva Ashva

(horses having black ears). Yayati praised them for

choosing him for donation as against the

Suryavanshi Kings. But he conveyed his inability to

oblige. However, he offered his daughter

‘Madhavi’ to Galava saying that she is very

beautiful and every king wants to possess her. And

she has the power to preserve virginity even after

the sex. Anyone will give 800 horses for possessing

her.

[5]

Accordingly, Galava first took Madhavi to

Ayodhya king ‘Haryashva’ who was known for his

vigor and equipped army. Looking at Madhavi,

king Haryashva readily accepted the offer of

Galava to possess Madhavi in return of white black

eared horses. But Haryashva said that he is having

only 200 such horses. Hence, he will possess

Madhavi for 01 year only. From Madhavi,

Haryashva had a generous son called ‘Vasumana’.

After one year as decided, Haryashva returned

Madhavi to Galava.

[6]

In the second attempt,

Galava took Madhavi to Bhojnagar king ‘Ushinara’

who was known for his vigour & truthfulness.

Ushinara also expressed his inability by saying that

he has only 200 such horses. Hence, Galava

requested him to possess Madhavi only for 01 year.

Ushinara accepted the offer. From Madhavi, king

Ushinar had a truth speaking son called ‘Shibi’.

After collecting 200 such horses and Madhavi,

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DIAGNOSTICS AND RESEARCH [ISSN No.: 2584-2757]

Volume : 03

Sage Galava moved towards Kashi king

Divodasa.

[7]

In the third attempt, Galava took

Madhavi to Kashi king ‘Divodasa’ who was known

for his vigour & righteousness. Divodasa also

expressed his inability by saying that he has only

200 such horses. Hence, Galava requested him to

possess Madhavi only for 01 year. Divodasa

accepted the offer. From Madhavi, king Divodasa

had a valorous son called ‘Pratardana’. After

collecting 200 such horses and Madhavi, Sage

Galava moved towards Guru Vishwamitra.

[8]

In the fifth attempt, Galava took Madhavi to

‘Vishwamitra’ saying that he could collect only 600

such horses. Galava requested Vishwamitra to

possess Madhavi for 01 year for price of rest 200

horses. Vishwamitra accepted the offer saying that

he would have even compromised 800 horses in

exchange with Madhavi. From Madhavi,

Vishwamitra had a valorous son called ‘Ashtaka’.

After this Galava returned Madhavi to her father

Yayati and went in forest to observe penance.

[9]

Galava’s Watersport with Gandharva-kanya &

Yaksha-kanya :

Sage Galava had good time enjoying water sport

with Vedavati (daughter of Parjanya Gandharva)

and Nadayanti (daughter of Yakshraja Anjan) in the

Kalindi River.

Later the trio went to Pushkar Teertha and had joint

bath there. Other people in lake commented on

shameless behaviour of Galava. Hurt with the

comment Galava went deep into the lake and never

came back. The other two girls kept on waiting for

him on the bank. Eventually Galava came on the

marriage ceremony of both girls and became priest

in the marriage function at Hatkeshwara.

[10]

Galava’s Penance for Progeny :

Sage Galava did not have any child till he achieved

senility. Hence, he used to remain in sorrow.

Hence, Sage Galava observed Tapas (penance) in

the south at a place called Sambhaditya (Near

Naleshwara) and requested lord Surya to grant him

the boon of to be father. After 15 years, Lord Surya

obliged Galav muni seated under the banyan tree

and gave him the boon of having child.

Galava kept the name of the son as ‘Vateshwara’

[11]

Galava’s Advise to Paijwana Regarding

Importance of Shaligram Shila :

Once there was a person belonging to Shudra

community called ‘Paijwana; in Treta Yuga. He

was person with noble virtues. His wife and sons

use to serve him. Once Sage Galava visited his

place and inquired his wellbeing Paijwana

requested Galava to advise him about wisdom.

Galava told that anyone worshiping the Shaligram

stone with holy basil (Tulasi) particularly in

Chaturmasa (four month’s period), will not meet

untimely death.

[12]

Galava told Paijwan that once, Goddess Parvati got

annoyed over lord Shiva and Vishnu and cursed

them to get worshipped in the form of stone. Lord

shiva as linga of stone found in River Narmada and

lord Vishnu as Shalgram stone found in Gandaki

river (Nepal). When lord Vishnu begged pardon,

then Parvati said that yogis will get Moksha on

worshipping your shalgram form in chatur masa.

Similarly, the stone found in river Narmada will act

as shiva linga. The person chanting ‘Ram’ nama in

Chaturmasa (period of holy 4 months) will get

everything.

[13]

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Chakrateertha by Sage Galava :

Sage Galava observed great and hard penance near

Fullgrama on the bank of channel Pushkarini of

south ocean for years together. Sage Galava was

truthful, noble, and very kind hearted sage. Pleased

with his penance lord Vishnu appeared before sage

Galava and offered him the boon. When sage

Galava was observing the penance again there, one

demon came to kill the sage Galava but the

Sudarshan wheel of lord Vishnu beheaded that

demon. Sage Galava praised the Sudarshan wheel

and requested lord Vishnu to keep the name of that

place as Chakra Teertha and demanded that who so

ever will stay and pray there should get lord

Vishnu’s abode and those who so ever will feed

their ancestors (Pitars) there should go the heaven.

[14]

Contribution To Ayurveda :

Galava was among the 12 disciples of the Kashi

king Dhanwantari Divodasa along with his younger

brother Sushruta. Hence, it can be inferred that sage

Galava also constructed his treatise ‘Galava

Tantra’ on surgical practices but it had lost in the

course of the time.

[15]

. Maharishi Galava was

present in the conclave of rishis conducted beneath

the mountains of Himalayas, some 5000 years ago.

Observations :

Galava In Nutshell :

Father

Vishwamitra

Mother

Renu

Siblings

Sankruti,

Ashwalayan,

Badarayan,

Sushrut, Harita

Place of

Birth

Aryavarta

(Ayodhya district -

Uttar Pradesh)

Children

Vateshwara

Teacher

Vishwamitra and

Divodasa

Lineage

(Vansha)

Kaushik

Important

work

Importance of

Shaligram Shila

Penance at

South sea

Ayurved

work

Galava Tantra

Discussion :

Sage Galava was truthful, noble, and very kind

hearted sage. He fulfilled the hardest demand of his

teacher. This portrays him not only as obedient

student but also as the person adhering to the words

given. When he was criticized for his behaviour

with daughter of Yaksha and Gandharava, he did

not come out of water rather acted as priest in their

marriage. This depicts him not only as person with

shame but with broad heartedness. Sage Galava got

boon from both lord Surya and lord Vishnu on

account of his hard penance. This put him not only

as hard worker but also the person with great

conviction and devotion. Galava was among the 12

disciples of the Kashi king Dhanwantari Divodasa

along with his younger brother Sushruta. Maharishi

Galava was present in the conclave of rishis

conducted beneath the mountains of Himalayas,

some 5000 years ago. This not only shows his

interest in the medical science but also put him as

the caring person for the sufferings of mankind.

Conclusion :

Galava was among the 12 disciples of the Kashi

king Dhanwantari Divodasa along with his younger

brother Sushruta. Hence, it can be concluded that

sage Galava also constructed his treatise ‘Galava

Tantra’ on surgical practices but it had lost in the

course of the time.

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DIAGNOSTICS AND RESEARCH [ISSN No.: 2584-2757]

Volume : 03

References :

1. Harishchandra Kushwah (commentator)

Charak Samhita of Agnivesha redacted by

Dridhbala and Charak Sutrasthana 1/19-31,

reprint edition 2016, published by Chaukhamba

Orientalia, Varanasi – 221001, pg. 8

2. Ramnarayandatta Shastri Pandeya (editor and

translator), Harivansh Puran of Krishna

Dwaipayan Vyasa, Khilsthana 27/46-48, 22

reprint edition, Sanskrit text with hindi

translation, 22

reprint edition 2009, published

by Gitapress Gorakhpur, 273005, pg.115

3. Ramnarayandatta Shastri Pandeya (editor and

translator), Harivansh Puran of Krishna

Dwaipayan Vyasa, Khilsthana 12/20-24, 22

reprint edition, Sanskrit text with hindi

translation, 22

reprint edition 2009, published

by Gitapress Gorakhpur, 273005, pg.59

4. Ramnarayandatta Shastri Pandeya (editor and

translator), Mahabharata, Udyog Parva

106/19-27, 17

reprint edition 2016, Sanskrit

text with hindi translation, published by

Gitapress Gorakhpur, 273005, pg. 349

5. Ramnarayandatta Shastri Pandeya (editor and

translator), Mahabharata, Udyog Parva 115/5-

21, 17

reprint edition 2016, Sanskrit text with