ABSTRACT

Rishi Kankakayana was a famous physician of the ancient Balhika state (modern-day Baluchistan in Pakistan). The famous Indian epic Mahabharata states that unhygienic and undutiful people reside in the Balhika state. Famous Hastinapur King Shantanu’s brother was Balhika. He founded this state. During Alexander the Great's time, this region was called Bactria. As per the Mahabharata, King Shantanu himself was a great physician. Great Ayurvedic scholars like Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhatta quote medicinal preparations made by Sage Kankayana, such as Kanakayana Vati, Kankayana Modaka, Almbushadi Choorna, etc. Many Ayurvedic commentators also quoted them. This shows the importance earlier scholars gave to the medicinal preparations made by Acharya Kankayana. According to the Charaka Samhita, Sage Kankayana also participated in various symposiums and discussions held from time to time in the ancient era. He participated in discussions on disease-aggravating aetiology and on the types of Rasa (tastes). Vata kala Kaleeya Adhyaya, and in discussions on foetal embryonic development. Sage Kankayana’s presence in almost all ancient Ayurvedic discussions places him among the eminent doctors of the past. Rishi Kankakayana attended the conclave of rishis (sages) held beneath the mountains of the Himalaya some 7000 years ago to discuss the impact of diseases on human health. His presence at the first-ever ancient conference makes him a contemporary of Sages like Vishwamitra, Vasishtha, Agastya, etc. Hence, it becomes necessary to explore the life of the Sage Kankayana and his contribution to Ayurveda. Keywords: Brahma, Atma, Vidya