An Analytical Study of Indigenous Medicine as Reflected in Saddharmaratnavaliya: with Selected Stories

Abstract

Not only inscriptions, chronicles and legends, but also literary sources can be used when investigating information regarding local medicine in Sri Lanka in the past. Contemporary social information is evident from the continuous flow of literature since the Anuradhapura period. The aim of this research is to identify the information about the local medical science discussed in the Saddharmaratnavaliya written in the Dambadeni period. This research was conducted focusing on the research problem of whether Saddharmaratnavaliya is important as a literary source from which information can be obtained indirectly about the 'medical practice of ancient Sri Lanka'. Although this book written by Dharmasena Thero in the Dambadeni period is known as a literary book that gives Dharmopadesa, it discusses many social information, which was the main reason for focusing on this research. Among the important information that reveals the various aspects of the village society at that time, attention was paid to the information discussed about local medicine. According to the qualitative research method, the study was conducted by using the Saddharmaratnavaliya as the primary source and authentic works written on local medicine as the secondary source under the bibliography.In the story of 'Chakkhupala Therunge Kathawa', there are mentions of treatments such as nasya, body oiling etc. The use of poisonous medicine is mentioned in stories like Mattakundali, Kali Yakkhinni and Chakkupala Therunge Katha. There is also information on how to eliminate poisons with mantras and remedies like decoction, kalka and oil. Among the parables, rudhis and prastavas contained in the work, there are also expressions associated such as 'Semata uk sakuru kanna kanna se', 'Vandata beheth denna se', 'Hunata thiembara yahapathei'. It is said that after listening to Pirith and drinking Pirith wathura, childbirth became easier and that leafy foods were used for diseases. Thus it can be analysed that information is mentioned in the old literary books about local medicine. It is clear that this research gives evidence to conclude that the researches on indigenous medicine can get a lot of information not only from medical books but also from classic Sinhala literary books.