From Incantations to Incisions: The Scientific Turn in Ancient Indian Healing
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Keywords

Surgery
Ancient
India
Sushruta
Medicine
Innovation
History
Tradition Development
Techniques

How to Cite

From Incantations to Incisions: The Scientific Turn in Ancient Indian Healing. (2025). Journal of Asiatic Society for Social Science Research, 7(2), 189-196. https://asssr.in/index.php/jasssr/article/view/165

Abstract

Surgery is often viewed as a product of modern science and technology, but its origins go much further back in time. Ancient Indian texts, especially the Sushruta Samhita, reveals that surgical knowledge and techniques were already well-developed centuries ago. These records describe detailed procedures that were far ahead of their time. Scholars such as Sir John Marshall have noted that Indian medical traditions not only flourished within the subcontinent but also influenced other cultures through trade and cultural connections. Despite this rich legacy, the story of surgery in Ancient India has not received the attention it deserves in broader historical studies. This research aims to explore how surgical practices evolved in ancient times from their traditional roots to more systematic forms. It will also provide thorough study about the gaps and transitions in this development and the broader understanding it offers about early medical science. A qualitative approach will be used to present a thoughtful view of this significant yet often overlooked part of ancient history.

DOI: 10.46700/asssr/2025/v7/i2/165

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