GREATER INDIA OUTSIDE INDIA
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AYURVEDA
Dr. G.K. GURJAR & Dr.B.D. DANDAVATE

   A faithful picture of the Greater India Outside India with special reference to Ayurveda till l6th century A.D. when Bhavaprakasa flourished and composed his famous Bhavaprakasanighantu, has been attempted here. Though multifaceted culture of ancient India penetrated into a number of countries outside India, here we have focussed our attention on Indian achievements mainly in the field of medicine Ayurveda that found their way in foreign countries and were reflected in translations of Indian original books on medicine or linguistic similarity discernible through comparative tables of medicinal herbs, anatomical terms, disease-names etc .

   Thus it could be easily seen how in that ancient period of pristine glory Indian culture contributed a lot to foreign countries through dissemination of Ayurvedic medicines and helped shape their own medical systems after the pattern of Indian medicine.

   Besides translations of Ayurvedic classics such as Caraka Samhimta, Susruta Samhita manuscripts or books or works on Indian medicines, Buddhism, poetry and Indian Logical Systems were unearthed by Mr. Bower in Central Asia, which evidenced the far reaching influences of Greater India Outside India. Epigraphical sources also point out the extent of influence and dominance exercised by India on the outsiders in the fields of medicine, philosophy and religion. Inscriptional data available in Cambodia and nomenclature of Indian deities like Mitra, Varuna etc., worshipped by Hittite people brings out the exact nature of Indian impact on the outsiders and thus emerges a clear and impressive picture of Greater India Outside India with special reference to Ayurveda.

   It was Egyptian people, who first came under the thought-provoking influence of India through Indian culture, medicine and scientific achievements, which they passed on the Greeks, from the Greeks it permitted to Rome and later entire Europe was indebted to it.

   Drawing profusely on the works of eminent researchers and authors both Indian and foreign, we could present a vivid and reliable picture of Greater India Outside India with reference to Ayurveda in particular and Indian culture in general.
 
 

  Address:-
Dr. G. K. Gujar 
Ramaniket,
Saraswat Colony,
Dombivli (E), 421 201.
 

  Dr. B. D. Dandavate
B-23, Sudam Nagar,
Kopar Road,
Dombivli (W), 421 202.