A Conceptual and Applied Study of Trividha Karma in Shalya tantra

Abstract

All types of Ayurvedic treatments are described under Ashtang Ayurveda which means eight branches of Ayurveda. Shalya tantra is one of them and  Sushruta Samhita is the oldest text available on Shalya Tantra (surgery). The Sushruta Samhita acts as a training manual and educative text for  surgery, and enabled a move away from the more primitive forms of  surgery practiced beforehand. Many procedures and methods of surgery  were described and in some way acts as a basic manual from which surgery  in the modern day has grown from.Sutra Sthana of Sushruta Samhita deals  with basic concepts of surgery, surgical instruments and appliances,  practical training, duties of the surgeon, Sandhan Karma, causes and  classification of diseases etc.Being a surgeon Acharya Sushruta was well  aware about the complications of surgery so before talking anything about  the surgery first he told about the concept of Trividh Karma i.e. poorva  karma means accessories to be obtained before the commencement of main  surgical procedure, pradhan karma means main surgical procedure,  paschat karma means measures that should be taken to cure the patient after  main surgical procedure until the patient is discharged.