Thread by @DrPareexitS

A glimpse on peer review system in #Ayurveda

#Thread

Ayurveda wasn't developed overnight. It took years of research by our ancient sages. Samhitas are documented proofs of this scientific research.

One of the important factors in Samhitas is peer review.

अथ भेलादयश्चक्रुः स्वं स्वं तन्त्रं कृतानि च ।
श्रावयामासुरात्रेयं सर्षिसङ्घं सुमेधसः ॥
श्रुत्वा सूत्रणमर्थानामृषयः पुण्यकर्मणाम् ।
यथावत्सूत्रितमिति प्रहृष्टास्तेऽनुमेनिरे ॥
सर्व एवास्तुवंस्तांश्च सर्वभूतहितैषिणः ।
साधुभूतेष्वनुक्रोश इत्युच्चैरब्रुवन् समम् ॥

च.सू. १/३३-३५+

The verse clearly tells that the Samhitas were reviewed by Acharyas & they were given implementation authority only after senior Acharyas found them to be flawless.

सम्यक्परीक्षा हि बुद्धिमतां कार्यप्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिकालौ शंसति, तस्मात् परीक्षामभिप्रशंसन्ति कुशलाः । च.वि. ८/२०

Acharya Charak mentions the importance of peer reviewing and mentions that it is well appreciated by the scholars all over. +

अथ सिद्धान्तः- सिद्धान्तो नाम स यः परीक्षकैर्बहुविधं परीक्ष्य हेतुभिश्च साधयित्वा स्थाप्यते निर्णयः । च. वि. ८/३७

Siddhanta is established only after rigorous reviews of many peers with different perspectives. So it is not a hypothesis to change but a concrete conclusion +

References of number of conferences where even foreign scholars like Maudgalya Parikshi were present are documented in Charak Samhita along with MOM.
#Ayurveda mentions about Sambhasha ie scholarly discussion to be the best in spreading knowledge. +

Yet Acharya Charak gives a fair warning:

Better not to get indulged in discussion when opponent is Mudha & Parishad is Prativishta as it simply leads to Jalpa or even worse...Vitanda.

Better we use that time healing more people & propagate Ayurveda. +

तत्र प्रतिनिविष्टायां परिषदि ज्ञानविज्ञानवचनप्रतिवचनशक्तिसम्पन्नायां मूढायां वा न कथं चित् केनचित् सह जल्पो विधीयते। च.वि. ८/२०

वितण्डा नाम परपक्षे दोषवचनमात्रमेव ॥ च. वि. ८/२८

Best to avoid such waste of time and energy & focus more on healthy discussion.