BOOKS REVIEW CHARAK SAMHITA (Hindi) by Ayurvedacharya Sree Jayadeva Vidyalankar, (2 volumes), I Part p.p. 522, Price : Rs.

30/-, II Part p.p. 652, Price Rs. 30/- (Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi). Carak Samhita the monumental Ayurvedic treatise is not merely a compendium of medicine but it is a fountain head of the total knowledge based on biological, spiritual and ethical bearings on which human welfare rests. The books under review Carak Samhita (Hindi Vyakhyan) Part I and Part II consist of eight sthanas. Sutrasthana depicts pharmacology, food dietetics, therapeutics physicians and quacks also physiology, philosophy etc. etc. Nidanasthan deals with eight main diseases. Vimanasthana describes nourishement, general pathology and medical studies. Sarirasthana contains Anatomy and embryology. Indriya sthana relates to diagnosis and prognosis. Cikitsasthana emphasis on special therapy. Kalpasthana and Siddisthana consist of general therapy. The theory of pranas and psychophysiological ideas enunciated in EIGHT LESSONS ON YOGA AND YOGA FOR HEALTH Dr. P. S. Rai, Suddha Publications, Bangalore Price not mentioned. In this book on Eight lessons on Yoga and Yoga for Health by Dr. P.S. Rai, introduces Yoga as one among the Shad Darsans which constituting as it does a refreshing contrast to the present day approach to Yoga, makes it all the more interesting. In olden days Yoga was considered as one among the Shad Darsanas of Indian 1 Dr. T. N. K. Moosad Ayurveda have been very popular andconceptions of logic dealt with in the two volumes under review are faithful translation of Nyayadarsana as in the orginal treatise. English terminology is used in apppriate places so that students of Ayurveda can easily understand. Relevant quotations added from other classical Texts embelishes the work, making it all the more interesting and informative. Many controversial theories have also been dealt with comprehensively. There are some printing mistakes which could have been avoided. All the same, it is hoped that the students of Ayurveda, physicians as well as modern scholars who have a working knowledge of Hindi, will, by and large, be benifited. The efforts of the author and the publishers are commendable to bring out these low priced two volumes of Carak Samhita for the benefit of Sanskrit and Hindi knowing scholars.

Philosophy. On the contrary now a days this view has been totally changed and people are mostly concentrating on its physical aspect alone. The source of all Indian Sastras or sciences is the four vedas. The word Sastra is only meant for the sciences which are originated from vedas and these Sastras are mainly divided into six branches of knowledges known as Darsanas. They are, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Samkhya, Yoga Purvamimamsa and Uttaramimamsa. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Darsana is realisation. Thus it can be surmised that all the works aimed at the realisation of the self is called a Darsana and Yoga is one among them. This particular characteristic presentation can be seen through out the book. In addition author describes the role of yogic practices on physical and mental health also. His method of presentation is in a new style and he has succeeded; by and large, to expound his ideas by correlating the yogic science and science of Health. But being an Ayurvedic doctor and an euridite scholar one expected much more from him in

linking up the sciences of yoga and Ayurveda, because both are ancient Indian sciences derived from the vedas, and a kin in fundamental principles and theories. According to the authentic teachings, Yoga has got eight limbs or chapter s which are deep and vast like on ocean. Much effort has been done by Dr. Rai in his new venture of this concise book on Yoga, compling all the important principle methods and ideals in a lucid style. Life of each individual exists on four constituents ie. body sense organs, mind and soul. Discipline of the physical body cultures the mind, and discipline of the mind cultures the spirit. So the practice of Yoga should always be started from the very beginning taking the physical body as the base by any aspirant, irrespective of his achievements in Yoga. Dr. Rai has rightly stressed upon this order to be followed. This book is very informative and helpful to any new aspirant of Yoga, and indeed, it is a valuable contribution to the yogic literature. V. Vasudevan