A study of the concept of water in Susruta samhita

Water is well accepted to be the first priority daily requirement of the human society and also of the other living organisms. Even, if observed, it is seen that, the soil becomes fertile by water, the plants cannot grow without water, animals cannot live without water. The human and animal use water for external cleaning and drinking. Above that the human use it for cleaning of clothes, utensils, residence etc. and for preparation of different types of foods and drinks. Water is a nature’s gift to the creation. It falls on the earth as rain, becomes stored in the natural reservoirs like, river, lake, sea etc. artificial reservoirs like pond, well, tranch etc. as overground water and some portion becomes stored under the ground as underground water. The overground water can be used directly from the sources but to use the underground water tubewell, deepwell etc. are to be installed. Water, being the unavoidable need for the human society, is occupying an important place in study and research. Many studies have been conducting in different levels to understand details about water scientifically. Study on the water cycle, types,qualities, identification of pure / polluted water, purification of impure / polluted water, healthy preservation etc. are being taken as the areas of study. When the


Introduction
It is agreed and proved that, no living being can live without water.Every living agent needs water for different purposes every moment.Soil needs water to maintain it's fertility, plants need for growth and multiplication, animal and bird needs for cleaning of the body, reduce the effect of heat and drink.The need of water for the human is far more than the others.A man needs water in every step from morning to night.A man cleans the excretory orifices, mouth, eyes, the whole body (bath), clothes, utensils, food materials, residential places, cooks food, grows crops by using water.At least two litre water is used by every individual daily for drinking purpose to maintain health.
Since creation water is gifted by the nature by maintaining a cycle beginning with evaporation to rain.Through evaporation the nature takes water from the earth and returns it in the form of rain.The rain water remains stored in the natural reservoirs like river, lake, sea etc., artificial reservoirs like pond, well etc. and also as underground water from where it is used as per necessity.
Water is being considered as a sacred gift of the nature that helps a lot but sometimes proves to be the aetiology of some unwanted situations.Hence the human beings have been continuing tireless study and research on water to know it's composition, formation, source, need, factors that effects on it's purity, harm can be caused due to improper use etc. and till date a good number of informations are gathered.
As the proof of curiosity and enthusiasm of the human mind, in ancient India also vivid study and research were conducted by a group of scientists.The study made by the Ayurvedic scholars have an accountable contribution in this field.A study and discussion on the concepts of Susruta, the father of Indian Surgery, as mentioned in Susruta Samhita, seems to have time tested importance to reflect the depth of study and observation on water.

Aims and objectives
This is a literary review conducted with the following aims and objectives - To study the Susruta Samhita in detail with the aim to collect the informations in relation to water  To note all the findings in order to make it ready for study and analysis  To discuss the concepts in modern light to make them understandable  To frame opinion in the form of summary and conclusion on the scientific and enthusiastic studies of Susruta on water and,in the form of a scientific article, to send for publication in an wide circulated peer reviewed journal

Materials and methods
The study was conducted with the materials following the method mentioned below  Susruta Samhita was studied in detail in the Central Library of Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research Hospital, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha, India  The findings related with the aims and objectives of the study were noted and organized  A discussion was made on the findings with an aim to evaluate the concepts  A summary and a conclusion was prepared and the references were cited  The article was sent for publication in peer reviewed journal with the aim to make it appraisable for the scientific community.
Further it is said that, such situations are not seen in case of Antariksha jala.

Discussion
The observation and result of the present study reflect the following points for discussion -Susruta, though was a person from the surgery discipline then also he paid importance on water and other natural elements that are the daily need of the living organisms, specially for the human beings.He observed and realised the need of water for the human for maintenance of health.His observations also reflect that, use of impure / polluted water may be proved to be harmful to the human society.Hence one should know the process of identification of pure / polluted water, procedures of purification and the methods of appropriate use.
The observation of Susruta about the different sources of water and the description of their qualities indicates the minuteness of observation and knowledge of the scholar.The descriptions of rain water, river water, well water, pond water, water of Anupa desha, Jangala desha, Sadharana desha etc. are interesting.The opinion on the qualities of water depending upon the place where it is stored needs some more study.Water is said to have no specific quality of it's own.The qualities like taste, odour etc. are taken by the rain water according to the soil where it falls /stored.
The effect of the light of the Sun, Moon and air are described nicely by the author.As it is agreed unanimously that Sunrays have the capacity to destroy a good number of disease causing organisms like virus, bacteria, fungus, worm etc. hence the concept of purification of water by Sunrays cannot be refused.The effect of the Moon on water is probably a unique concept of the Ayurvedic scholars.The air has a good effect on water as it controls the speed of movement of water and also sometimes throws the dirty substances in water reservoir which in due course or immediately can cause pollution of the water.
The source and the character of the soil through which a river flows is another interesting fact mentioned as the determinant of the character of water.Sending water through certain arrangements with great speed (aeration), beds prepared by using sands and stone of different size in layer (filtration) are scientific methods of water purification.
Hence the dependance of the quality of water on it's source like Himalaya, Bindhya etc. and the character of soil through which it flows like sandy, stony, clayee etc. and the speed of water cannot be denied.
Description of the different river water as the causes of some specific diseases needs analysis of the quality (contents) of the respective water and a survey of the diseases suffered by the population residing on the banks of the rivers mentioned.
Boiling is agreed to be the best and easiest method of water purification.Susruta, before about 3000 years of Christ has also nicely described the qualities and benefits of boiled water and said it as the best for all persons in all seasons.
The coconut water is described by the author nicely along with it's special indications.The description indicates that there is more scope of study on it.
The methods of examination of water and the characters of impure / harmful water mentioned are also scientific.An individual, only by observing the character of water, externally with nacked eye, touch, taste, smell etc. are practically useful as in the day to day life one cannot carry the scientific instruments to analyse (the) water.
Susruta has given a list of vegetable and mineral substances to use for water purification.Study on their effects and usefulness for the purpose can be considered important.But classical description of the qualities and effect of the said substances are strongly supportive of their use for the purpose.

Summary
From the study the following points can be taken as summary - Susruta, though was a person of Surgery, paid importance on study on the most important natural element "water". He studied water with special reference to source, reservoirs, quality, identification of purity/pollution, region and source wise character and effect on the user, methods of purification etc. in detail. Most of the concept of Susruta has scientific explanation. Some concepts available in the Samhita can be taken for research to re evaluate the scientific knowledge of the scholar.Study and research on the concepts of Susruta can be considered as valuable and beneficial for the human society even in the present time.

Conclusion
As conclusion of the study it can be said that, exploration of the concepts of Susruta in relation to water needs more study adopting the globally accepted methods which can be expected to be miraculously beneficial for the human society.
Let all join hands to explore the concepts of our ancestors and make our life beautiful.
13] . 5 number of things are mentioned to keep the jalapatra (water pot) safe as -All these are seemed to be the arrangements of different shape and size made of wood or other materials. 7 procedures of jalashitikarana (making the water cold) as mentioned areo To expose the water to air (pravatasthapanam), o Rivers originating from Mahendra mountain (Mahendraprabhava) -sleepada -udarajanana (causes filariasis and abdominal diseases) o Rivers originating from Himalaya (Himabatprabhava) -hridroga -swayathu-shiroroga-sleepadagalagandajanana (causes heart disease, oedema, headache, filariasis, goitre) o Flowing towards east and west originating from Avanti pradesha (Prachyavanta -aparabantya)arshjanana (causes piles ) o