Nadi Darpan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Nadi Darpan," based on the provided pages:

Title: Nadi Darpan (नाडीदर्पणः) Author: Krushnalal Dattaram Mathur (पाठकज्ञातीयमाथुर श्रीकृष्णलालतनयदत्तरामेण सङ्कलितः) Publisher: Gangavishnu Krushnadas (लक्ष्मीवेङ्कटेश्वर) Publication Details: Kalyan (Mumbai), Samvat 1950 (Vikram) / 1815 (Shaka)

Overall Purpose:

"Nadi Darpan" translates to "Mirror of the Pulse." The book is a treatise on understanding and diagnosing diseases by examining the pulse (nadi). It aims to provide a comprehensive guide for physicians (vaidyas) on the science and practice of pulse diagnosis, drawing from Ayurvedic principles and also incorporating insights from other medical traditions like Unani and English (Western) medicine. The text emphasizes the crucial role of nadi examination in effective medical practice.

Key Themes and Content:

1. The Importance of Nadi Gyan (Pulse Knowledge):

   • The text repeatedly stresses that a physician who lacks nadi knowledge is not respected in society and is considered incompetent.
   • It compares the role of nadi knowledge to essential elements like seasoning in food or a wife to a husband, highlighting its indispensable nature for a physician.
   • Diagnosing diseases without understanding the pulse is deemed futile and leads to incorrect treatment.

2. The Eight Places of Examination (Ashta-sthana):

   • The book lists eight crucial areas for a physician to examine in a patient: Nadi (pulse), Mutra (urine), Mala (feces/excrement), Jihva (tongue), Shabda (voice/sound), Sparsha (touch), Netra (eyes), and Akriti (physical form/appearance).
   • Nadi examination is presented as the primary and most accessible diagnostic tool, especially for less learned physicians.

3. The Nature and Function of Nadis (Channels/Vessels):

   • The text describes nadis as vessels originating from the heart that carry blood and nourish the body.
   • It mentions that there are countless nadis, with estimates ranging from 3.5 crore (35 million).
   • Specific important nadis are discussed, including Sushumna nadi in the navel region, and the concept of nadi "mouths" (or pores) through which sweat is released.
   • The movement of blood, driven by the heart's contractions, is identified as the cause of pulse pulsation.

4. Nadi Examination Technique and Principles:

   • Location: The pulse is primarily examined at the wrist, specifically at the base of the thumb, where the radial artery is accessible. However, other locations are also mentioned (e.g., temples, neck, nose, ankles) for specific circumstances or when the wrist pulse is not clear.
   • Fingers: The use of three fingers (index, middle, ring) for examination is common in Ayurveda, with each finger potentially indicating different doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha). Unani medicine is noted to use four fingers.
   • Patient Preparation: The patient should be in a relaxed and stable state. Examination is not recommended immediately after bathing, eating, exertion, strong emotions, or sleep.
   • Physician's State: The physician should be calm, focused, and clear-minded.
   • Timing: While morning is often emphasized, the text suggests pulse examination can be done at different times of the day, noting variations in pulse characteristics.
   • Comparison: It's important to examine the pulse of a healthy person to establish a baseline and compare it with the patient's pulse.
   • Gender Differences: Special attention is given to examining the left hand for women and the right hand for men, though both hands are recommended for a complete diagnosis.

5. Pulse Characteristics and Diagnosis:

   • Dosha Indication: The text elaborates on how the pulse's speed (fast, slow, moderate), texture (hard, soft, slippery), strength, and the specific fingers on which it is felt indicate the dominance of Vata (air/ether), Pitta (bile/fire), or Kapha (phlegm/water) doshas.
     • Vata: Often described as snake-like, jumping, or erratic.
     • Pitta: Described as vigorous, fast, or like a frog's movement.
     • Kapha: Described as slow, steady, or like a swan's movement.
   • Movement Patterns: Various comparisons are made to understand pulse movements, including snakes, frogs, swans, peacocks, rats' tails, streams, waves, and even tools like saws.
   • Time and Prognosis: The text details how to predict the patient's survival time or prognosis based on specific pulse characteristics (e.g., slow pulse indicating impending death, rapid pulse with specific symptoms indicating death within a certain number of days).
   • Pulse Changes with Diet and Condition: The book describes how the pulse changes based on what the patient has eaten (e.g., oil, milk, sweets, meat) and their physiological state (e.g., after sexual intercourse, during hunger, or thirst).
   • Disease Specificity: Detailed sections describe how the pulse manifests in various diseases like fever (jvara), indigestion (ajirna), diarrhea (atisara), urinary issues (mutrakrichra), abdominal disorders (gulma), fistulas (bhagandar), and others.

6. Incorporation of Other Medical Traditions:

   • Unani Medicine: A significant portion of the text is dedicated to explaining Unani concepts of pulse examination, introducing terms like "nabz," "ruh" (Hayvani and Nafsani), and various descriptive names for pulse movements (Gijali, Moji, Dudi, Minshari, Janvalfar, Mali, Julfikarat, Murtad, Itsha, Mutila, Munkafij, Shahq Buland, Daraj, Qaseer, Ameek, Areez). It also explains the Unani concept of four humors (khilt: Sauda, Safra, Valgam, Khoon).
   • English (Western) Medicine: The text introduces English terms for pulse examination and characteristics like "pulse," "frequent," "infrequent," "regular," "irregular," "intermittent," "full/large," "small," "thready," "hard," "soft," "quick," and "slow." It even mentions the "Sphygmograph" – a device for graphically recording pulse waves, and briefly describes its function.

7. The Author's Perspective:

   • Krushnalal Dattaram Mathur states his intention to compile this work for the benefit and happiness of students and learned individuals.
   • He emphasizes the importance of practical experience and learning from a guru (Sadguru).
   • He critically addresses some traditional interpretations of pulse diagnosis, particularly regarding the precise location of pulse indicators for different doshas, suggesting that the movement of the pulse is more reliable than fixed positional indicators.

Structure:

The book appears to be structured in chapters or "tarangas" (waves), covering various aspects of pulse diagnosis sequentially. The table of contents (Anukramanika) on pages 6-10 provides a detailed roadmap of the topics covered, from basic introductions to specific disease manifestations and even comparisons with other medical systems.

Overall Significance:

"Nadi Darpan" is a valuable resource for understanding traditional Indian (Ayurvedic) pulse diagnosis. Its inclusion of Unani and Western medical concepts highlights the author's effort to provide a comprehensive and comparative view of pulse examination. The detailed descriptions of pulse movements and their correlation with various diseases make it a practical guide for aspiring and practicing physicians. The text underscores that mastery in nadi pariksha comes through dedicated study, diligent practice, and guidance from a qualified teacher.