Rogimrutyuvigyanam

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Rogimrutyuvigyanam" by Mathuraprasad Dikshit, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Rogimrutyuvigyanam (रोगिमृत्युविज्ञानम्) Author: Mahamahopadhyaya Pt. Mathuraprasad Dikshit Publisher: Pt. Mathuraprasad Dikshit, Jhansi

Overview:

"Rogimrutyuvigyanam," which translates to "The Science of Patient Death," is a Jain text authored by the renowned scholar Mahamahopadhyaya Pt. Mathuraprasad Dikshit. The book aims to provide a scientific and predictive understanding of a patient's impending death. It focuses on identifying premonitory signs and symptoms (arishṭa) that indicate the time and certainty of a patient's demise. The text emphasizes that this knowledge is not based on astrology (which it considers uncertain) but on observable physical and behavioral phenomena, making it a form of "science" (vigyanam).

Key Themes and Content:

The book is structured into several chapters, each delving into different aspects of predicting death:

• Chapter 1: General Arishṭa Description (सामान्य अरिष्ट वर्णन): This foundational chapter defines "arishṭa" as signs that indicate inevitable death, transcending the need for conventional medical treatment. It critiques the idea that common ailments like hiccups or shortness of breath are definitive arishṭa, arguing they are complications. The author clarifies that arishṭa are specific signs rooted in the patient's physical state, not caused by the disease itself but indicating its finality. It establishes that arishṭa are indicators, not causes, of death. The chapter details various physical manifestations like changes in skin color (black, copper, green, blue, white), body texture, voice, smell, taste, and sensory perception. Specific examples include:

  • The appearance of ants or other insects on a clean body.
  • Drying of sandalwood paste on the body except on the head and heart.
  • A patient searching for something lost on their bed or wall.
  • Changes in skin color (black, copper, green, blue, white) in specific body parts.
  • Sudden swelling and greasiness of facial or foot skin.
  • Changes in voice, breath patterns, and sensory perception.
  • The text highlights the importance of distinguishing true arishṭa from mere symptoms or temporary conditions.

• Chapter 2: Arishṭa from Dreams (स्वप्न जन्य अरिष्ट वर्णन): This chapter explores the predictive significance of dreams. It classifies dreams into seven types (seen, heard, experienced, imagined, desired, disease-induced, and prophetic) and deems five of them (seen, heard, experienced, imagined, desired) as generally unfruitful. However, it emphasizes that dreams occurring in the early morning (before sunrise), or those that are particularly vivid, can be prophetic. Specific dream omens of death include:

  • Seeing oneself going south with animals like camels, donkeys, or dogs (indicating consumption).
  • Drinking alcohol with ghosts or being dragged by a dog (indicating severe fever).
  • Seeing the sky as red like lac or blood (indicating hemorrhage).
  • Dreams of consuming flesh, wearing red garlands and clothes, or being taken away by a woman (indicating blood-related disorders).
  • Seeing a thorny creeper on the heart (indicating abdominal tumors).
  • Dreams of nudity, oil baths, or performing rituals with ashes, indicating various diseases and death.
  • Dreams associated with specific diseases like leprosy, diabetes, and abdominal issues.

• Chapter 3: Arishṭa from Appearance/Shadow (छायागत अरिष्ट वर्णन): This chapter discusses the significance of subtle changes in a person's shadow or reflection as indicators of impending death. It suggests that alterations in the shadow's color, size, shape, or luminosity can predict the time of death. The text notes that this knowledge is particularly relevant for yogis or those with developed spiritual practices, as their subtle energies might manifest more clearly. It categorizes shadows based on elemental associations (ether, air, fire, water, earth) and their auspicious or inauspicious implications.

• Chapter 4: Arishṭa from Body (शरीरगत अरिष्ट वर्णन): This chapter focuses on various physical ailments and conditions that signify impending death. It lists specific symptoms and combinations of symptoms that a physician should consider as signs of untreatable conditions. Examples include:

  • Jaundice with a swollen face, fleshy cheeks, body heat, and agitation.
  • Frequent fainting upon rising from bed.
  • Progressive weakness, increasing phlegm, and association with women leading to wasting.
  • Mental derangement coupled with anxiety, loss of strength, and aversion to things.
  • Specific combinations of symptoms in fever patients indicating imminent death.
  • The appearance of edema, difficulty in breathing, and loss of appetite.
  • Conditions like severe hiccups with blood, abdominal distension, and diarrhea.
  • The presence of multiple disorders simultaneously, especially in a weakened state.

• Chapter 5: Arishṭa of the Dying (मुमूर्षु के अरिष्ट वर्णन): This chapter details specific signs observed in those who are actively dying. It describes terminal symptoms that indicate death is very near, often within hours or days. These include:

  • Irregular breath patterns.
  • Changes in the appearance of eyes, tongue, and facial features.
  • Loss of consciousness and responsiveness.
  • Convulsions and involuntary bodily functions.
  • Changes in bodily temperature and secretions.
  • The text emphasizes that upon recognizing these signs, a physician should cease treatment and inform the family.

• Chapter 6: Arishṭa from the Messenger (दूत के लक्षणों से अरिष्ट वर्णन): This chapter discusses how the behavior and appearance of the messenger sent to summon the physician can indicate the patient's condition. Auspicious messengers (well-dressed, calm, carrying good omens) might suggest a curable condition, while inauspicious messengers (naked, disheveled, weeping, carrying bad omens like broken items) suggest an untreatable patient.

• Chapter 7: Arishṭa from Omens on the Path (मार्ग के शकुनों से अरिष्ट वर्णन): This chapter focuses on external omens encountered by the physician on their way to the patient's home. Certain events or sights, like stumbling, encountering specific animals (snakes, cats, dogs), or seeing broken items, can be interpreted as inauspicious signs, suggesting the patient is beyond help.

• Chapter 8: Auspicious Omens, Dreams, and Messengers (शुभ शकुन, स्वप्न, दूतादि वर्णन): This chapter contrasts the negative omens with positive ones. It describes auspicious signs in messengers, dreams, and external events that indicate recovery and a successful outcome for the physician. These include seeing priests, cows, white flowers, hearing pleasant sounds, and favorable dream imagery.

• Chapter 9: The Physician's Conduct (वैद्य-कर्तव्य): This chapter concludes by outlining the physician's duty based on the knowledge gained from understanding arishṭa. It advises physicians to cease treatment for patients exhibiting definitive signs of death, thus preserving their reputation and preventing futile efforts. It also emphasizes the importance of compassion and informing the family appropriately.

Overall Significance:

"Rogimrutyuvigyanam" is a treatise on prognostic medicine within the broader Ayurvedic and Jain traditions. It underscores the importance of keen observation and detailed understanding of physiological and external signs to predict the course of a disease and the ultimate outcome for a patient. The author, drawing upon classical texts and his own experience, presents a systematic approach to identifying signs of inevitable death, encouraging physicians to focus their efforts where they can be effective and to act with wisdom and integrity.