Past Events

Between the ninth and elevnth centuries CE, the Sanskrit medical texts began to record profound changes in the methods used for drug manufacture. New substances, such as heavy metals and mineral poisons were added to the ayurvedic pharmacopoiea or were given new prominence. More significantly, however, new ways of processing raw materials adopted from the emerging alchemical discipline were introduced. These procedures were thought to make substances both fit for medical use and at the same time to heighten the substances’ potency.

Suzanne Newcombe will be sharing her work at the University of Kent's research seminar for Religious Studies on Wednesday 28 November 2018.

1-2.30pm Gulbenkian building, University of Kent.

Title: Immortality and miracle cures: The stretching of language in yoga and ayurveda

Les textes qui représentent la médecine classique indienne — la Carakasaṃhitā,  la Suśrutasaṃhitā, ainsi que l’Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā et l’Aṣṭāṅgasaṃgraha,  deux recueils attribués à Vāgbhaṭa (viie s.) —  décrivent des pratiques fondées sur le diagnostic médical, qui laissent peu de place à la magie et à la religion. La couleur y est un attribut de la matière, que cette matière  soit la peau, les constituants organiques ou fluides du corps ou les ingrédients utilisés pour les remèdes.

Fri 26 October 2018 – 18:30-20:30 BST
Tickets £10 available here.