Vedic Science International Multidisciplinary Peer-reviewed Journal 

The articles below are the official digital versions of peer-reviewed papers from the print edition of the Vedic Science Journal.

Article  Information

Journal: Vedic Science
Volume: 28 | Issue: 3 | Year: 2026
Pages: 31–39
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.66718/vsj.v28.i3.04    
Received: 14 July, 2026
Accepted:  17 August, 2026
Published: 30 Sept., 2026

Suśruta Saṃhitā: A Self-Contained Taxonomy of Surgical Procedures

Prof. B. Singh, BSc MBChB (Natal) FCS (SA) MD (Natal) FAIS, Emeritus Professor: Department of General Surgery, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

N. B. Singh, MCom (UKZN); Lecturer Department of Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

J. P. Singh, FCS (SA)

Abstract

The Suśruta Saṃhitā codifies one of antiquity's most comprehensive surgical systems, derived entirely from empirical observation, anatomical study, and rational clinical reasoning. Despite its significance, global historiography has often subordinated this tradition to external benchmarks, obscuring its internal coherence. This paper systematically reconstructs the procedural framework of ancient Indian surgery without recourse to contested chronological anchors, Puranic mythologisation, or comparative Hellenic references, establishing the operative taxonomy as a fully autonomous, observation-driven clinical science. The study examines the foundational octet of operative manoeuvres—each defined by specific anatomical indications and sequential execution—alongside advanced interventions and the calibrated use of alcoholic decoctions and soporific agents (Cannabis indica, Hyoscyamus niger, and opium) for procedural comfort. The analysis reveals a rigorous, internally consistent surgical system grounded in mandatory cadaveric dissection, practical training on simulants, and clearly defined peri-operative protocols—a complete therapeutic pipeline from diagnosis to recovery. Its subsequent transmission, evidenced by 8th-century Arabic translations and adoption into Islamic and European medical traditions, attests to its clinical efficacy. This paper concludes that ancient Indian surgery must be recognised on its own terms: as a complete, rational, and enduring system of operative medicine.

Keywords

Suśruta Saṃhitā, Ancient Indian Surgery, Śalya-tantra, Surgical Taxonomy, Ayurveda

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How to cite this article

Singh, B., Singh, N.B., Singh, J.P. (2026). Suśruta Saṃhitā: A Self-Contained Taxonomy of Surgical Procedures. Vedic Science, 2026 (3), 31-39. ISSN: 0975-0312 (Print). DOI: https://doi.org/10.66718/vsj.v28.i3.04