Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,015

Date uploaded in London –  22 September 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

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Part Two

Bhagwan Singh in his book The Vedic Harappans gives a long list of medical terms from the Vedas. Here is the first list:

“Even during the days of Sushruta and Caraka omens and herbs and minerals played their role in a notorious scheme. The Sumerians played the dirtiest tricks on the ailing person to improve his or her health and hygiene. The Harappans or the Vedic folk were much more enlightened as we find a reasonably rich medical jargon in their language. We find the vocabulary in the Atharva Veda richer because it is entirely devoted to cures and charms to eliminate sickness”.

We may have a look:

From the Rig Veda, the oldest book in the world, still recited in all the Mutts, still taught and orally transmitted, one of the wonders of the world:–

Agada – cured 10-97-2

Anjas – ointment, a mixture 1-132-2

Ajnaata yaksmaa – unidentified consumptive disease 19-61-1; in AV 3-11-1

Apvaa – some stomach disease 10-193-12; in AV 3-2-5

Arugna- healthy 6-39-2

Osadhi- medicine 10-97-6

Kusumbaka – a poisonous insect 1-191-16

Jalaasa – a drug 2-33-7; 7-35-6

Praana – air inhaled 1-48-10

Bhisaj – physician 2-33-4, 6; 9-112-1; 10-97-6;

Bhesaja- one who knows medicine 1-23-19; 2-33-7; 5-53-14;6-74-3;

Mana – mind 1-25-3;

Visvabhesaja- conversant with all the medicines 10-60-12; 10-137-3;

Visuuci- dysentery 6-74-2; 8-14-15;visarmaan- dissolving 5-42-9;

Vyaana – vital air that circulates through the body6-74-4; 7-88-7;

Hrdaya – heart 6-53-8

***

My comments

The word mana and hrudaya are used by Tamils till this day. And English words mind and heart came from these Sanskrit words.

***

Terms of surgery

The field of surgery was no less advanced; this is borne out by the rich terminology pertaining to anatomy and physiology. Here is the list from the Rig Veda :-

Amsau- shoulders, – shoulder blades 1-158-5;

Anuukya – back bone 10-163-2;

Anga -organ 10-85-3

Anguli- fingers 10-85-30;10-97-12; 10-163-6;

Apsas – front portion of the body 1-122-15;

Asthi- bone 1-84-13;

Aandau- testicles 1-104-8; 10-86-7;

Aatman- torso 9-74-4; 10-163-3;

Aantraani- intestines, entrails 4-18-13; 10-153-3

Upastha – covered part 2-35-9;2-41-21;7-6-6;

Uras chest ribs 1-158-5; 10-155-4;

Uru – shank, thigh 10-90-11;

Usnithaa- nape of the neck  10-163-2, 4;

Karnau- ears 2-39-6;

Kikasa – vertebra or a rib 10-163-2;

Caksu – eyes 1-22-20;

Jaanu – knee 1-116-15; 1-118-8; 10-119-10;

Jatru- ribs 8-1-12;

Januno sandhi-pelvis 10-15-6;

Jihvaa – tongue  1-87-5;2-1-13; 3-35-9;

Tvacaa- skin 1-28-9;3-21-5; 8-1-32;

Danta – tooth 4-6-8;

Nakha – nail 10-28-10;

Naasa – nose 2-39-6;naasikaa – nasal orifices 10-163-1;

Parvanah – spondyls 10-68 9;

Paayu- anus 1-31-12/13;2-2-4; 6-15-8;

Prstih – ribs 10-87-10;

Prstha – back 1-58-2;

Plaasi- part of intestine 10-163-3;

Baahu – arm 1-95-7; 6-51-12;

Bhasat- pelvic bones 6-3-4; 6-14-1;  10-86-7;

Mastika – brain 10-163-1;

Mukha – mouth 6-75-15;; 10-90-11/12;

Muskayoh- scrotum10-38-5;

Medas – marrow, lymph3-21-1, 2, 4;

Yoni – vagina 1-79-3;

Loma – hair 10-163-5, 6;

Vanisthu- the rectum or a particular part of intestine near the omentum;

Vrsanau- testicles 10-66-7;

Sirsa – head 7-18-19; 10-87-16;

Sekam – semen  3-31-1; 4-16-3;

 Sepa – penis  1-23-22; 10-85-37;

Skandha – shoulder 1-32-5;

Stanau- breasts 2-39-6;

Sramam- fracture, injured person 1-117-19’

Sroni -hip, loins, buttocks 10-163-4;

Hanu – jaw 4-18-9;5-36-2;

***

Interesting titbits

Many English words such as nose, dental, osteo are derived from these Rig Vedic Sanskrit terms.

Tamils are using Nakham, Mukham, Praanann, Baahu , Hanu/maan etc. from the Rig Veda till this day

We will look at the Atharva Veda Glossary now……………………

To be continued

Tags : body parts, surgery, anatomy , Rig Veda glossary, Tamil words, English words , in Veda