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Sowa-Rigpa

Posted on May 21, 2022 by admin1  31

In News

  • A National workshop on Sowa-Rigpa for the Sowa-Rigpa practitioners of North Eastern States is held in Gangtok, Sikkim.
    • The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa under the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (NIT) is conducting this workshop.
    • The Ministry of Ayush intends to set up a 30-bedded Sowa Rigpa Hospital in the state of Sikkim.

About Sowa Rigpa

  • “Sowa-Rigpa” is commonly known as the Amchi system of medicine. 
  • It is one of the oldest, Living and well documented medical traditions of the world. 
  • The term ‘Sowa-Rigpa’ is derived from the Bhoti language which means ‘Knowledge of Healing’.
  • Origin: 
    • Some scholars believe that it originated from India; some say China and others consider it to have originated from Tibet itself.
  • Literature:
    • Gyud-Zi (four tantra) is the fundamental textbook of this medicine.
    • The four Tantras are as follows – Root Tantra – Exegetical Tantra – Instructional Tantra – Subsequent Tantra.
  • Regions of practice:
    • It has been popularly practised in Tibet, Magnolia, Bhutan, some parts of China, Nepal, a few regions of India, and a few parts of the former Soviet Union, etc.
    • In India, this system has been practised in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling (West Bengal), Lahoul & Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) and the Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir, etc.
  • Education and practice:
    • Traditionally the Amchis are trained under the traditional educational system either under private guru-shishya tradition or under gyud-pa (lineage) system in families in which the knowledge is passed down from father to son through generations. 
    • Although there is clear written instruction in the Four Tantra, the oral transmission of medical knowledge still remains a strong element in Tibetan Medicine.
  • Influence of Ayurveda: 
    • The majority of the theory and practice of Sowa-Rigpa is similar to “Ayurveda”. 
    • The first Ayurvedic influence came to Tibet during the 3rd century AD but it became popular only after the 7th century with the approach of Buddhism to Tibet.

What is traditional medicine?

  • According to WHO, traditional medicine is the sum total of the “knowledge, skills and practices indigenous and different cultures have used over time to maintain health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness”. “Its reach encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures as well as modern medicines”.

Other Traditional medicines:

  • Yoga and Ayurveda— They have been part of Indian tradition historically and are practised widely across the country.
  • Homoeopathy — It became part of Indian tradition over the years. 
  • Siddha system – It is followed predominantly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Unani – It is a Perso-Arabic traditional medicine practiced in Muslim culture in South Asia and modern-day Central Asia.

Source:PIB

 
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