Text and Clinic Aligned: The Central Role of Madhava Nidana in Ayurvedic Diagnosis
*1Saumya Gupta and *2Hrishita Dahilekar
1*3Department of Roga Nidana Avum Vikriti Vigyan)- Parul Institute of Ayurved and Research- P.O. Ishwarpura, Tal. Waghodia, Dist. Vadodara-391760 (India) Mo. No. 6387414593, Email Id: drsaumyaguptad@gmail.com 2*Department oaf Roga Nidana Avum Vikriti Vigyan - Parul Institute of Ayurved and Research- P.O. Ishwarpura, Tal. Waghodia, Dist. Vadodara-391760 (India) Mo. No. 9420090602, Email Id: hrishita.dahilekar86268@paruluniversity.ac.in
ABSTRACT
The classical Ayurvedic texts, Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya form the backbone of Ayurvedic theory and practice. However, among later diagnostic works, Madhava Nidana stands out as a uniquely focused compilation of disease diagnosis. Written by Madhavakara in the 7th–8th century CE, this text presents a concise yet comprehensive view of 69 diseases using the Pancha Nidana framework: Nidana (causes), Purvarupa (premonitory signs), Rupa (symptoms), Upashaya (therapeutic tests), and Samprapti (pathogenesis). What distinguishes Madhava Nidana from other Samhitas is its clarity, clinical precision, and inclusion of diseases either absent or only briefly mentioned in earlier texts