An ancient veterinarian horse care and horse health manual dedicated to the well-being of horses.
A devotion to equine health from the 3rd Century BC using Ayurveda to treat horses.
The Shalihotra Samhita horse health manual
An ancient horse health manual, The Shalhotra Samhita dates from the 3rd Century BC. I was lucky enough to see the Dundlod Fort copy in their historical library.
Who was Shalihotra?
Shalihotra was considered to be the founder of veterinarian science in Indian tradition.
In an age when horses were crucial for wars, transport and to display courtly wealth, it was Shalihotra who created what appears to be the very first horse care manual.
Equestrian veterinary medicine attained a glorified status in ancient India. Equine veterinarians of the day began to be known as โShalihotriyaโ, so widespread was his influence and teachings.
Dundlod Fortโs library of rare equestrian books
Later generations revised and amended Shalihotraโs original work, meaning there are a few versions in existence. One of these later versions is in the library of Dundlod Fort in Rajasthan.
The Dundlod copy of the Shalihotra Samhita was given to Bonnie Dundlodโs Grandfather.
The contents of the Shalihotra Samhita
This encyclopaedia on the care and management of horses was written in a poetic form used in Sanskrit, called ‘Shlokaโs’.
The book covers various equine topics, including the different types of horses, colours, their conformation, temperament, diseases, breeding, pregnancy, foal care, auspicious markings on horses, and remedies all vividly brought to life with colourful illustrations.
Ashoka the Great
The Shalihotra Samhita was written when India was under the rule of Ashoka the Great, circa 268 BC.
Ashoka was a once a tyrannical ruler waging war and terror, ruthless in the expansion of his kingdom.
It is said that seeing the devastating carnage after a particularly bloody battle, he converted to Buddhism. From then onwards, Ashoka ruled under more compassionate and ethical principles.
Ashoka created a series of edicts, or teachings, that were inscribed onto large pillars and erected throughout India. These โPillars of the Dharmaโ held Ashokaโs moral and social messages for the people of his kingdom. Many of these pillars still stand in India to this very day.
One of the edicts of Ashoka was that society needed to provide medical facilities for both humans and animals, and the first veterinary hospital in India was created.
During Ashokaโs reign, several manuals for the care of animals were created. From the Shalihotra Samhita to ones for the care of elephants and cattle due to their importance and status held in society. Elephants were absolutely crucial to war, building, transport, and cows of course for their life sustaining milk and sacred place in Hinduism.
Ayurveda in the horse health manual
Ayurveda features prominently in the Shalihotra Samhita. A dedicated form of Ayurveda was designed just for horses, โAsva Hayayurvedaโ, from the Sanskrit word for horse, Ashva.
Ayurveda stems from the Sanskrit โAyuโ meaning life and โVedaโ meaning science, or knowledge. Shalihotra used Ayurveda in both the preventative methods and for the cure of equine ailments.
Horses were treated holistically with their environmental, mental, and physical conditions examined. Treatment frequently involved native herbs and plants. Land was set aside for the cultivation of botanical medicine for both humans and animals alike.
The Shalihotra Samhita at Dundlod Fort blends art and science. From the primary colours of the illustrations to the beauty of the ancient script and the wisdom it holds.
