Vagbhata, an eminent scholar and physician of ayurveda whose works are popular even now amongst ayurvedic physician of India and abroad, is unfortunately shrouded with controversies regarding his genealogy, time, habitation, religious faith and the works he composed.

Because of temporal vecissitudes, the sectarian quarrel was at its apogee in the medieval period, and Vagbhata who was a follower of Shaivism was later converted to Buddhism. His Pre-Buddhist name was Asvaghosa and had composed many works like Buddha-carita of great poetic merit. His poetic excellence is reflected in his compositions of the Astanga-hrdaya.

His disciple Candra-nandana, the author of a masterly commentary on his mentor's work and a multi-dimensional genius was also a victim of this sectorial quarrel. He wrote the Padartha-candrika commentary on Astanga-hrdaya. This commentary is not available in original Sanskrit (only one section of it is published) and the complete commentary in Tibetan translation is presently available in Tanjur scriptures.

The present book based on the work of this eminent scholar of Tibet, solves many of these riddles.

Vagbhata and Candra-Nandana in Indo-Tibetan Medicine - Traditions, Concepts and Practice in Tibetan Medicine and Ayurveda, Vaidya Bhagwan Dash, Hind Pocket Books, Paperback, 160 Pages, $15.00

Vaidya Bhagwan Dash has had an outstanding brilliant academic career. In addition to post-graduate qualification in Ayurveda, he holds a Master's degree in Sanskrit and a Doctorate from the University of Delhi. In the course of over forty years dedicated to research and practice of Ayurveda. Dr. Dash has attended several international conferences and seminars held in Brazil, Mexico, Italy and France and has written over thirty eight important publications covering different aspects of Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicines.