Vaidya Atmaram Waman Datr Shastri
Date of Birth:- 23rd April 1909
Place of Birth:- Murud ,Taluka- Dapoli in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra.
Educational Qualifications:- He attended school up to 10th standard in Marathi medium from 1915 to 1930, at Murud. He wanted to learn Ayurved from renowned Vaidya Venimadhav Shastri Joshi, therefore initially he took admission at “Maharashtriya Aryangla Vaidyak Shala Satara”, but later moved to Ahmednagar, following his Guru and acquired Ayurvedtirth in 1933. He got his highest degree “Ayurvedacharya” of Nikhil Bharat Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, Varanasi, in 1938. After completing his degree, Datar Shastri began medical practice in 1938 at Dadar (Mumbai) and subsequently a few years later, another dispensary at Mulund (Bombay) was started. After his services to Mumbai, he chose to settle in Sangli in 1983 and practiced there for the rest of his life.
Professional Trajectory:-
Vaidya Atmaram Waman Datar Shastri, a pacesetter for Panchabhautik Chikitsa across India. The unique method of identifying the dominance of particular Panchamahabhuta [Five constituents, that is, Pruthvi (earth), Jala (water),Teja (fire), Vayu (Air), and Aakash (vacuum/space),]in causative factors, organs, and medicinal substancesand selecting appropriate drugs based on this theory. He has categorized medicinal plants in Amla (Acidic) and Kshara dharmi (Alkaline nature). He also proposed a new concept of determination of Prakriti (Physical constitution) based on the month of birth of an individual. Vd. Datar Shastri adopted the process of diagnosis in Panchabhautik chikitsa through a special technique called Nada pariksha (percussion or sound examination) along with Peedanasahatv (Palpation) of an organ like liver, kidney and hardness and softness over these organs. He always considered Shatkriyakala (6 stages of disease formation) and Amshamsh Kalpana (Fractional understanding) while understanding the pathophysiology of the disease.
Major contribution:- Other than concepts of Panchabhutik chikitsa and Prakruti, he also emphasized on use of specific Anupana (co-administers with medicine), time of drug administration. With the concept of loka-purusha Samya Siddhant, (Nature-Human resemblance), he was prescribing similar looking drugs in disease. For eg. aerial roots of Vata (Ficus benghalensis ) in varicose veins, stem bark of Jambu (Syzygium Jambolanum) in uterine bleeding as cortex part of stem bark looks like uterine muscle. He was equally passionate about the preparation of medicine. He also developed a specific method of preparation of Varangak Kshara.
Publications:- He wrote his first book on Panchabhautik Chikitsa in 1959. He has written total 6 books in Marathi language, namely Panchabhautik Chikitsa Part 1 and II, panchabhautik Chikitsa and balroga, Ayurveda antargat Hrudrog ( Heart disease in Ayurevda), , vanaspatinche Swabhav arthat Gunadharma shastra( Properties/ nature of medicinal plants and medicine preparation) , Govar-Kanjinya ( Chiken pox and measles)(Image No.4) . All the books written by him are now published and sold by his trust. There are about 30 research papers on his account on Panchabhautik Chikitsa in popular Ayurveda magazines like Ayurveda Patrika, Madhujeevan, Ayurvidya, Niramaya and Arogyavardhini. Datar Shastri’s work was recognized through articles in various newspapers and magazines, some of them being Dharma Bhaskar, Sa. Vijayanta, Daily Janapravaas, Daily Kesari, Daily Sakaal, Daily Pudhaari.
Awards and Accolades:- His Interview was aired on radio on 23rd March 1994. He was called as a speaker at Gujarat Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, Jamnagar in February 1995. Vd. Datar Shastri was a honorary member Rugna Seva Prakalpa, Indian Complimentary Therapists’ Association, Sangli District Medical Association and Murud Shikshan Mandal. He was honored with many awards like honors in Maharashtra Ayurveda Mahasammelan, Pune 1989, First Jaagatik Ayurveda Sammelan, Pune 1991, Aarogyavardhini Parisamvaad, Dombivali 1993, Loka Swasthya Parampara- State Convention on Traditional Health Practices – related Maharashtra state conference, Miraj 1993. For his significant contribution in the – Clinical examination of Agni samstha and preparation of medicines like Varangak kshara, Padmakitta, Vidrumkitta, he was felicitated with Brihattrayeeratna – (the highest title at the National level), Coimbatore in 1995 by Arya Vaidya Pharmacy.
Vaidyaraj Datar Panchabhautik Chikitsa and Samshodhan kendra, On 1st September 1988, he founded Vaidyaraj Datar Panchabhautik Chikitsa and Samshodhan kendra, a charitable trust at Sangli. After his sad demise on 25th December 1995, a new building was inaugurated by Vd. Madhusudan Shastri on 3rd May 1998. Now his students are carrying his legacy. Vaidya Ashok Wali and Vaidya Aniruddha Kulkarni are currently working as President and Secretary, respectively, of this trust. The major activities of the trust are -Vaidyaraj A.W.Datar Shastri Ayurved Chikitsa Mandir, where authentic and scientific Panchabhautik and Panchakarma treatment is offered. The various scientific books are published along with the books of Vd. Datarshastri. Medicines formulated by Vd. Datar Shastri are prepared and distributed. This trust also organizes lectures for BAMS students and medical camps. To date, the institute has organized about 20 state-level and 2 national-level seminars and conferences. Since 2000, “Vaidyaraj A.W. Datarshastri Memorial Award” and Scholarships are given every year to renowned Vaidya and Ayurveda students respectively on Janmashtami. Since June 2015, Panchabhautik Trust has started 6 months online Diploma course in Panchabhutik Chikitsa. On 23rd April 2009; i.e. on birth centenary of Vd. Datar Shastri, the website https://datarpanchabhautik.org/ was launched, where students can get details of courses conducted by the trust. Moreover, medicines and books are available for sale.