What is Sowa Rigpa ?
- Sowa Rigpa is an ancient Indian medical system originated 2500 years ago and was introduced in the TransHimalayan region around 8th Century AD.
- The term Sowa Rigpa is derived from Bhoti language which means ‘Knowledge of Healing’.
- Sowa Rigpa has been developed and incorporated into different environmental and cultural contexts through the centuries.
- Sowa-Rigpa has moulded itself into the socio-cultural lineage since ages, where every village has had an Amchi family to look after public health.
- Since then it has been propagated and transmitted through teacher-student-lineage, including family lineage;
- The principle medical text “rGyud-bZi” Chatush Tantra-a textbook of fundamental principles of Sowa-Rigpa is in Sanskrit language which was further translated into Bhoti language around 8th – 12th Century and further amended by Yuthok YontanGombo and other scholars of Trans Himalayan region according to the socio-climatic conditions.
- Prevalant among secular and monastic contexts in the Trans Himalayan regions of India.
- In India: Sowa-Rigpa is the traditional medical system of Ladakh, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalingpong (West Bengal);Lahoul-Spiti, Kinnour, Dharamsala regions of Himanchal Pradesh;Mon-Tawang and west Kameng regions of Arunachal Pardesh and Tibetan settlements in various parts of India.
- Neighbourhood Countries: Along with spread of Buddhism, Sowa-Rigpa also spread to other neighouring countries. Sowa-Rigpa is traditionally practiced in Bhutan, Mongolia, Tibet, China, Nepal and some parts of Central Asia.
- AYUSH health care System : Sowa Rigpa is formally recognized and promoted as traditional medical system by the Government of India.
- Similarity with Ayurveda: It can be perceived to be more close or having similarity with Ayurvedic philosophy/ principles of India since many of texts of Sowa-Rigpa (approximately more than 75%) are taken from one of the most famous treatise of Ayurveda i.e. “Ashtanga Hridya” in one or other form.Many (more than 75%) medicines used in Ayurveda (Indian origin) viz Triphala, Ashok, Ashwagandha, Guggulu, Haridra etc. are also frequently used in Sowa- Rigpa System of Medicine for treatment purposes.
- The fundamental principles of Sowa-Rigpa is based on Jung-wa-nga (Pancha mahabutha),Nespa-sum (Tridosha), Luszung-dun (Sapta dhatu) and do’s and don’ts, Dietary guidelines, Pulse examination etc. which are common in Sowa-Rigpa and Ayurveda and clearly indicates its close proximity with India.
National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR)
The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) at Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh. It will be an autonomous national institute under the Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to undertake interdisciplinary education and research programmes in Sowa-Rigpa in collaboration with national and international institutes. NISR will act as an apex institute for Sowa-Rigpa system. It will also help to revive Sowa-Rigpa in the Indian sub-continent and also link the traditional wisdom of Sowa-Rigpa with modern science, tools, and technology.