From Bhishak to Doctor – Evolution of a Physician’s Title
Times change. Businesses
and professions get outdated. But one profession that will never be out of service
is the practice of medicine. We will always need the advice of a Physician or a
Doctor during an illness. Because, a Physician is an expert in medicine who earns
the title of a “Doctor” after years of medical study and internship. Then only can
he add the title of “Doctor” before his name and treat patients. But since when
this title of Doctor came into existence? Let us have a look.
The most ancient books
that exist today are believed to be the Vedas whose date of origin is 1500 – c. 500
BCE (it might be even much older than that). All the subjects of science
and arts have their original source in the Vedas including the science of medicine.
Vedic Gods like Rudra, Agni, Varuna, Indra, Maruta and various other Gods were
designated as Divine Physicians. Rudra was described as the "first Divine Physician" and also the “best Physician of
Physicians”. The most famous Physicians at that time were the Ashwini Kumar
twins who were described as the “Physicians of the Gods”. The term that was
used to address the Physicians at that time was “Bhishak”. This was perhaps the
first ever word used to address a Doctor.
Now let us examine the
meaning of the word “Bhishak”. The definition of the word “Bhishak” is available in IVth Kanda
of Krishna Yajurveda.
Yadosha dayah
sangachchante – rajanassamita viva
viprassa uchyate bhishak
rakshoha miva chaatanah ||
Its meaning is: The king
seeks the cooperation of the other kings in the battle field, to fight with the
enemy. Such kings indulged in warfare exhibit mutual friendship and
brotherhood. Similarly, the wise-man who commands the obedience of medicines to
combat illness, just as a king commands collective obedience of his warriors in
the battle field is called “Bhishak”. The meaning of this word is “Conquerer of
diseases”.
With due passage of time,
the term “Bhishak” was replaced with another term for a physician – Vaidya. It
means “One who knows”. This term was widely described in “Ayurveda” – the
ancient science of healing. Ayurveda means the knowledge of life. And Vaidya or
the Ayurvedic Physician is therefore, the one who possesses the knowledge of
how life manifests, is maintained and perishes.
Gradually another term
was simultaneously used for a physician – Kaviraj. It means “Prince of verses”,
referring to his mastering of Sanskrit verses. Ayurveda texts were written in
Sanskrit verses and an Ayurvedic Physician had to remember them and recollect
them at the time of need. Kaviraj also meant “best among the wise”. It may be
noted that Knower of Veda or Ayurveda was referred to as a wise person.
There is another
description regarding the origin of the name “Kaviraj”. As we know Kaviraj
means a master poet who creates a poem that he has visualized through his imagination.
Similarly the Vaidya also visualises the illness in the body of the patient
through his clinical methods. But the difference is that while the
visualisation of the poet is unreal or fictitious, the visualisation of the
Vaidya is real. Hence he is also called as “Kaviraj” for his superior visual
abilities.
In the 16th century another word “Hakim” came into existence to address a Doctor in the Muslim culture. It meant a Muslim Physician who practices traditional medicine (Unani medicine). It originated from an Arabic word - ḥakīm which meant a wise man.
In the 16th century another word “Hakim” came into existence to address a Doctor in the Muslim culture. It meant a Muslim Physician who practices traditional medicine (Unani medicine). It originated from an Arabic word - ḥakīm which meant a wise man.
In the modern age especially
in Europe the Doctors were called as “Physicians”. "Physician" means
"naturalist", from the Latin (physica) and the
Greek (physikē; physikos) word
for nature. Many medicines were, of course, derived from natural substances,
and in early language "physic"
referred to medicines. So a Physician was simply someone who
practiced physikē - a natural
science of healing.
The word Physician also
has its roots in the old French word “fisiciien” meaning
"Physician, Doctor, Sage". It is derived from the French word “fisique”
meaning art of healing.
Currently throughout the world the Physicians are called as
“Doctors”. The term “Doctor” means teacher, and has come from the Latin docēre, meaning to teach. It came
to refer to people who had achieved great learning such as PhD. PhD is the
abbreviation of Philosophiae Doctor, which is the Latin for “Doctor of
Philosophy.” These degrees are the highest that are awarded by universities and
originally in the 1300s the title was given because once a candidate had achieved
this level, he was qualified to teach.
Later, in the 16th century, Doctor gained a specific medical
connotation. The medical hierarchy of practitioners was Physician,
Surgeon and Apothecary, and each had defined functions. Physicians, who had
gone to university, were the real “Doctors”, and Surgeons and Apothecaries, who
trained by apprenticeships, were “Mister”.
Similar usage of the equivalent of Doctor is colloquial in most European languages: Italian dottore,
French docteur, German doktor, Lithuanian daktaras, though these are typically not
the main word in those languages for a medical healer.
But the verb “to doctor” is also very old, and has meanings
outside medicine too: to change something, whether in a human body or an
inanimate object. This “doctoring” verb made it easy to call medical
practitioners “Doctors”. The verb “to doctor” must have originated with a sense that a
doctor changes things for the better.
Who knows, in future the term “Doctor” might be replaced with
another term to suit modern environment and lifestyle? But one thing is sure –
the physician will continue to serve the humanity by saving lives of people.
And there is no other gift greater than the gift of life.
(Charak Samhita, Ayurvedic text).
References:
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