08/11/2025
The Mughal Era (1526–1857 CE) was a golden period for the development of both Ayurveda and Unani medicine in the Indian subcontinent. Under Mughal patronage, medicine evolved through cross-cultural exchange, institutional growth, and integration of Persian, Arab, and Indian traditions.
Here’s a detailed overview 👇
⸻
🏛️ 1. Royal Patronage and Institutional Development
• The Mughal emperors were great patrons of learning and science, including medicine.
• Hospitals (Dar al-Shifa) and dispensaries were established in major cities such as Delhi, Agra, Lahore, and Kashmir.
• Medical colleges and libraries were set up where both Ayurvedic (Hindu) and Unani (Perso-Arabic) scholars studied and exchanged knowledge.
• The royal courts employed expert Hakims (Unani physicians) and Vaids (Ayurvedic doctors), encouraging intellectual dialogue.
⸻
📚 2. Integration of Ayurveda and Unani Principles
• The period saw synthesis of Greco-Arabic (Unani) and Indian (Ayurvedic) thought.
• Concepts such as temperament (Mizaj) and Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) were discussed in parallel frameworks.
• Medicinal plants common to both systems were studied comparatively, enhancing materia medica (Makhzan al-Adwiya tradition).
⸻
👑 3. Major Mughal Emperors and Their Contributions
🌟 Babur (1526–1530)
• Described various plants and herbs in Baburnama.
• Introduced Central Asian medicinal plants into India.
🌟 Humayun (1530–1556)
• Encouraged translation of Persian and Arabic medical texts into local languages.
🌟 Akbar the Great (1556–1605)
• His reign marked the peak of scientific exchange between Ayurveda and Unani.
• Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazl describes hospitals, medicines, and physicians of both systems.
• Akbar founded Ilaj Khanas (clinics) where Hakims and Vaids worked together.
• Many Ayurvedic texts were translated into Persian, including Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita.
🌟 Jahangir (1605–1627)
• Had deep interest in botany and pharmacology; recorded medicinal properties of plants in Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.
• Gardens were developed as botanical resources for Unani and Ayurvedic herbs.
🌟 Shah Jahan (1628–1658)
• Established Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) with several hospitals and Bimaristans.
• Supported compilation of new medical encyclopedias integrating Indian and Persian materia medica.
🌟 Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
• Patronized Unani physicians like Hakim Muhammad Akbar Arzani, author of Tibb-e-Akbar and Qarabadin-e-Qadri.
• His era emphasized standardization of formulations and clinical practice.
⸻
⚕️ 4. Eminent Physicians and Scholars
• Hakim Ali Gilani – Court physician of Akbar; wrote Tibb-e-Akbari and introduced pharmacological innovations.
• Hakim Muhammad Akbar Arzani – Famous Unani scholar; authored Mizan-e-Tibb, integrating Indian herbs into Unani formulations.
• Hakim Shareef Khan – Personal physician to Shah Alam II; compiled Makhzan-ul-Adwiya, a comprehensive materia medica.
• Hakim Azam Khan – Later Mughal period; wrote Akseer-e-Azam and Kitab al-Taiseer—classics of Unani medicine.
⸻
🌿 5. Botanical and Pharmacological Advances
• Mughal gardens doubled as botanical gardens for cultivating herbs.
• Physicians experimented with Indian, Persian, and European plants.
• Introduction of new herbs such as to***co, potato, and chili influenced the materia medica of both Ayurveda and Unani.
⸻
🕌 6. Legacy
• The Mughal era laid the foundation for institutionalized traditional medicine in India.
• Set stage for later British codification of Indian medicine in the 19th century.
• The fusion of Unani and Ayurvedic knowledge during this era remains a hallmark of Indian medical heritage.
⸻
🧠 In Summary
The Mughal period transformed Ayurveda and Unani from classical systems into organized, state-supported medical sciences through translation, synthesis, and clinical innovation. It was a true renaissance of traditional medicine in the Indian subcontinent.
