About Us
The history of Tibetan medical tradition goes back three millennia, evolved based on tradition and various texts of the indigenous Bon religion of Tibet.
The Emperor Srong-Tsan-Gangpo (615-650 BCE) unified Tibet, making the country militarily inviolable. The visionary Emperor extended his hand to the neighbouring countries for exchange of culture, science and religion. For further advancement of the indigenous medical system, he invited renowned medical experts from India, China, Nepal, and Persia to exchange knowledge with Tibetan physicians.
In the 8th century, Emperor Trisong-Deutsen (742-797 A.D.) invited several eminent physicians from India, China, Persia, East Turkistan, and Nepal, and nine renowned Tibetan physicians headed by Elder Yuthog Yonten Gonpo (708-833 A.D.), the most renowned physician, represented Tibet for the conference, which was held in Samye Monastery. The conference lasted for several days, during which the delegates shared the theories and practices of their respective medical systems, comparing them with those of the others. This can be regarded as the first ever international conference on medicine, which also reflects the vision of the Emperor.
Many great scholar-physicians in the subsequent periods made significant contributions to further development of this system through their research and writings. The Junior Yuthog Yonten Gonpo (1126-1202 A.D.) was the 13th in the lineage of the Elder Yuthog Yonten Gonpo, wrote several treatises on medicine and other subjects and had over three hundred students.
Jangpa Namgyal Dragsang (1395-1475 A.D.) is one of the two renowned founders of the Jangpa tradition of Tibetan medicine. Where as, Zurkhar Nyamnyi Dorjee (1439-1475 A.D.) was the founder of the Zurlug tradition of Tibetan medicine.
Sangye Gyatso (1653-1706 A.D.) was appointed by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682) as his Regent. The Regent Sangye Gyatso wrote many books on medicine, including Vaidurya sNgon-po (Blue Beryl), the most popular commentary on rGyud-bZhi, the fundamental texts of Tibetan medicine. He commissioned seventy nine medical thangkas, scroll paintings, depicting detail human anatomy, principle medical concepts, diagnostic methods, treatments, herbs and many other things with a visual projection of the contents of the texts rGyud-bZhi. He edited this fundamental text and published it. He also established the Chagpori Medical College in Lhasa in 1696.
The Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama (1876-1933) established Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang Medical Institute in the year 1916. The physician Khyenrab Norbu was appointed to the post of Junior Physician to H. H. The Dalai Lama in 1918. Khyenrab Norbu also learned medicine, astrology, poetry and grammar. He did research on various areas of the system and wrote several books on Tibetan medicine. Many of the senor physicians of later half of twentieth century were his students. Some of them could come to exile and served as physicians to His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama and took the responsibilities to carry forward this rich Tibetan medical tradition.
Establishment of Tibetan medical institutions in Exile
The Communist Chinese Govt. headed by Mao Tse Tung used every possible means to eradicate the culture and identity of Tibet and Tibetan people with its invasion in 1949 which culminated in 1959. After the occupation, over six thousand monasteries and temples were destroyed banning every religious and cultural practices disrobing monks and nuns. 1.2 million people of Tibet were killed. The occupation compelled His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama followed by around 70 thousand Tibetan people to leave Tibet and take shelter in India. His Holiness the Dalai Lama immediately, took initiatives to re-establish institutions and monasteries to continue their practices and preserve the rich culture of Tibet.
Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, was one of the earlier ones which was re-established at Dharashala in 1961.Since then the institution has developed significantly with the guidance of H. H. the Dalai Lama. The Men-Tsee-Khang is the Headquarter of Tibetan Medical tradition out site Tibet which significantly contributes to not only preservation of the age old rich tradition but also promoting it further through research in various fields in collaboration with other medical institutes. It has College, Pharmacy Department, Astro-Science Department, Research & Development Department, Materia Medica Department, Documentation & Publication Department, Herbal Product Research department, Body, Mind and Life Department and China Desk.
So far the Institute has 58 branch medical clinics across India, many of which are established on the demand of the patients from the respective places.
Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute was re-established in 1992 by Ven. Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche in Darjeeling, in commemoration of the historic Chagpori, established in 1696 by the Regent of the XIII H.H Dalai Lama. The institute has its college, pharmacy and branches of clinics.
New departments of Tibetan medical tradition were stablished in some of existing institutes. Chronologically, in 1989, the department of Tibetan traditional medicine started in the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh, Ladakn. In 1993 Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, UP, opened the Department of Tibetan medicine. Now it has a full fledge Hospital with IPD and OPD sections. It has its independent pharmacy. It also provides courses: Bachelor BSMS , MD and P.HD. In 2018, when the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology commenced its teaching Faculties, the Faculty of Tibetan medicine was one of them. In 2020, the Men Tsee Khang Medical College and Hospital got established within the campus of the Dalai Lama College, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Recognition of Tibetian medical system by the Goverment of Indian
The Tibetan medical tradition has been widely practiced in Tibetan community and also in Indian Himalayan region, where it has been a part or their culture for centuries received from Tibet. It is also found in various other places in India.
In the month of April, 2007, during a private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he directed the Vice Chancellor of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, to obtain recognition of the Tibetan medical system from the Government of India. He then contacted the then Secretary of the ministry of Ayush. The Ministry constituted an expert committee to prepare a report addressing five points to justify the recognition.
With an intensive and extensive exercise in 8 months, the Committee, headed by the VC of the Institute, summitted a comprehensive report in two volumes. The Ministry of AYUSH took the matter to the cabinet and thereafter, as per law, it has to be approved by the Parliament. To put the matter in the parliament, the Parliamentary Standing Committee, comprising members from both houses scrutinizes the system thoroughly, for which related persons are called to make presentation and clarify their queries.
On 28 July, 2010: a formal meeting was called at Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi. During the meeting, the VC gave a presentation for about forty minutes on the history and system of Sowa-Rigpa, its scientific nature, philosophy, theory and practice and the countries where it is being practiced. Questions raised by the Hon’ble Members were answered. The Chairman and the members appreciated the presentation. The Proceedings were recorded in the Parliament. The Sowa-Rigpa (Tibetan medical system) was later approved by both the Houses of the Parliament and accordingly amendment was made in the Central Council of Indian Medicine vide Government of India Gazette No. 2345 dated 12.12.2011. F.No.-V27011/04/2008-Ay.Desk/EP(IM-2).