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Chapter-52 Savitri Satyawana: The First Described Cardiac Revival of the Vedic Times

BOOK TITLE: Textbook of Cardiology (A Clinical & Historical Perspective)

Author
1. Aggarwal KK
ISBN
9789350900819
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/12259_52
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2013
Pages
3
Author Affiliations
1. Moolchand Medcity; Indian Medical Association; Heart Care Foundation of India, New Delhi, India, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi, India, Heart Care Foundation of India; Medical Education Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi, India; IJCP Group; Indian Medical Association; Ethical Committee, Delhi Medical Council, New Delhi, India, Board of Medical Education, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi, India; eMedinewS and IMA News; Indian Medical Association BC Roy Awardee, Moolchand Hospital; Heart Care Foundation of India, Delhi, India, Immediate National Past President,, Heart Care Foundation of India, New Delhi, India, Board of Medical Education, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi, India; eMedinews and IMA News; Indian Medical Association, BC Roy Awardee
Chapter keywords
cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), sudden death, clinical death, terminal patients, sudden cardiac death

Abstract

Vedas describes three aspects of consciousness or life, the senses (mythologically depicted by Gayatri); the prana or the life force (depicted by Savitri) and the speech or vak (depicted by Saraswathi). Vedic knowledge of Shruti (original work) and Samriti (reviews) in ancient period were propagated to the community through songs (Geeta) or plays and stories (Puranas). Savitri satyavan was one such story with a deeper message. It probably indicates that the process of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the revival of victims with sudden death was known in the Vedic era. And the story of Savitri depicts that it is possible to bring back one’s life with dedication and devotion. It is known that clinical death is different from actual death. The death in the first 4–5 minutes is reversible, as the brain remains alive during this period. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation may have no value in terminal patients. The story of Savitri also indicates the importance of being with the victim who is at risk of sudden cardiac death. It lays the importance of teaching CPR to the laypersons and especially the family members of at risk patients.

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