A Critical Evaluation of Traditional Water Purification Techniques in Ancient India with special reference to Ayurvedic Principles

Abstract

Water is a vital component of the human body, and consuming safe, palatable water is essential for maintaining good health. Contaminated water often carries numerous impurities, posing serious health risks. The ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, places significant emphasis on the importance of consuming clean water and outlines various sources such as wells, rivers, oceans, waterfalls, and ponds. Ayurvedic texts not only caution against drinking impure or unpalatable water but also describe methods for purification and disinfection to prevent waterborne illnesses. Acharya Sushruta, a prominent figure in Ayurveda, provided detailed descriptions of water purification techniques and the disinfection processes aimed at safeguarding health. According to Ayurvedic principles, the consumption of impure water can result in various ailments, including edema, anemia, indigestion, skin disorders, cough, rhinorrhea, abdominal pain and distension, fever, anorexia, conjunctivitis, and goitre. Ayurveda recommends a variety of natural substances for purifying water, including the seeds of Nirmali (Strychnos potatorum), lotus roots, Spirogyra roots, cloth filtration, pearl, Hessonite stone-infused water, and alum. Disinfection techniques described include exposing water to sunlight, boiling it, or immersing a heated iron ball in it. To improve taste and eliminate unpleasant odors, aromatic substances such as lotus, Pandanus (Ketaki), Mesua ferrea (Nagakeshara), Michelia champaca (Champa), and Stereospermum suaveolens (Patala) were traditionally used. The purification process often began with the use of alum, which helped settle suspended particles. Cloth filtration was employed to trap larger impurities, followed by treatment with Strychnos potatorum seeds for further cleansing. Boiling served as the final step to eliminate microbial contamination. The recurring observation in Ayurvedic texts is that impure water is a major contributor to disease. Thus, it can be concluded that ancient Indian medical science, particularly Ayurveda, provides comprehensive and systematic methods for water purification and disinfection.