CONCEPT OF DESHA IN AYURVEDIC CLASSICAL TEXTS: AN EFFORTS TO GEOGRAPHICAL MAPPING USING MODERN TECHNIQUES AND DATA

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to map each census district of India using the concept and classification of Desha available in classical Ayurvedic text using modern techniques and tools. Method: Rainfall, as well as Potential Evapotranspiration data obtained from WRIS (IMD Grid), was mapped using GIS software, and the district wise average was calculated for the value of the Raster layer obtained by IWD Interpolation and Moisture Index with the formulae of Thornthwaite and Mather and simplified by Venkat Raman & Krishnan was calculated. Every district was assigned to a particular class based upon the analogy of Aridity they had using a classification proposed by Reddy & Reddy in 1973. Result & Conclusions: The overall average Moisture Index for India is -3.43, which placed the country into the class of Anupa Sadharan Desha. At the same time, it has been observed that approximately 59% of the total geographic areas fall under the class of Jangal and Jangal Sadharan Desha. The western coastal area, north-eastern states, Suderban and Kaveri Delta, as well as the Himalayan Biosphere region, form part of Anupa Desha, while Rajasthan to Kutchh falls under the category of Jangal Desha.