[INDOLOGY] Leprosy

[Matthew Kapstein]

Hi Patrick,

Is kuṣṭha to be strictly identified clinically as leprosy, i.e. "long-term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis." Or is it used more broadly for "leprous" ailments, such as aggravated forms of eczema. If the latter, I can tell you for sure that some types of eczema, dyshydrosis for instance, do have the strange effect of seeming to be relieved by the application of heat, though in fact this only aggravates the condition. 

best for the new year,
Matthew

Matthew T. Kapstein
Professor emeritus
Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris

Associate
The University of Chicago Divinity School

Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

https://ephe.academia.edu/MatthewKapstein



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On Friday, January 9th, 2026 at 4:18 PM, Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info> wrote:

> Dear All:
> 
> There is a curious statement in Aśvaghoṣa’s Saundarananda, 9.44. Here it is in my translation
> 
> "As one afflicted with leprosy
> gains no relief by applying heat,
> So, a man with senses unrestrained,
> wandering among sense objects,
> finds no peace by indulging in pleasures.”
> 
> यथा च कुष्ठव्यसनेन दुःखितः प्रतापयन्नैव शमं निगच्छति ।
> तथेन्द्रियार्थेष्वजितेन्द्रियश्चरन्न कामभोगैरुपशान्तिमृच्छति ॥
> 
> Is there any evidence of apply heat or fire to areas affected by kuṣṭha in the medical or folk literature, or at least statements that such therapies should NOT be used? To make sense of this analogy, there must have been a custom to this effect, even though it only increased the pain of the skin affected by leprosy.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Patrick
> 
> 
> 
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