Similar to “Agnivesha tantra” (popularly known as “Charaka samhita”), “Maharshi Bhela” has composed an Ayurvedic treatise known as “Bhela samhita.” Bhela samhita consists of 8 sections (sthana) and 120 chapters (adhyaya). “Indriya sthana” is one of the eight sections of “Bhela samhita” and it comprises 12 chapters. “Bhela Indriya sthana” deals with estimating life span and various prognostic aspects. “Mumurshurindriyam” is the third chapter of “Bhela indriya sthana.” The word “mumurshu” denotes a dying person and the chapter “mumurshurindriyam” contains the description of various signs and symptoms seen in the patients with terminal illness or end-of-life stages. Although previous works have explored “Charaka indriya sthana,” studies on “Bhela indriya sthana” are lacking. The present work is aimed to explore the contents of “Mumurshurindriyam” (third chapter) of “Bhela indriya sthana.” “Murmushurindriyam” chapter contains the description of conditions which are commonly seen during end-of-life stages. Various concepts/conditions such as end-of-life dreams and visions, deathbed communications, near death experiences, out-of-body experiences, visual hallucinations, delusions, dementia, delirium, organic psychosis, central auditory perception disorder, age-related hearing loss, late life psychosis, lower gastrointestinal bleeding, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, central diabetes insipidus, spontaneous rupture of urinary bladder, myiasis, and medical etiquette are documented in this chapter by “Maharshi Bhela.” “Maharshi Bhela” has provided a list of signs and symptoms or clinical features in this chapter based on which questionnaire or screening methods can be developed, which can be used in prognostic research. Further research is required to substantiate the claims made in this chapter. The present study paves the path for future research directions.
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