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Abstract
The article narrates the experience of constructing a depth classification scheme for Ayurveda literature by using
Dr.Ranganathan's principle. It also explains the advantages of this method in constructing of classification schemes according to
Dr. Ranganathan's principle for various subjects.
INTRODUCTION
In the history of the life of human beings, knowledge has
enjoyed unparalleled place of importance. In the whole
history of human race, in different periods of time, knowledge
creation was achieved making use of all visible and invisible
means in the respective periods of time. It is because of this
that creation of knowledge has been achieved in different
periods of time, known as well as unknown, in various
subjects such as literature, science, health, music, society,
administration, system of government, town-planning, etc.
encompassing the whole life. Generally, we can easily
understand that, though the time-span from Greek-Roman
period and in India from the period of creation of literature in
Sanskrit, is one of the periods of the available source of
knowledge; the process of creation of knowledge had begun
hundreds of years even before this, or even from the
beginning of human life itself. From this, it is universally
acknowledged truth that the system of classification came
into being to weave in one strand the depth and extent of this
subject, to have the classification of the creation of knowledge
in this subject scientifically, and through the medium of
research to have again the creation of new knowledge.
From time immemorial this kind of knowledge has been
preserved as a treasure through untiring efforts by several
generations. In fact, the oral knowledge, the knowledge
available on the parchments that can now be digitalized and
stored is really an amazing journey of creation and acquisition
of knowledge.
Instead of mere creation of knowledge and its availability, we
realize the extraordinary importance of scientific
classification of knowledge available in various disciplines,
texts and criticism and the means of research, and the
cooperation we can get in the work of creation of knowledge.
It is through this that the well-known experts in the field of
Library Science, through their study and experience, have put
forth different classification
scheme. In the course of time all these classification scheme
underwent expected changes. Colon classification is one of
such classification scheme. The credit of removing the
weaknesses in the classification schemes available at the
international level, through this medium of classification,
goes to Dr. Ranganathan, who Developed more and more complete and deep system of
classification. Keeping in mind the system of classification in
force in the past, and the possible changes in future, Dr.
Ranganathan has proposed some guiding principles relevant
to the expected integrity in the field of research. In particular,
he has expressed his wish that the original system of
classification should not be distorted by the changes that come
into being or suggested in future.
In view of this, the purpose of this research is to organize
completely the classification of the books on the subject of
Ayurveda, to develop new depth classification scheme going
ahead of the LB-AYURVED Table of classification of the
books on Ayurveda as the reading material which is available
but incomplete, and implement actual system of issue of
books in the library.
DEPTH CLASSIFICATION SCHEME
Depth classification is 'a scheme of classification fitted to
reach co-extensiveness and expressiveness in the
classification of micro thoughts having many rounds and
levels of facets and isolates of high orders in any or all of
1
them.
The depth classification scheme was constructed by adopting
2
blending method suggested by Ranganathan. The steps
adopted in constructing the depth classification scheme are:
Understanding the subject
For knowing the highways and byways of Ayurveda a large
number of Indian and foreign documents were browsed and
read.
Identification of the sample population
For constructing the depth classification scheme, 500 assorted
micro documents were analyzed. This was done to have
representative sample and to avoid duplication. Only the
micro documents were analyzed, as they deal with the subject
in depth. A schedule based on micro documents ultimately
proves helpful in classifying macro documents also. The
micro documents analyzed were articles published in various
documents. An illustrative list of the documents from which
the micro documents were analyzed are :
1) 124 Books related to Ayurveda
2) 415 Research Papers related to the Subject of
Ayurveda
th 3) Colon Classification, 6 ed. L-Medicine Table
4) Databases of Medical Subject Headings (MeSh), U.
S. National Library of Medicine Search at
www.nim.nih.gov/mesh/MBrowser.htm/Search on
th th 10 January, 2010-30 May 2011.
5) Syllabus of Ayurvedacharya (BAMS) Course,
Central Council of Indian Medicine, New Delhi.
6) Syllabus for Post-Graduate Course in Ayurveda
(MD), Central of Indian Medicine, New Delhi.
Search at www.ccimindiacurriculum ayurveda
final pg sy2009.htm
The sample selection was such, so as to have adequate
representation to Ayuveda literatue. In order to satisfy the
principle of literary warrant the actual micro documents were
analyzed.
Analysis of data
As far as possible the full text of the micro document was read,
so as to have sufficient understanding of the contents.
However, to have wider coverage, some data as collected
from the abstracting sources also. The micro documents were
analyzed by applying following Ranganathan's fundamental
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categories.
(1) Personality (P) : The central point of any subject is
'personality.' This facet is seen at the centre of each
subject and it is from this central point that the branches
of the subject have been created.
(2) Matter (M) : The meaning of this facet is suggested by
Material, substance or anything that is useful. According
to the system of principles of Dr. Ranganathan, the
presentation of this aspect involves the characteristics of
the objects, the characteristics of the human beings, etc.
(3) Energy (E): In this facet there is included any activity
done by human or non-human agents which is physical or
mental, actual or imaginary, intellectual or happening
naturally.
(4) Space (S) : The Space facet includes Geographical
regions. There are in it the Continent, the countries within
it, provinces or states, the districts, talukas, cities and
villages in it and besides the geographical categories
taken into account such as the soil, the hills, the
mountains, planes, oceans, rivers, canals, etc. which are
included in it. All these are included in the Space Facet.
(5) Time (T) : This facet is used to indicate time or period.
For example, the period of a thousand years, a century, a
year, a month and a day, in the same way all seasons,
climate and the difference felt on account of the climate
such as dry, sultry climate and snow-fall or stormy
climate. The predictions of climate are also considered
indicative of Time.
The analysis of facets of Ayurveda subjects is done from the
point of view of these basic aspects, as given below:
Facet is a constituent or a part of every subject. Facet analysis
is the analysis of a subject with reference to the similarities in
it. The analysis of a subject in various facets finally becomes
the cause of the creation of the divisions or sub-divisions of
the concerned subject or it is through the facet analysis of the
subject that the divisions and sub-divisions and the
constituent subjects are formed. The very objective of dividing a subject into particular facet is that taking into
account the thorough discussions of the subject and its subtopics,
we should be able to arrange the books at a proper place
in the library. Ayurveda is a medicinal science, and according to the basic principles of the fundamental categories of Dr.
Ranganathan metioned above,
Arrangement of Isolates:
The isolates of various facets were arranged by applying
Principles of Helpful Sequence. Help of various Devices and
Canons was also taken to arrange the isolates as follows:
Array of Classification Scheme
An array is a “classes derived from a universe on the basis of a
single characteristic at any one step in the progress towards its
complete its complete assortment and arranged in the
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preferred sequence.” An array is chronologically arranged
set of divisions or sub-divisions of the similar position making
use of the same characteristics. The chronology of the classes
of the similar positions making use of similar feature is the
organization of an array. The arrangement of an array in the
scheme of Ayurveda Classification is carried out according to
Dr. Ranganathan's canon as given below.
Canon of Exhaustiveness :
This canon is, “The classes in an array of classes and the
ranked isolates in an array of ranked isolates should be totally
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exhaustive of their respective common immediate universe.”
This means the division of any subject or a class should be
according to some similarity feature in such a way that all the
sub-classes should be included in that class. No sub-class
should be excluded from it. According to this canon while
classifying the subject of human body there is a sub-class as
other schemes. As a result, no sub-class is excluded from the
scheme.
1. Basic and regional
2. Digestive System
3. Circulatory System
4. Respiratory System
5. Genito-urinary System
6. Duckless gland
7. Nervous System
8. Other Systems
Canon of Exclusiveness
This canon is as stated here: “The Classes in an array of
Classes and the ranked isolates in an array of ranked isolates
7
should be mutually exclusive.” This means, the big groups
and classes are divided into smaller sub-classes. At such time
the all the ancillary elements of the bigger class should be
included in any one of the sub-groups. While making a
division, one object or an element should not be included in
two or more sub-groups. The main group has been divided
into sub-groups according to this canon.
Foci in [2 E] cum [3 P]
212 Kshira Varga
(Milk and Milk Products)
2121 Dugdha Varga
(Milk of Various animals)
2122 Ghrita Varga (Ghee)
2123 Takra Varga Buttermilk
2124 Butter
2125 Ghee
Canon of helpful sequence :
This canon states that “the sequence of the classes in an array
of classes, and of the ranked isolates, should be helpful to
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those for whom it is intended.” This canon says that the
chronology of the classes in an array should be helpful. While
doing classification according to this canon, Dr. Ranganathan
has referred to the following principles:
Principle of Later in time :
“If the subjects in an array of subjects or the isolates in an
array of isolates have originated in different times, they
should be arranged in a parallel progressive time sequence,
9 except when any overwhelming consideration rules it out.”
We can say that if the sub-topics or the sub-elements in the
array of any subject have been created in different periods of
time and if no other chronology is helpful, they should be
arranged according to the chronology in time. Making use of
this canon, the sub-topics in the subject Vyaktigata Swastha
have been classified as given below:
Foci in [E] cum [2p]
51 Vyaktigata Swastha
511 Dinacharya
512 Ratricharya
513 Ritucharya
5131 Dewy Season
5132 Spring Season
5133 Summer Season
5134 Raining Season
5135 Beginning Season
5136 Winter Season
Principle of Bottom Upwards:
“If the subjects in an array of subjects or isolates in an array of
isolates can be conveniently taken to occur along a vertical
line, they may be arranged from bottom upward, if it is
10 helpful.” According this principle, the limbs of the human
body have been classified as given below:
Foci in [P]13 Lower extremity
131 Toe
132 Foot
133 Ankle
134 Leg
135 Knee
136 Thigh
137 Pelvic region
14 Abdomen
15 Thorax
16 Upper extremity
17 Neck
18 Head
Extrapolation in Array :
“An array of class numbers or of isolate numbers should admit
of any number of new co-ordinate numbers being added at the
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beginning and at the end of the array.” This formula of
extrapolation suggests that the inclusion in the class-number
array or in the array of sub-topics of the newly created
numbers at the same position should be done at any place. To
be able to make use of this canon, the device of empty places
has been used as given below.
8 Other Systems
82 Bone
83 Muscle
86 Connective tissue
87 Skin
Chain of Classes in Classification Scheme
The chain can be defined in the following manner.
“A Sequence of Classes made up of any given class and its
universe of Remove 1, Remove 2, Remove 3, etc., carried
12 backwards to any point desired.” The sequence of any class
divided by stages and the classes created
From division of collection of classes are sub-classes. To
create a chain of classes the following formulas were taken as
the base:
Decreasing extension: “While moving down a chain from its
first link to its last, the extension of the classes or of the ranked
isolates, as the case may be, should decrease and the intension
13 should increase at each step.” From the first link in the chain
to the last link, the extension of the classes or the ranked
isolates as it is, should be in a descending order and after each
step intension should increase. Taking this Canon as the basis,
a chain of classes was created: For example:
Foci in [E] cum [2p]
44 Poison
441 corrosive Poison
4411 Acids
44111 Mineral Acids
Canon of Modulation: The original Canon is : “A chain of
classes or of ranked isolates should comprise one class or one
ranked isolates, as the case may be of each and every order that
lies between the orders of the first link and the last link of the
14 chain.”
In the chain of classes from the first to the last link, at one
level, there should be only one class. This canon means that in
one chain there are many links. All the links in the chain from
the first to the last should be included in the classification
scheme, and they should be identifiable. A chain has been
created according to this canon. According to example given
above, the first link is Poison, and the last link is Mineral
Acids. If anyone link in the middle is omitted, the canon of
chronology is violated.
Hospitality in Chain : This canon of hospitality in Chain
suggests that, “A chain of numbers contains a succession of
subordinate numbers beginning with the number representing
the whole universe of entities. It will have to show its
hospitality to a new comer by accommodating it only either at the end or between any two consecutive successions of
subordinate numbers, for a subordinate number cannot
obviously be accommodated above the number at the top
15 which is the largest in the chain” To achieve this purpose,
this canon has been used in the scheme of classification.