01582nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001200059653002100071653001100092653001000103653001200113653001500125653002600140100001400166700001700180700001200197245008500209856004400294300000900338490000700347050001500354520093300369022001401302       2010                            d  c2010 Jan-Mar10aCulture10aHistory, Ancient10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aLiterature10aReligion and Medicine1 aSinha A K1 aBanerjee B G1 aSingh S00aLeprosy and its socio-cultural perception in Indian religions and ancient texts.  uhttp://www.ijl.org.in/jan_mar_2010.html  a1-210 v82  aSINHA 20103 a<p>Leprosy is one of the oldest ailments known to the mankind. Many of the ancient texts and scriptures reveal that leprosy was not categorised as a specified disease but was grouped along with other skin diseases. However, in certain texts categorical mention of this disease does exist. The prime objective of this article is to highlight the age old traditional line of perception about this disease. A literature review was done to up-date the socio-cultural perception of leprosy in Indian religions and ancient texts. References were obtained through examining relevant bibliographies and the views/suggestions of eminent scholars engaged in this field were also included. An analysis of the secondary sources of data, particularly the ancient texts reveals that in good old days, leprosy had been considered to be an infliction of wrong-doings and sins. This viewpoint has been significantly reflected in these texts.</p>  a0254-9395