Introduction To Ayurveda
The word Ayurveda derived from AYU and VEDA.
AYU means life VEDA means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means the science of life.
Acharya Charaka defines "That science is designated as Ayurveda which deals with advantage and disadvantage as well as happy and unhappy states of life along with what is good and bad for life, its measurement and the life itself (Charaka Sutra 1 -4)" Ayurveda embraces all living things, animate and inanimate. It is divided into three main branches viz., Nara Ayurveda dealing with human life, Satva Ayurveda the science dealing with animal life and its diseases, Vriksha Ayurveda the science dealing with plant life, its growth and diseases. It is amply clear that Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine but also a way of life for complete positive health and spiritual attainments.
Ayurveda believes that positive health is the basis for attaining four cherished goals
of life (chaturvidh purushartha) viz., Dharma, Artha,Kama, Moksha. All these four goals cannot be achieved without sound positive health.
Positive health is defined as
(a) Dosha Dhatu samya (well balanced metabolism)
(b) Prasanna Atma, Indriya, Manah (happy state of the soul, senses and the mind). Senses here mean the five organs of perception Gyanendriya viz., smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing coupled with the organs of action Karmendriya viz., mouth,
hands, foot and organs of excretion and
reproduction.
The origin of Ayurveda dates back to the Vedic era. Most material relating to the health and diseases are available in Atharva veda.
Historians claim that Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda. However RigVeda which is the earliest Veda also
mentions about diseases and medicinal plants. In Athrava veda there are hyms which mention about
medicines like Accorus calamus and Phylanthus Embelia. The systematized form of Ayurveda dates back to the prehistoric period of Rishi Conference
which was held in the foot hills of Mount Himalaya.
The earliest codified document on Ayurveda is Charaka Samhita. Sushruta samhita is another codified document. Sushruta tradition was
said to be descended and propagated by God Dhanvantari whereas Charaka tradition was descended through acharya Atreya.
Sushruta School is dominated by surgical procedures and techniques while Charaka Samhita deals with internal medicine.
Charaka Samhita also mentions the names of the earliest disciples of Atreya as Agnivesh, Bhela,
Jatukarna, Parashar, Harita and Ksharpani and they separately created their own treaties in the field of
internal medicine. Out of these six, Charaka Samhita and Bhela Samhita are available in authentic form today, however, Harita Samhita which is also available, but its authenticity is questionable. Many of the manuscripts were lost due to foreign invasions which resulted in big
setback to this ancient knowledge of life.
The word Ayurveda derived from AYU and VEDA.
AYU means life VEDA means science or knowledge. Ayurveda means the science of life.
Acharya Charaka defines "That science is designated as Ayurveda which deals with advantage and disadvantage as well as happy and unhappy states of life along with what is good and bad for life, its measurement and the life itself (Charaka Sutra 1 -4)" Ayurveda embraces all living things, animate and inanimate. It is divided into three main branches viz., Nara Ayurveda dealing with human life, Satva Ayurveda the science dealing with animal life and its diseases, Vriksha Ayurveda the science dealing with plant life, its growth and diseases. It is amply clear that Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine but also a way of life for complete positive health and spiritual attainments.
Ayurveda believes that positive health is the basis for attaining four cherished goals
of life (chaturvidh purushartha) viz., Dharma, Artha,Kama, Moksha. All these four goals cannot be achieved without sound positive health.
Positive health is defined as
(a) Dosha Dhatu samya (well balanced metabolism)
(b) Prasanna Atma, Indriya, Manah (happy state of the soul, senses and the mind). Senses here mean the five organs of perception Gyanendriya viz., smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing coupled with the organs of action Karmendriya viz., mouth,
hands, foot and organs of excretion and
reproduction.
Origin Of Ayurveda
The origin of Ayurveda dates back to the Vedic era. Most material relating to the health and diseases are available in Atharva veda.
Historians claim that Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda. However RigVeda which is the earliest Veda also
mentions about diseases and medicinal plants. In Athrava veda there are hyms which mention about
medicines like Accorus calamus and Phylanthus Embelia. The systematized form of Ayurveda dates back to the prehistoric period of Rishi Conference
which was held in the foot hills of Mount Himalaya.
The earliest codified document on Ayurveda is Charaka Samhita. Sushruta samhita is another codified document. Sushruta tradition was
said to be descended and propagated by God Dhanvantari whereas Charaka tradition was descended through acharya Atreya.
Sushruta School is dominated by surgical procedures and techniques while Charaka Samhita deals with internal medicine.
Charaka Samhita also mentions the names of the earliest disciples of Atreya as Agnivesh, Bhela,
Jatukarna, Parashar, Harita and Ksharpani and they separately created their own treaties in the field of
internal medicine. Out of these six, Charaka Samhita and Bhela Samhita are available in authentic form today, however, Harita Samhita which is also available, but its authenticity is questionable. Many of the manuscripts were lost due to foreign invasions which resulted in big
setback to this ancient knowledge of life.
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