Ayurveda

Ayu + Veda (Sanskrit)

Ayu: Life; Veda: Knowledge/Science

The literal meaning of Ayurveda is the knowledge or science of life. It is the most ancient medical science of the world which was evolved before 5000 years ago. It is an integral part of the Vedic philosophy and evolved in the culture of Nepal and India (Indian subcontinent). Ayurveda is the holistic science of health which covers the physical, psychological and spiritual well being of all living beings. It focuses on achieving optimal health through the integration of mind and body with nature. It treats human being as a complex whole and strives for harmony between human being and the entire surroundings around. In order to achieve this harmony, Ayurveda guides an individual to live perfect quality live through the management of lifestyle and physical, mental or spiritual ailments. It adopts different medicine therapies, exercises and dietary regimens. So, Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine but also a dynamic philosophy of life which enables one to lead a simple, productive and healthy life.

Likewise, apart from human body, Ayurveda deals with the welfare of all living beings including plants and animals. According to the Vedic philosophy, animal and plants also have mind and a soul along with physique. Besides, Ayurvedic texts for human beings, there are certain books for animals and plants as well.

a. Gavaayurveda: Dealing with the health of cattle

b. Aswayurveda: Dealing with the health of horse

c. Gajaayurveda: Dealing with the health of elephants

d. Vriksayurveda: Dealing with the health of vegetable kingdom.

Ayurveda doesn’t accept health as a condition of freedom from disease and possession of robust body. To be healthy, there should be perfect harmony of Doshas (Bioregulating principles or physical entities governing body physiology/ somewhere referred as humors), Dhatus (Tissues elements composing anatomical structures) along with the soundness of the Senses, Mind and Soul. Thus Ayurveda deals signs and symptoms of happy and unhappy life, drugs, diets, drinks and other regimens which are useful and harmful for good health. In other words, Ayurveda prescribed DOs and DON’Ts, the prevention and promotion of positive health as well as prevention and cure of the diseases. Hence, Ayurveda is a holistic science of life, which teaches us the art of living.

The scope of Ayurveda is quite vast. On one hand, it gives detailed information regarding treatment of rare and complex diseases. On the other hand, it teaches a healthy person to remain fit and disease free. Ayurvedic principles and philosophy are real and universal. They are eternal and everlasting which guides us to universal well being and joy.

AYU (LIFE)

Ayu is the combination of physical body containing five each of the sensory and executive organs, mind (Satwa) and Soul/Spirit (Aatma). Hence body, mind and spirit are the constituents of Ayu.

VEDA (KNOWLEDGE)

Veda literally means knowledge in Sanskrit. They are the collection of the supreme knowledge achieved by the ancient seers in the stage of the contemplation. They are:

• Oldest scriptures in the library of human beings.

• Most well organized scriptural knowledge (books of wisdom) of the whole world.

• Knowledge of Veda used to be handed down from generation to generation for several thousand years by oral tradition by Vedics before being recorded in written form.

• Roots and basis of our culture (Indian subcontinent) and civilization.

According to Hindu philosophy there are four different Vedas. i.e Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda and Atharvaveda

1. Rigveda: The book of Mantra:

The Rig Veda is a collection of inspired songs or hymns and is a main source of information on the Rig Vedic civilization. It is the oldest book in any Indo-European language and contains the earliest form of all Sanskrit mantras that date back to 1500 B.C. - 1000 B.C. The Rig-Vedic ‘samhita’ or collection of mantras consists of 1,017 hymns or ‘suktas’, covering about 10,600 stanzas, divided into eight ‘astakas’ each having eight ‘adhayayas’ or chapters .

2. Samveda: The book of Songs:

The Sama Veda is purely a collection of melodies (‘saman’). The hymns in the Sama Veda, used as musical notes, were almost completely drawn from the Rig Veda and have no distinctive lessons of their own. If the Rig Veda is the word, Sama Veda is the song or the meaning, if Rig Veda is the knowledge, Sama Veda is its realization, if Rig Veda is the wife, the Sama Veda is her husband.

3. Yajurveda: The book of Rituals:

Yajurveda was made to meet the demands of a ceremonial religion. It practically served as a guidebook for the priests who execute sacrificial acts muttering simultaneously the prayers and the sacrificial formulae (yajus).

4. Atharvaveda: The book of Spells:

This is completely different from the other three Vedas and is next in importance to Rig-Veda with regard to history and sociology. The Atharva Veda consists of spells and charms prevalent at its time, and portrays a clearer picture of the Vedic society.

From the Ayurvedic point of view, Atharvaveda is the most important Veda. Primarily Ayurveda was developed from this Veda nd Ayurveda is considered as the Upaveda (branch) of the Veda. It is the most recent of all Vedas which contains the concept of three bioregulating principles/ humors (Vata, Pitta and Kapha), anatomy, physiology, diseases and medicinal plants. Some scholars (Kashyapa) took Ayurveda as a fifth Veda because of its great importance, put in topmost position amongst them.

Definition of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is that science which describes

• Advantageous(Wholesome) and disadvantageous(unwholesome) life: Social aspect

• Happy and unhappy states of life: Individual aspect

• What is good and bad for life: Dietary aspect

• Life and its measurement: Healthy life must be of 100 yrs duration!

So, Ayurveda is the knowledge of life which makes human life healthy, happy and optimum. In conclusion, Ayurveda is not merely the science of treatment through herbal medicines and shrubs or some bodily exercises but an instruction and view of living a complete human life.