EVOLUTION OF AYURVEDA- Ayurveda notes

 

Ayurveda is considered as an eternal art of healing whose history is traceable to the beginning of life processes in the universe and will persist until the destruction of universe.

Ø  Mythological perspective

Ø  Historical perspective

Mythological perspective

There are many interesting legends connected with the origin and development of ayurveda. One of the legends is that the demons on the earth and god in heaven interested to obtain ambrosia (Amrit) for eternality from ocean of milk (Ksheer sagar). Since it was not possible for them working individually, both decided to work together and share the outcome.

Accordingly, both groups churned the Ksheer sagar, using Meru Parvat (a large mountain) as the protester and Adiseshu (A large and strong snake) as the rope. This churning first resulted in powerful poison, which lord Shiva swallowed for the sake of universe. Then, later ambrosia was obtained. It is said that Dhanwantari emerged out of Ksheer sagar with a vessel of amrita in one hand and a group of herbs in another. Dhanwantari, the patron god of physicians and surgeons is considered to be a minor incarnation of vishnu. Still today, Dhanwantari is called father of Ayurvdea and every year.

Dhanwantari day is observed as Arogya day (one day before Laxmipooja).

Another saying is that, Brahma, the creator of the universe evolved the science of Ayurveda at the time of creation of universe and taught to Daksha Prajapati. Daksha prajapati imparted the knowledge to Aswini Kumars (the twins sons of the God Son) Ashwinis twins, the divine physicians taught this very important science to Indra, the king of gods. Till this time, Ayurveda was not within the reach of mankind, it was present only in heaven. When people and living beings of earth, because of their own misbehavior and lack of knowledge (paap karma), suffered from diseases, the Rishis (seers) of earth held meeting in the lap of Himalayas to find the solution. The meeting concluded with the decision that one of the Rishis should go to the heaven to acquire Ayurvedic knowledge and return to earth to serve the living beings. Different texts have different opinion that who went to heaven.

Vedic Era: 5000 BC

•         Historical descent of Ayurveda upto Indra.

•         Mention of various references of health, diseases and medicinal plants in Veda.

•         During vedic period, Ayurveda was not a separate branch of science. Evolution of Ayurveda started with compilation of health care information scattered in Vedas, mainly Atharvaveda.

 

Samhita Era: 1000-600 BC

The word samhita means compilation of knowledge. Thus the period in which compiling process of ayurvvedic treaties began is called samhita era.

•         Charaka Samhita: Text on Medicine, compiled by Charaka

•         Susruta Samhita: Text on medicine and surgery, compiled by Susruta

•         Astanga Hridaya: Text on Anatomy and Physiloigy, compiled by Vagbhata

These three texts are known as Brihat Trayi (Three major texts) of Ayurveda. In this period, Ayurveda was developed into a school of medicine e.e. called eight branches of medical specialities called Astanga Ayurveda.

Buddhist Era: 600 BC- 5^th Century AD

This is the golden period of Ayurveda. Every branch of Ayurveda was nourished due to contributions of different scholars. Nagarjuna; a great Ayurvedic scholar and specialist of Rasashastra lived in this era.

 

Mediavel Era: 8^th – 18^th Century AD (1000 years)

Tremendous decline occur during Mughal and British rules. Though various scholars wrote new Ayurveda books in this period. They are as follows:

1.      Madhavnidhaan: By Madhavkara (Text on Clinical Pathology or Diagnosis)

2.      Sarangadhar Samhita: By Sarangadhar (Text on Pharmaceutics)

3.      Bhavaprakash Nigantu: By Bhava Misra (Materia Medica of Medicinal Plants)

4.      Kalyankaraka: By Ugradityacharya (General Text)

5.      Siddhasara Samhita: By Ravi Gupta (General Text).

6.      Dravyaguna Sangaraha: By Chakrapani Dutta (Medicinal Plants).

 

Amongst these texts, first three texts are known as Laghu Trayi (Three minor texts) of       Ayurveda.

 

Modern Era: 18^th Century AD-Now

Several efforts were performed to uplift the Ayurveda. Most important book Bhaisajya Ratnawali written by Govinda Das about pharmaceutical preparation for several disease (18^th century AD) replacing Bhutavidhya with Manasa Roga from Astanga Ayurveda and adding nine new subjects as listed below, Sodhasanga Ayurveda developed during 19^th century.

•         Maulik Siddhanta (Basic principles)

•         Sharir (Anatomy and Physiology)

•         Dravyaguna (Pharmacology)

•         Bhaihsajya Kalpana (Pharmacy)

•         Rogvigyan (Pathology)

•         Swasthavritaa (Preventive and Social Medicine)

•         Manasa Roga (Psychiatry)

•         Prasuti Roga (Obstetrics and Gynecology)