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Ayurveda
in India
The science of life, the origin of most forms of natural
and alternative medicine-has its mention in one of the
oldest (about 6,000 years) philosophical texts of the
world, the Rig Veda. The Sutrasthana of Charaka Samhita, a
much referred ayurvedic text, says; "The three-body, mind
and soul-are like a tripod, the world stand by their
combination; in them everything abides. It is the subject
matter of ayurveda for which the teachings of ayurveda
have been revealed." (1.46-47)
In its broader scope, ayurveda in India has always sought
to prepare mankind for the realization of the full
potential of its self through a psychosomatic integration.
A comprehensive health care is what this natural and
alternative medicine prescribes for the ultimate
self-realization.
"Life (ayu) is the combination (samyoga) of body, senses,
mind and reincarnating soul. Ayurveda is the most sacred
science of life, beneficial to humans both in this world
and the world beyond."
-Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana, 1.42-43.
The verses of Rig Veda, the earliest source of ayurveda,
refer to panchamahabhut (five basic elements of the entire
creation), and the three doshas or primary forces of prana
or vata (air), agni or pitta (fire) and soma or kapha
(water and earth) as comprising the basic principles of
ayurveda. One branch of Indian philosophy-Sankhya states
that there are 24 elements, all of which constitute the
foundation of the gross world: earth, water, fire, air and
ether. These five elements in different combinations
constitute the three body types/doshas-vata dosha (air and
ether), pitta dosha (fire) and kapha dosha (earth and
water). The panchamahabhut and the dosha theories are the
guiding factors of ayurveda as a therapeutic science. The
Rig Veda also mentions organ transplants and herbal
remedies called soma with properties of elixir.
This science or knowledge of healing, as mentioned in the
Rig Veda, was revealed to Rishi Bharadvaja from the great
Cosmic Intelligence. The knowledge consists of three
aspects known as the Tri-Sutras of ayurveda, which
are-etiology or the science of the causes of disease,
symptomatology or the study and interpretation of symptoms
and medication and herbal remedies.
Approximately, during 4,000 to 3,000 BC, Sam Veda and
Yajur Veda, the second and third Vedas came into being.
Chanting of mantras and performance of rituals were,
respectively, dealt in these two Vedas. And, during 3,000
to 2,000 BC Atharva the fourth Veda was authored, of which
ayurveda is an upaveda (subsection). Though it had been
practiced all along, it was around this time that ayurveda
in India, was codified from the oral tradition to book
form, as an independent science. It enlists eight
branches/divisions of ayurveda: Kayachikitsa (Internal
Medicine), Shalakya Tantra (surgery and treatment of head
and neck, Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology), Shalya Tantra
(Surgery), Agada Tantra (Toxicology), Bhuta Vidya
(Psychiatry), Kaumarabhritya (Pediatrics), Rasayana
(science of rejuvenation or anti-aging), and Vajikarana
(the science of fertility). The oldest treatise available
on this codified version is Atreya Samhita.
The most fascinating
aspect of ayurveda is, it was using almost all methods of
healing like lifestyle regimen, yoga, aroma, meditation,
gems, amulets, herbs, diet, jyotishi (astrology), color
and surgery etc. in treating patients. Though ayurveda
came into being as an independent upaveda of Atharva Veda,
it has close links with other Vedas also. The Yajur Veda,
which recommends rituals to pacify the panchamahabhuts in
a view to heal both the Cosmic Being and the individual
soul, is related to ayurveda in its principles and
regulations of lifestyle. The upaveda called Dhanur Veda
or the martial arts and ayurveda both refer to each other
in the treatment of marmas or sensitive points in the
body. Ayurveda recommends specific ayurvedic massages,
exercises and bodywork for this purpose. |
