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What is Ayurveda? `Ayu' means life and `Veda' means knowledge ie Ayurveda is the knowledge of life or the science of life. Brahma, the creator of life as per Indian mythology, quoted Ayurveda from his divine perception. He gave the knowledge to Prajapathi, who was the king of the mankind, and from him it went to Aswini Kumaras, physicians of the gods, and from them to Indra, the king of gods.
Beyond this, the texts differ on how the knowledge reached man. According to one text, sage Dhanwantari learnt it from Indra who passed it on to Susruta, the physician. Another text claims it was sage Bharadwaj who received it from Indra. But in both cases, the knowledge of Ayurveda reached the common man through the sages. Many different medical texts were prepared by sages like Atreya, Parashar, Kashyapa, Vashishta, Bhrigu. These works are grouped under two schools, though many of them are no more extant. The Atreya school deals with medicine and the Dhanwantari school mainly deals wth surgery. This story only means that this system of medicine was there from the creation of life. This system starts from the experience of the first known case of a disease and its handling by mankind. It not only deals with the diseased state but also gives guidance for healthy living. You can see the do's and don'ts for a perfect health for the day-to-day life starting from the time you wake up till you go to bed. This also refers to the changes needed according to the climate and personal dispositions. The operative part of Ayurveda is founded on certain unique principles and concepts. The very base of the science constitutes the concepts of three humours of the body - Vatha, Pitha and Kapha. A detailed explanation of these humours leads to the creation of the universe ie from the infinite to the panchabhutas such as the earth, water, fire, air and ether. Vatha, Pitha and Kapha are nothing but combinations of these five elements. The human body which is described as a combination of these humours is not a separate entity, but a combination of the five elements from which the whole universe is made. Ayurveda advises to preserve the balance of the nature and life. Diseases which are the imbalanced state deserve the balancing act, ie the treatment. There is nothing in the universe which is not a medicine, it says. One more aspect of the theory of Ayurveda is it does not see the mind separate from the body. It advises to treat the patient, not the disease. Patient is not the physical body he inherits but it is a combination of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects. This is where the Ayurveda system outsmarts all the other systems of treatment. This system was in utter neglect for long. And it survived all attacks because of its strong base, and is now all set to reach its healing powers to the nooks and corners of the world. Alas! quacks have, of late, attempted to present this system as a massage package across the table. Many have also made this system of medicare into capsules and pills. Yet, Ayurvreda emerges unscathed and is set to receive universal acclaim. -Dr MV Vasudevan, BAM |
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