This is a short and sweet write up article by Dr.Vairamuthu.K, an inspiring house surgeon at Coimbatore Ayurveda College about the Basic concepts in Ayurveda which is the base of our living and the roots of the great science. His expertise in Sanskrit language adds more beauty to the essence of Ayurvedic Concepts explained. This article helps in understanding the basics of Authentic Ayurveda Science which is evidence based in all means. It is not a superstitious or a fake outdated science. Ayurveda blends with our everyday routine without our knowledge as its a way of living we follow from long time.
Authentic Ayurveda (The science of Life)
The term Ayur means Life, Veda means Knowledge. Thus, ayurveda can be termed as the science which gives us the knowledge of life. Ayurveda is considered as the upaveda of atharva veda, and some others opines that ayurveda is the 5th Veda itself (Bramhavaivartana purana).
Benefits / objectives of Ayurveda
प्रयोजनं चास्य स्वस्थस्य स्वाथ्य रक्षणमातुरस्य विकारप्रशमनं च ll
(cha. Soo. 30/26)
The purpose of this science is to preserve the health of the healthy and to cure the disease of the unhealthy.
न केवलं दीर्घमिहायुरश्नुते रसायनं यो विधिवन्निषेविते l
गतिं स देवर्षिनिषेवितां शुभां प्रपद्यते ब्रह्म तथैव चाक्षयम् ll
(cha. Chi. 1 (1)/80)
Ayurveda is mainly dealt for leading a healthy long life not the immortality. Through the healthy long life by adopting Ayurveda understanding the paramatma (the supreme soul) and the jeevatma (the empirical soul) both are one and the same. Hence, this kind of understanding will pave the way for the Moksha (salvation) as well.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम् l
(cha. Soo. 1/15)
The Arogya (Health) is the best source of virtue (dharma), wealth (artha), gratification (kaama) and salvation (moksha).
सर्वं अन्यद् परित्यज्य शरीरमुपालयेत् l
One has to avoid everything to keep his body healthy.
शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम् l (Upanishad)
The body is the means of fulfilling one’s all duties.
Principles of treatment
हेतुलिङ्गौषधज्ञानं स्वस्थातुरपरायणम् l
त्रिसूत्रं शाश्वतं पुण्यं बुबुधे यं पितामहः ll
(cha. Soo. 1/24)
Three principles for knowledge of health and disease: Ayurveda provides the knowledge of etiology, symptomatology and therapeutics, best ways for both healthy and the sick this tri-aphorismic, continuing for the first time immemorial and virtuous knowledge which was known to the Brahma first.
Arogya raksha through Ayurveda
For maintaining and protecting the health of an individual one has to know certain basic things which are as follows:
The word aayu came from the root “inn gathou” (इन् गतौ) which means that is continuously going or moving.
Definition of ayu (life) and its synonyms:
शरीरेन्द्रियसत्वात्मसंयोगो धारि जीवितम् l
नित्यगश्चानुबन्धश्च पर्यायैरायुरुच्यते ll
(cha. Soo. 1/12)
Ayu (life) implies the conjunction of physical body, senses, mind and soul and is known by the synonym of dhari (that which sustains), jivita (that which is live), nityaga(that which is in continuum), and anubandha (that which is interdependent, ot a link between past life and the future life.
हिताहितं शुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम् l
मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते ll
(cha. Soo. 1/12)
Ayurveda is that which deals with good, bad, blissful and sorrowful life, and with what is wholesome and unwholesome for it, longevity, and what about ayu (life) is in itself.
So we want to understand
- What is hita to us (our life)!
- What is ahita to us!
- What gives sukha to us!
- What gives dukha to us!
- What is priya/pathya to us!
- What is satmya to us!
By knowing these in a better manner will help us to lead arogya ayu (healthy life).
Pathyapathya – Based on dosha, Based on vyadhi
पथ्यं पथोऽनपेतं यद्यच्चोक्तं मनसः प्रियम्|
यच्चाप्रियमपथ्यं च नियतं तन्न लक्षयेत्||
मात्राकालक्रियाभूमिदेहदोषगुणान्तरम् |
प्राप्य तत्तद्धि दृश्यन्ते ते ते भावास्तथा तथा||
(Cha. Soo. 25/45, 46)
Pathya (wholesome regimen):
The dietary articles and activities that do not adversely affect the body systems and are liked by the mind are regarded as pathya (wholesome). Likewise, dietary articles and activities that adversely affect the body system and are disliked by the mind are regarded as unwholesome. This is, however, not a cardinal rule, and food articles and drugs do have a variety of effects depending on the dosage, time, mode of preparation, geographical location, the body constitution of the patient, and doshas.
तच्च नित्यं प्रयुञ्जीत स्वास्थ्यं येनानुवर्तते|
अजातानां विकाराणामनुत्पत्तिकरं च यत्||
One should follow those in the daily regimen, which maintain health as well as prevent onset of diseases.
षष्टिकाञ्छालिमुद्गांश्च सैन्धवामलके यवान्|
आन्तरीक्षं पयः सर्पिर्जाङ्गलं मधु चाभ्यसेत्||
One should regularly consume shashtika rice (Oryza sativum), shali rice (varieties of Oryza sativum rice), mudga (Vigna radiata green gram), rock-salt, aamalaka (Phyllanthus emblica -Indian-gooseberry), yava (Hordeum vulgare-barley), rain-water, milk, ghee, flesh of jangala animals (arid habitat) and honey.
वल्लूरं शुष्कशाकानि शालूकानि बिसानि च|
नाभ्यसेद्गौरवान्मांसं कृशं नैवोपयोजयेत्||
Forbidden food articles for habitual consumption:
One should not be habitual to take dried meat, dried vegetables, shaluka (tuber of lotus-Nymphaea alba Linn.) and bisa (stalk of lotus – Nymphaea alba Linn.) as these are heavy to digest. One should never eat meat of emaciated animal.
कूर्चिकांश्च किलाटांश्च शौकरं गव्यमाहिषे|
मत्स्यान् दधि च माषांश्च यवकांश्च न शीलयेत्||
One should not be habitual to take coagulated milk, cream-cheese, pork, meat of cow and buffalo, fish, curd, black-gram and wild-barley.
The satmya (the thing or food which get accosted) to the particular individual or which is harm but doesn’t cause any of such ill effects.
And the list follows with the nitya procedures like danthadavana, ushajala paanam, nasyam, gandoosham, anjanam, abyangam, vyayamam, snanam, sadacharas…
These kind of things when followed properly the ayur arogya raksha will be maintained or protected correctly.
सर्वं अन्यत् परित्यज्य शरीरं अनुपालयेत् l
Sarvam anyat parityajya shareeram anupaalayet..!
शास्त्रं रक्षति रक्षितम्
Shastram rakshati rakshitam!
ज्ञानं प्रकाशनार्थम्
Jyaanam prakashanaartham !
CREDITS @ Vd. Vairamuthu.K, BAMS, Convenor – Jignasa Tamilnadu
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DISCLAIMER:
Please remember the information are only meant as guidelines and in no way replace the advice or treatment provided by your medical practitioner. It is always good to seek the advice of your physician, homoeopath, naturopath, or herbalist for professional advice in any matter related to your health. This article is for information purposes only.
