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.