− | Acharya Charaka throws a light on this by writing that, आरोग्यम् । Arogya ( Health and well being) acts as the root of धर्मः । [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]], अर्थः । Artha, कामः । Kama and मोक्षः। [[Moksha (मोक्षः)|Moksha]] which results in श्रेयः । [[Shreyas and Preyas (श्रेयः प्रेयः च)|Shreyas]] (obtaining better fortune) and जीवितम् । Jivitam (longevity). Through the fulfillment of these, life becomes complete socially, physically, psychologically, intellectually, and spiritually.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, The Heritage of Indian Culture ([https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/heritage/heritage_4.html Chapter 4])</ref> Therefore when in ancient times, common people, Seers and sages performing pious acts experienced impediments in fulfilling these aspects of life due to disturbances caused by diseases, the quest for knowledge of life began. This lead to the emergence of Ayurveda many thousand years ago. <blockquote>धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलम् उत्तमम् ।। रोगास्तस्यापहर्तारः श्रेयसो जीवितस्य च । प्रादुर्भूतो मनुष्याणामन्तरायो महानयम् ।। (Char. Samh. 1.1.15,16)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāmārogyaṁ mūlam uttamam ।। rogāstasyāpahartāraḥ śreyaso jīvitasya ca । prādurbhūto manuṣyāṇāmantarāyo mahānayam ।।(Char. Samh. 1.1.15,16)</blockquote>Meaning: Arogya is believed to be the basic requirement for taking a step towards fulfilling all these पुरुषार्थाः । purusharthas. रोगाः। Roga (Meaning anything experienced as a painful event in life, anything that hurts, commonly referred to diseases) are the destructive events to अनारोग्यम् । anarogya (Ill health) and thus considered to be the obstacles in fulfilling Purushartha. Therefore there is a necessity to know the methods to achieve the desired आरोग्यम् । Arogya or healthy life by eliminating the rogas. This necessity also forms the basis of the unique structure of Ayurveda, the aim of Ayurveda and origin of various concepts that act as basic principles of Ayurveda. | + | Acharya Charaka throws a light on this by writing that, आरोग्यम् । Arogya ( Health and well being) acts as the root of धर्मः । [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]], अर्थः । Artha, कामः । Kama and मोक्षः। [[Moksha (मोक्षः)|Moksha]] which results in श्रेयः । [[Shreyas and Preyas (श्रेयः प्रेयः च)|Shreyas]] (obtaining better fortune) and जीवितम् । Jivitam (longevity). Through the fulfillment of these, life becomes complete socially, physically, psychologically, intellectually, and adhyatmikly.<ref>Swami Krishnananda, The Heritage of Indian Culture ([https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/heritage/heritage_4.html Chapter 4])</ref> Therefore when in ancient times, common people, Seers and sages performing pious acts experienced impediments in fulfilling these aspects of life due to disturbances caused by diseases, the quest for knowledge of life began. This lead to the emergence of Ayurveda many thousand years ago. <blockquote>धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलम् उत्तमम् ।। रोगास्तस्यापहर्तारः श्रेयसो जीवितस्य च । प्रादुर्भूतो मनुष्याणामन्तरायो महानयम् ।। (Char. Samh. 1.1.15,16)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāmārogyaṁ mūlam uttamam ।। rogāstasyāpahartāraḥ śreyaso jīvitasya ca । prādurbhūto manuṣyāṇāmantarāyo mahānayam ।।(Char. Samh. 1.1.15,16)</blockquote>Meaning: Arogya is believed to be the basic requirement for taking a step towards fulfilling all these पुरुषार्थाः । purusharthas. रोगाः। Roga (Meaning anything experienced as a painful event in life, anything that hurts, commonly referred to diseases) are the destructive events to अनारोग्यम् । anarogya (Ill health) and thus considered to be the obstacles in fulfilling Purushartha. Therefore there is a necessity to know the methods to achieve the desired आरोग्यम् । Arogya or healthy life by eliminating the rogas. This necessity also forms the basis of the unique structure of Ayurveda, the aim of Ayurveda and origin of various concepts that act as basic principles of Ayurveda. |
− | In ancient India, the sages and seers were engaged in performing various yajnas and pious acts as a part of their practices for spiritual enlightenment. When emergence of various diseases started creating obstacles in the तप। [[Tapas|tapa]] , उपवास। Upawas , ब्रह्मचर्य। [[Brahmacharya (walking on the path of the divine)|Brahmacharya]] , व्रत। Vrata and आयुष। Aayush , immense need to find out a solution for these diseases was felt. [[File:Medicinal Herbs.png|thumb|700x700px|'''Disciples helping Guru in treating a patient.''' Courtesy: Permitted to use Copyrighted Images from the Book "Sarwang" Published by Adivasi Lok Kala Evam Boli Vikas Academy, Madhya Pradesh Sanskriti Parishad]]Looking at the plight of mankind, the sages and seers decided to assemble at one of the auspicious sides of Himalayas and search for a solution. ऋषयः। Rushis like Angira, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Bhrugu, Atreya, Gautam, Saankhya, Pulastya, Narad, Agastya, Vamadev, Asit, Markandeya, Paarikshi, Ashwalayan, Bhikshu Atreya, Bhardwaja, Kapinjala, Wishwamitra, Ashwamathya, Bhargava, Chyawan, Abhijit, Gargya, Shandilya, Koundilya, Varkshi, Devala, Galav and many other sages were part of this assembly. They all were enlightened and brilliant. They started discussing that diseases are appearing as obstacles in attainment of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Aarogya is the main source for achieving these while, diseases work as destroyers of health, welfare and life. Hence, in order to overcome this problem, they started thinking of means to get rid of these diseases , achieve longevity and the source to find this knowledge. In a meditative state, they saw Indra as a savior, the source to obtain this knowledge. They realized that Indra could be the only source to get the desired knowledge and thus decided to meet him. | + | In ancient India, the sages and seers were engaged in performing various yajnas and pious acts as a part of their practices for adhyatmik enlightenment. When emergence of various diseases started creating obstacles in the तप। [[Tapas|tapa]] , उपवास। Upawas , ब्रह्मचर्य। [[Brahmacharya (walking on the path of the divine)|Brahmacharya]] , व्रत। Vrata and आयुष। Aayush , immense need to find out a solution for these diseases was felt. [[File:Medicinal Herbs.png|thumb|700x700px|'''Disciples helping Guru in treating a patient.''' Courtesy: Permitted to use Copyrighted Images from the Book "Sarwang" Published by Adivasi Lok Kala Evam Boli Vikas Academy, Madhya Pradesh Sanskriti Parishad]]Looking at the plight of mankind, the sages and seers decided to assemble at one of the auspicious sides of Himalayas and search for a solution. ऋषयः। Rushis like Angira, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Bhrugu, Atreya, Gautam, Saankhya, Pulastya, Narad, Agastya, Vamadev, Asit, Markandeya, Paarikshi, Ashwalayan, Bhikshu Atreya, Bhardwaja, Kapinjala, Wishwamitra, Ashwamathya, Bhargava, Chyawan, Abhijit, Gargya, Shandilya, Koundilya, Varkshi, Devala, Galav and many other sages were part of this assembly. They all were enlightened and brilliant. They started discussing that diseases are appearing as obstacles in attainment of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Aarogya is the main source for achieving these while, diseases work as destroyers of health, welfare and life. Hence, in order to overcome this problem, they started thinking of means to get rid of these diseases , achieve longevity and the source to find this knowledge. In a meditative state, they saw Indra as a savior, the source to obtain this knowledge. They realized that Indra could be the only source to get the desired knowledge and thus decided to meet him. |