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Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of holistic medicine which is widely practiced in India since ages. Although it is considered as one of the many alternative medical systems, its scope is not similar to the scope of modern medical science or other alternative medical systems. Ayurveda, as the name aptly suggests, is a part of vedic literature originated in Bharatavarsha. It is considered to be the उपवेदः ।Upaveda of अथर्ववेदः । Atharvaveda with its main focus on maintenance of आयुः। Ayu (life).   

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of holistic medicine which is widely practiced in India since ages. Although it is considered as one of the many alternative medical systems, its scope is not similar to the scope of modern medical science or other alternative medical systems. Ayurveda, as the name aptly suggests, is a part of vedic literature originated in Bharatavarsha. It is considered to be the उपवेदः ।Upaveda of अथर्ववेदः । Atharvaveda with its main focus on maintenance of आयुः। Ayu (life). Ayurveda thus offers the divine methods to achieve ‘Ayu’ and keep away the ‘Rogas’ that create obstacles in the daily activities of human beings.   

== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

# सत्व ॥ Satva (मनस् Manas or commonly known as mind)   

# सत्व ॥ Satva (मनस् Manas or commonly known as mind)   

# आत्मा ॥ Atman (commonly referred to as life energy, consciousness or indestructible spirit)  

# आत्मा ॥ Atman (commonly referred to as life energy, consciousness or indestructible spirit)  

Dhaari (धारी), Jeevitam (जीवितम्), Nityaga (नित्यगः), Anubandha (अनुबन्ध) are the terms synonymously used with Ayu. This union is present till the time of death or in other words death is the discontinuation of this union. Therefore Shareeram, Indriyas, Satva and Atma are considered the essential components of Life. <blockquote>शरीरेन्द्रियसत्त्वात्मसंयोगो धारि जीवितम् । नित्यगश्चानुबन्धश्च पर्यायैरयुरुच्यते ।। (Char. Samh. 1.1.42)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthana)</ref></blockquote>The other term Veda means Knowledge or Wisdom. Vedas are texts which in general describe the methods for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable.  

Dhaari (धारी), Jeevitam (जीवितम्), Nityaga (नित्यगः), Anubandha (अनुबन्ध) are the terms synonymously used with Ayu. This union is present till the time of death or in other words death is the discontinuation of this union. Therefore Shareeram, Indriyas, Satva and Atma are considered the essential components of Life. <blockquote>शरीरेन्द्रियसत्त्वात्मसंयोगो धारि जीवितम् । नित्यगश्चानुबन्धश्च पर्यायैरयुरुच्यते ।। (Char. Samh. 1.1.42)<ref name=":0">Charaka Samhita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Sutrasthana])</ref></blockquote>The other term Veda means Knowledge or Wisdom. Vedas are texts which in general describe the methods for obtaining what is desirable and for giving up what is undesirable.  

Acharya Charaka defines Ayurveda as the Veda which offers the knowledge about Ayu, its measurement, various aspects of Ayu like hitayu (favourable or beneficial life), Ahitayu (Unfavourable or disadvantageous life), Sukhayu (comfortable and peasant life) and Dukhhayu (Unpleasant, uncomfortable life), in addition to, the knowledge of factors acting as promoters and non-promoters of these types of Ayu.

Acharya Charaka defines Ayurveda as the Veda which offers the knowledge about Ayu, its measurement, various aspects of Ayu like hitayu (favourable or beneficial life), Ahitayu (Unfavourable or disadvantageous life), Sukhayu (comfortable and peasant life) and Dukhhayu (Unpleasant, uncomfortable life), in addition to, the knowledge of factors acting as promoters and non-promoters of these types of Ayu.

== Origin of Ayurveda ==

== Origin of Ayurveda ==

Dharma (धर्मः), artha (अर्थः), kama (कामः), moksha (मोक्षः) that are the foundational principles of India’s culture.  

Dharma (धर्मः), artha (अर्थः), kama (कामः), moksha (मोक्षः) are the foundational principles of Bharatiya jivana vidhana as explained by Charaka. <blockquote>धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलम् उत्तमम् ।। (Char. Samh. 1.1.15)</blockquote><blockquote>रोगास्तस्यापहर्तारः श्रेयसो जीवितस्य च । प्रादुर्भूतो मनुष्याणामन्तरायो महानयम् ।। (Char. Samh. 1.1.16)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Through the fulfilment of these, life became 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>

Arogya (meaning health) is believed to be the basic criteria before taking a step towards fulfilling all these purusharthas. Roga (Meaning anything experienced as a painful event in life, anything that hurts, commonly referred to diseases) are the destructive events to anarogya and thus considered to be the obstacles in fulfilling Purushartha. Therefore there is a necessity to know the methods to achieve the desired arogya and eliminate the roga. This necessity gave rise to the quest for knowledge of Ayu and origin of Ayurveda.  

Aarogya (meaning health) is believed to be the basic criteria before taking a step towards fulfilling all these purushartha. Roga (Meaning anything experienced as a painful event in life, anything that hurts, commonly referred to diseases) are the destructive events to anarogya and thus considered to be the obstacles in fulfilling Purushartha. Therefore there is a necessity to know the methods to achieve the desired Aarogya and eliminate the roga. This necessity gave rise to the quest for knowledge of Ayu and origin of Ayurveda.

 

History of Ayurveda:

The origin of Ayurveda could be roughly traced back 5,000 years, when writing was not even evolved in its physical forms. It is believed that the Vedic knowledge was passed through COGNITION or was gained through MEDITATION. Knowledge of the use of various methods of healing, prevention, longevity and surgery came through DIVINE REVELATION. These revelations were transcribed from the oral tradition into book form, interspersed with the other aspects of life and spirituality.

Being an upaveda of Atharvaveda, Ayurveda also does not belong to any specific author but considered to be Sanatana or Shashwata. (ref: of shashwatatwa.. su.soo. 1/17). However various Ayurveda samhitas (Compendia) describe interesting mythological tales about origin, descent and spread of Ayurveda on earth. There are 2 main paramparas (traditions) described to apprise the transfer of knowledge of Ayurveda from gods to human beings and this is termed as ‘Ayurveda avatarana’ (आयुर्वेदावतरण).

 

 

The origin of Ayurveda could be roughly traced back to 5,000 years, at the time writing did not evolved in its physical forms. It is believed that the Vedic knowledge was passed through COGNITION or was gained through MEDITATION. Knowledge of the use of various methods of healing, prevention, longevity and surgery came through DIVINE REVELATION. These revelations were transcribed from the oral tradition into book form, interspersed with the other aspects of life and spirituality.

Scholars of Vedic literature and Indology contemplate that SAGE VED VYAS would have been the first person to document major portions of Ayurveda in addition to other Vedic literature through his spiritual enlightenment and deep introspection of the cosmos. The Vedas are comprised of 4 major books, which deal with various aspects of life. THEY ARE: Rig (Rik) Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharvaveda Of all the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda is accepted as the oldest surviving treatise on the planet, dated as long back as 3000 B.C. Rig-Veda details the concepts of Cosmology on the principles of Sankhya Darshan. References to the Tridosha theory of VATA PITA AND KAPHA, which forms the basis of Ayurveda are sporadically found in the Rig-Veda. Herbs and their use as medicines and pathogens (Krimis) are also discussed. However it is in the Atharvaveda where major references of Ayurveda are found. Ayurveda is hence considered as a supplement or Upveda of Atharvaveda. Atharvaveda gives a systematic description of Ashtang-Ayurveda (8-fold branches of Ayurveda).

Scholars of Vedic literature and Indology contemplate that SAGE VED VYAS would have been the first person to document major portions of Ayurveda in addition to other Vedic literature through his spiritual enlightenment and deep introspection of the cosmos. The Vedas are comprised of 4 major books, which deal with various aspects of life. THEY ARE: Rig (Rik) Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharvaveda Of all the four Vedas, the Rig-Veda is accepted as the oldest surviving treatise on the planet, dated as long back as 3000 B.C. Rig-Veda details the concepts of Cosmology on the principles of Sankhya Darshan. References to the Tridosha theory of VATA PITA AND KAPHA, which forms the basis of Ayurveda are sporadically found in the Rig-Veda. Herbs and their use as medicines and pathogens (Krimis) are also discussed. However it is in the Atharvaveda where major references of Ayurveda are found. Ayurveda is hence considered as a supplement or Upveda of Atharvaveda. Atharvaveda gives a systematic description of Ashtang-Ayurveda (8-fold branches of Ayurveda).

Here Aacharya Charaka defines Vikara as Dhaatu vaishamya and Dhaatu samyam is labelled as Prakruti. Next to it Vikara are considered as Dukkha and consequently Sukha is considered to be the state of absence of vikara meaning Prakriti. Ultimately Dhaatu samyam is referred to as Aarogyam and Sukham.  

Here Aacharya Charaka defines Vikara as Dhaatu vaishamya and Dhaatu samyam is labelled as Prakruti. Next to it Vikara are considered as Dukkha and consequently Sukha is considered to be the state of absence of vikara meaning Prakriti. Ultimately Dhaatu samyam is referred to as Aarogyam and Sukham.  

This clarifies that, the aim of Ayurveda is to establish Aarogya or Dhaatusamyam which ultimately leads to attainment of Sukha.  

This clarifies that, the aim of Ayurveda is to establish Aarogya or Dhaatusamyam which ultimately leads to attainment of Sukha.  

==== Atreya parampara ====

==== Atreya parampara ====