Origin and history of Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदोत्पत्तिः आयुर्वेदावतरणं च)

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Ayurveda is the system of medicine that evolved in Bharata. It evolved with a rationale logical foundation which has been proven every now and then with the success of Ayurveda treatments in various diseases since time immemorial. And therefore, it has survived as a distinct entity from remote antiquity to the present day. Ayurveda's knowledge and its medical system is based on the fundamentals that are essentially true for all times and do not change from age to age. It is because these are based on human factors, on intrinsic causes. The self is centered and focused and therefore, even for any new medical illness or infection, the solutions from Ayurveda's point of view can be searched and provided with positive results. The origin of Ayurveda is attributed to Atharva Veda where mention is made about several diseases with their treatments. Later, from the 6th Century BC to 7th Century AD there was systematic development of Ayurveda as a Shastra. This period is called Samhita period, when a number of classical works were produced by several authors and during this period there is evidence of organized medical care.

Origin of Ayurveda

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1OOSP_PbNo

Ayurveda avatarana

Video link- How did Ayurveda come to Earth ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp9UJUmXiEg

Problem of health and conference for its solution

The origin of Ayurveda can be traced back to its descent on earth from Svargaloka and even beyond that. In first Adhyaya of Charaka Samhita Sutrasthanam, the story of origin of Ayurveda is described. It is narrated that, many thousand years ago, some holy sages had assembled at an auspicious place near the Himalayas. The reason behind their gathering was to discuss, and find out solution for diseases that were emerging in mankind causing obstructions in the people's path of attaining purusharthas and all required activities to do that. It was the time when human beings had started suffering from rogas (diseases) due to deviation from their ideal diet , lifestyle and routine. These diseases in turn started creating impediments in their routine activities as well as in performing (Vratas) religious observance, penance (Tapa), Upavasa (Abstinence and fasting), Adhyayana (study), Brahmacharya (Celibacy) which were the integral components of their lives that time. This overall impacted their Ayu (life) adversely. Therefore after looking at this scenario, out of the compassion for creatures some holy sages gathered at an auspicious place in Himalayas. The meeting of the Rshis or the vedic scholars could be regarded as the conference of ancient times. They discussed about the quality of life of people at that time and discussed about the issue in depth. Charaka Samhita gives the list of names of various Rshis that were present at this conference.

List of scholar rshis participated in the conference

Among all the scholars gathered for the conference following were some Rishis.

Rshis present in the conference to solve health issues at Himalayas

Angira Jamadagni Vashishth Kashyapa Bhrigu Atreya [Gautam], Samkhya Pulastya Narada Asita	Agastya Vamadeva Markandeya Ashvalayana Parikshi Bhikshu Atreya Kapinjala Vishwamitra Ashmarathya Bhargava	Chyavana Abhijit Gargya Shandilya Kaundinya (lya) Varkshi Devala Galava Sankrutya Baijavapi Kushika	Badarayana Badisha Sharaloma Kapya Katyayana Kankayana Kaikasheya Dhaumya Maricha Kashyapa	Sharkaraksha Hiranyaksha Lokaksha Paingi Shaunaka Shakunteya Maitreya Maimatayani Vaikhanasa Valakhilya orders and other great sages.

Acharya Charaka described these Rshis as follows,

ब्रह्मज्ञानस्य निधयो द(य)मस्य नियमस्य च| तपसस्तेजसा दीप्ता हूयमाना इवाग्नयः||१४||

सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्| (Char. Samh. Sutra. 1.14-15)

The sages that gathered at the Himalayas were the sources of brahmajnana (spiritual knowledge), full of self control (mastery over their sensory & motor organs), and restraint of mind. Due to extraordinary brilliance of penance they were illuminating like a fire. Such vibrant, extraordinarily intelligent vedic scholars discussed about the emerging health issues in mankind and tried to find solution for the same.

Four objectives of Life

Few key-points that were discussed in that conference and became the grounds for further search, discussion as well as the very basis for the learning Ayurveda in later time, have been described by Acharya Charaka.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्||१५|| रोगास्तस्यापहर्तारः श्रेयसो जीवितस्य च| प्रादुर्भूतो मनुष्याणामन्तरायो महानयम्||१६||

Purusharthas viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the 4 principle categories of pursuits in human life. The life of a human being was set in the framework of these four Purusharthas by our ancient seers. In order to pursue any and all of these, one has to have good health as a primary criterion. Since Good health is fundamental to achieve Purusharthas, Arogyam (Good Health) is said to be the root or the basic foundation of Purushrthas. Diseases cause ill health and disturb this very basic requirement to perform any activity related to dharma, Artha, Kama or Moksha. Therefore rogas (diseases) appear to be the destroyers of not only health but also of one's welfare, prosperity and life as a whole. Therefore, there was an immense need to find the solution. Realising this need, all of them concentrated on finding the solution. Then in that state of meditation they realized Indra as savior. They could understand that only the King of the Gods will be able to tell the correct means of amelioration (of disease). Hence they decided to send a deputation to Indra to ask, learn the solution and teach it to the seers then.

Knowledge transfer from Indra to Bharadwaja

Rishis decided to send a deputation to the abode of Indra devata to learn the correct means for amelioration of diseases. Rishi Bharadwaja voluntarily took up the duty and went to the abode of Indra. Acharya Charaka describe how Indra was sitting amidst the groups of godly sages and glittering like fire when Bharadwaja reached there. Then with felicitating words of praise and blessings, Rshi Bharadwaja greeted Indra , submitted to him and conveyed the message of the rishis in a humble way. Rshi Bharadwaja said,

व्याधयो हि समुत्पन्नाः सर्वप्राणिभयङ्कराः| तद्ब्रूहि मे शमोपायं यथावदमरप्रभो||२२||

Meaning: Diseases have appeared in living beings and are causing fear. Therefore O Lord of the Gods! please tell us the measure for amelioration these diseases.

तस्मै प्रोवाच भगवानायुर्वेदं शतक्रतुः| पदैरल्पैर्मतिं बुद्ध्वा विपुलां परमर्षये||२३||

Meaning: Having sensed the intelligence of the great sage, Indra then transferred the knowledge of Ayurveda to him in few words.

This is the legend described in classical text Charaka Samhita about the process of knowledge transfer and origin of Ayurveda in this world thousands and thousands of years ago. But it was the milestone of knowledge transfer and then onwards,

Hierarchy of transfer of knowledge of Ayurveda

दीर्घं जीवितमन्विच्छन्भरद्वाज उपागमत्|

इन्द्रमुग्रतपा बुद्ध्वा शरण्यममरेश्वरम्||३||

Bharadwaja 2, a great scholar, went to the King of Gods and the saviour Indra3, in quest of longevity. [3]

ब्रह्मणा हि यथाप्रोक्तमायुर्वेदं प्रजापतिः|

जग्राह निखिलेनादावश्विनौ तु पुनस्ततः||४||

अश्विभ्यां भगवाञ्छक्रः प्रतिपेदे ह केवलम्|

ऋषिप्रोक्तो भरद्वाजस्तस्माच्छक्रमुपागमत्||५||

Ayurveda in its entirety as recited by Brahma4 was received by Prajapati 5 at first. Then the Ashwins (received) the knowledge. From Ashwins, lord Indra received it fully. That is why Bharadwaja, as beseeched by the sages, came to Indra.[4-5]

Medicine in the Vedas and Puranas

References to diseases, medicines, herbs and healthcare discussed in Ayurveda can be found in Vedic literature. Specifically Rigveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda have multiple references about these. Among Vedas, Atharvaveda is found to have maximum and in depth description about diseases and treatment aspect. Therefore, Ayurveda is widely considered to be the Upaveda of Atharvaveda. Some also believe it to be the Upaveda of Rigveda. The tradition of medical knowledge is further carried during the period of the puranas as well. Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata also include references to drugs, diseases and healthcare. It appears that the knowledge of Ayurveda was so much developed in the times of these epics that, there were expert physicians and surgeons who attended on the kings and they were capable of performing some complex tasks like preserving of dead bodies as well as carrying out surgeries and well versed in wound care in battlefield.

Vedas and Ayurveda

Ayurveda in Rigveda

Main article: Ayurveda in Rigveda (ऋग्वेदे आयुर्वेदः)

Description of natural remedies, sun exposure curing certain diseases.

In Rigveda, there are mentions of Rudra and Ashvini Kumaras as the God physicians and their divine work.

There are instances of when Ashvini Kumaras cured Rishi Chyavana of old age, according to certain historians the widely popular Chyavanprasha was curated by Ashvini Kumaras to cure rishi Chyavana from senility.

Mention of surgeries like iron leg transplant can be found.

Usage of single drug medicines

There are number of Riks addressed to Marut, vayu etc, in which the reference to medicine is unmistakable.

Yajurveda

In Shukla Yajurveda, there are many references regarding certain diseases like arshas, hridroga, kustha, and many more. There is mention of medicinal properties of various dravyas/drugs.

There is also the description of anatomical structures of the Human body as well as animals.

There are verses in “Taitariya Samhita” describing treatment for vision loss, Yakshma (which can be loosely correlated with tuberculosis), Unmada and etc.

Atharva Veda

Veda contains at least 20 khand which is the knowledge of Atharva and Angirasa rishi.12,300 verses. Ayurveda is found in Shaunaka branch(among shaunaka and pippalada)

Ayurveda is considered a Upanga of Atharva Veda since it contains the majority of the detailed explanation about Ayurveda. Also, certain Verses present in Rigveda have their detailed description or clarification in Atharva Veda.

systematic and comprehensive treatment of medicine is to be found only in the Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda is considered to have originated later than the Rig Veda, and contains a description of diseases and the cure of them.

Upanishad

Main article: Ayurveda in Upanishadas (उपनिषदेशु आयुर्वेदः)

There are 108 Upanishads which date from around 800-400 BCE. Major references regarding Pranayama are found in some Upanishads esp taittariya and Chandayoga.

There are mentions and explanations regarding prana vata.

Description of certain Dravyas/drugs like Agaru, amla, Amra etc.

Smritis

Vedas are the foundation of Smritis. There are 18 smritis basically, like manusmriti, Naradiya smriti, and Vishnu smriti in total.

Descriptions about lifestyle, for example, bathing and studying after having meals are contraindicated. This is mentioned in smritis. Thus, concepts that regulate lifestyle in an ayurvedic way are mentioned.

Ramayana and Mahabharata

These two great epics have mentions of Ayurveda as well.

In Ramayana there is mention of the dead body preservation of king Dasharatha until Bharata, his son arrives.

Transplantation of organs by Ashwini kumaras

Various herbs like Kutaja, Nimba, Ashoka and etc have been described in different places.

Vaidya Sushena treated Lakshamana with herbs brought from the Himalayas by Lord hanuman.

Usage of poisonous substances

Beginnings of Systematic Development

We shall next consider the period when systematic development can be said to have taken place. This era is associated with a few illustrious names, the first of whom is Agnivesa. The Samhita written by him which is classic which has survived to this day has been made available to the world by Caraka, a redactor. Historically it would appear that during Caraka’s time the Agnivesa Samhita has fallen into discuse or partly perished, and Charaka undertook the great task of restoring the work, filing up the gaps and re-writing the parts of the work, which had become obscure. This will be evident from the subscription to each chapter in which the author states that he has redone the chapter (Pratisamakrita). The work has undergone a further revision by one Dridabala: at least the last 17 chapters devoted to Cikitsa and the whole Kalpa and Siddhi stanas have been re-written by Dridabala as stated in the colophon of each chapter.

Story of origin of Ayurveda as per Charaka Samhita sutrasthanam 1