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| == Etymology == | | == Etymology == |
| + | According to Acharya Sushruta Ayurveda is the Veda from where one can obtain the methods to achieve life or longevity. |
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| + | आयुरस्मिन् विद्यते अनेन वा आयुर्विन्दन्ति इति आयुर्वेदः । सु.सू. १/ १५ |
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| + | Meaning: Ayurveda is the veda where the (the methods to obtain) Ayu lies or the veda from where the Ayu can be obtained. |
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| The term Ayurveda consists of 2 terms namely आयुः Ayu and वेदः Veda. | | The term Ayurveda consists of 2 terms namely आयुः Ayu and वेदः Veda. |
− | | + | * Ayu is defined as the close union of 4 elements namely |
− | Ayu is defined as the close union of 4 elements namely | |
| # शरीर ॥ [[Shareeram (शरीरम्)|Shareeram]] (Body that has natural tendency to degenerate) | | # शरीर ॥ [[Shareeram (शरीरम्)|Shareeram]] (Body that has natural tendency to degenerate) |
| # इन्द्रीय ॥ Indriyani (commonly known as sense organs and motor organs) | | # इन्द्रीय ॥ Indriyani (commonly known as sense organs and motor organs) |
| # 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 (धारि), 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. | + | Dhaari (धारि), 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. |
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| + | Acharya Charaka defines Ayurveda as the Veda which offers the knowledge about Ayu, its measurement, various aspects of Ayu like हितायुः । Hitayu (favourable or beneficial life), अहितायुः । Ahitayu (Unfavourable or disadvantageous life), सुखायुः । Sukhayu (comfortable and peasant life) and दुःखायुः । Dukhhayu (Unpleasant, uncomfortable life), in addition to, the knowledge of factors acting as promoters and non-promoters of these types of Ayu. |
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| हिताहितं सुखं दुःखम् आयुस् तस्य हिताहितम् । | | हिताहितं सुखं दुःखम् आयुस् तस्य हिताहितम् । |
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− | मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तम् आयुर्वेदः स उच्यते ।। चसं-१,१.४१ ।। | + | मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तम् आयुर्वेदः स उच्यते ।। चसं-१,१.४१ ।। |
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− | Acharya Charaka defines Ayurveda as the Veda which offers the knowledge about Ayu, its measurement, various aspects of Ayu like हितायुः । Hitayu (favourable or beneficial life), अहितायुः । Ahitayu (Unfavourable or disadvantageous life), सुखायुः । Sukhayu (comfortable and peasant life) and दुःखायुः । Dukhhayu (Unpleasant, uncomfortable life), in addition to, the knowledge of factors acting as promoters and non-promoters of these types of Ayu.
| + | Meaning : Ayurveda is that, which deals with good, bad, happy and unhappy life, it's promoters and non-promoters, measures and nature. |
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| == Emergence of Ayurveda == | | == Emergence of Ayurveda == |
− | 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>
| + | Every new invention has its roots in some necessity. This the the basis for emergence and advancement for any branch of knowledge. Similarly, even many thousand years ago Ayurveda originated because immense need for this kind of knowledge was felt at that time. This necessity highlights the importance and relevance of knowledge offered in Ayurveda as well as the purpose behind offering the knowledge of life in Ayurveda. Acharya Charaka throws a light on this by writing that Arogya ( Health and wellbeing) acts as the root of धर्मः । Dharma, अर्थः । Artha, कामः । Kama and मोक्षः। Moksha which results in Shreyas prapti and logngevity. Through the fulfillment 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> Therefore when in ancient times, common people, Seers and sages performing pious acts experienced impediments due to diseases, the quest for knowledge of life began and this lead to the emergence of Ayurveda many thousand years ago. <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>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 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 arogya and eliminate the roga. This necessity also describes the basis of the specific structure of Ayurveda, the aim of Ayurveda and the various concepts that act as basic principles of Ayurveda. |
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− | Arogya (meaning health) is believed to be the basic criteria before taking a step towards fulfilling all these पुरुषार्थाः । 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. | |
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| == Adhikarana of Ayurveda == | | == Adhikarana of Ayurveda == |