Changes

Ayu is the Samskrit term which refers to 'Life' or 'Lifespan' of an individual. The term 'Ayurveda' is made of 2 parts, the first part is 'Ayu' and the second part is 'veda';  and thus the entire knowledge of Ayurveda is regarding this 'Ayu' and the measures to obtain it. In few other Indian languages, the term 'Ayu' is used to denotes 'Age' of an individual.   

{{NeedCitation}}Ayu is the Samskrit term which refers to 'Life' or 'Lifespan' of an individual. The term 'Ayurveda' is made of 2 parts, the first part is 'Ayu' and the second part is 'veda';  and thus the entire knowledge of Ayurveda is regarding this 'Ayu' and the measures to obtain it. In few other Indian languages, the term 'Ayu' is used to denotes 'Age' of an individual.   

== Definition of word 'Ayu' ==

== Definition of word 'Ayu' ==

In the classical Ayurveda treatise Charaka Samhita, definition of the word 'Ayu' is explicitly described. Acharya Charaka states that, Ayu is the time-span for which the continuity of consciousness persists. It means being alive, bonding with the body and its sustenance.<blockquote>वेदं चोपदिश्यायुर्वाच्यं; तत्रायुश्चेतनानुवृत्तिर्जीवितमनुबन्धो धारि चेत्येकोऽर्थः||२२|| (Char. Samh. Sutra. 30.22) </blockquote><blockquote>vēdaṁ cōpadiśyāyurvācyaṁ; tatrāyuścētanānuvr̥ttirjīvitamanubandhō dhāri cētyēkō'rthaḥ||22||</blockquote>Meaning: After answering question on Veda, Ayu is being described. Ayu means the anuvritti (continuity) of chetana (consciousness) i.e., chetananuvritti, being alive (jeevita), bonding with the body (anubandha) and sustenance of life (dhari).  

In the classical Ayurveda treatise Charaka Samhita, definition of the word 'Ayu' is explicitly described. Acharya Charaka states that, Ayu is the time-span for which the continuity of consciousness persists. It means being alive, bonding with the body and its sustenance.<blockquote>वेदं चोपदिश्यायुर्वाच्यं; तत्रायुश्चेतनानुवृत्तिर्जीवितमनुबन्धो धारि चेत्येकोऽर्थः||२२|| (Char. Samh. Sutra. 30.22) </blockquote><blockquote>vēdaṁ cōpadiśyāyurvācyaṁ; tatrāyuścētanānuvr̥ttirjīvitamanubandhō dhāri cētyēkō'rthaḥ||22||</blockquote>Meaning: After answering question on Veda, Ayu is being described. Ayu means the anuvritti (continuity) of chetana (consciousness) i.e., chetananuvritti, being alive (jeevita), bonding with the body (anubandha) and sustenance of life (dhari).

 

=== Synonyms of Ayu ===

=== Synonyms of Ayu ===

हितैषिणः पुनर्भूतानां परस्वादुपरतस्य सत्यवादिनः शमपरस्य परीक्ष्यकारिणोऽप्रमत्तस्य त्रिवर्गं परस्परेणानुपहतमुपसेवमानस्य पूजार्हसम्पूजकस्य ज्ञानविज्ञानोपशमशीलस्य वृद्धोपसेविनःसुनियतरागरोषेर्ष्यामदमानवेगस्य सततं विविधप्रदानपरस्य तपोज्ञानप्रशमनित्यस्याध्यात्मविदस्तत्परस्य लोकमिमं चामुंचावेक्षमाणस्य स्मृतिमतिमतो हितमायुरुच्यते; अहितमतो विपर्ययेण||२४||

हितैषिणः पुनर्भूतानां परस्वादुपरतस्य सत्यवादिनः शमपरस्य परीक्ष्यकारिणोऽप्रमत्तस्य त्रिवर्गं परस्परेणानुपहतमुपसेवमानस्य पूजार्हसम्पूजकस्य ज्ञानविज्ञानोपशमशीलस्य वृद्धोपसेविनःसुनियतरागरोषेर्ष्यामदमानवेगस्य सततं विविधप्रदानपरस्य तपोज्ञानप्रशमनित्यस्याध्यात्मविदस्तत्परस्य लोकमिमं चामुंचावेक्षमाणस्य स्मृतिमतिमतो हितमायुरुच्यते; अहितमतो विपर्ययेण||२४||

Those who are the well-wishers of all beings, who do not desire the wealth of others, who are truthful, peace loving, who are thoughtful before taking action, who are vigilant, who experience the three important objectives of life (righteousness, wealth and desire) without one affecting the other, who respect superiors, who are endowed with the knowledge of arts, sciences and tranquility, who serve the elders, who have full control over lust, anger, envy, arrogance and pride, who constantly indulge in various types of charity, meditation, acquisition of knowledge and quiet life (solitude), who have full spiritual knowledge and are devoted to it, who work both for the present as well as for the next life, and are endowed with memory and intelligence lead a useful rather beneficial life, while others don't.   

Those who are the well-wishers of all beings, who do not desire the wealth of others, who are truthful, peace loving, who are thoughtful before taking action, who are vigilant, who experience the three important objectives of life (righteousness, wealth and desire) without one affecting the other, who respect superiors, who are endowed with the knowledge of arts, sciences and tranquility, who serve the elders, who have full control over lust, anger, envy, arrogance and pride, who constantly indulge in various types of charity, meditation, acquisition of knowledge and quiet life (solitude), who have full adhyatmik knowledge and are devoted to it, who work both for the present as well as for the next life, and are endowed with memory and intelligence lead a useful rather beneficial life, while others don't.   

== Benefit of longevity ==

== Benefit of longevity ==

According to Ayurveda, “Dhirghayu” or longevity means a complete balance between body, mind and soul associated with longevity, Without this balance a person cannot enjoy the real benefit of longevity i.e., a state of permanent happiness and peace.   

According to Ayurveda, “Dhirghayu” or longevity means a complete balance between body, mind and soul associated with longevity, Without this balance a person cannot enjoy the real benefit of longevity i.e., a state of permanent happiness and peace.   

According to Ayurveda, there are four basic goals of human life namely, Dharma (religion), Artha (economy), Kama (sense pleasure) and Moksha (liberation). To practice and fulfill these basic goals of life one needs good health [1]. The body is the vehicle on which one rides to their destination. If the body is weak or sick, one cannot function properly and is unable to achieve the goals of life. Therefore, for longevity, good health is important and for maintaining health, physician needs to examine Ayu from birth till death. Ayurvedic text describes how to attain longevity and also mentioned verities of longevity through Ayu Pareeksha. Ayurveda explains certain signs and symptoms to decide the life span (Manam of Ayu) of a patient.   

According to Ayurveda, there are four basic goals of human life namely, Dharma (religion), Artha (economy), Kama (sense pleasure) and Moksha (liberation). To practice and fulfill these basic goals of life one needs good health. The body is the vehicle on which one rides to their destination. If the body is weak or sick, one cannot function properly and is unable to achieve the goals of life. Therefore, for longevity, good health is important and for maintaining health, physician needs to examine Ayu from birth till death. Ayurvedic text describes how to attain longevity and also mentioned verities of longevity through Ayu Pareeksha. Ayurveda explains certain signs and symptoms to decide the life span (Manam of Ayu) of a patient.   

== Ayu Pareeksha (Examination of Life Span) ==

== Ayu Pareeksha (Examination of Life Span) ==

Agrawal M, Byadgi PS, Dwibedy BK. Importance of Ayu Pareeksha for the Management of Diseases. ''J Clin Diagn Res''. 2017;11(1):OE01–OE04. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/20881.9144

Agrawal M, Byadgi PS, Dwibedy BK. Importance of Ayu Pareeksha for the Management of Diseases. ''J Clin Diagn Res''. 2017;11(1):OE01–OE04. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/20881.9144

== Factors to be Examined to Dertermine Residual Span of Life ==

== Factors to be Examined to Determine Residual Span of Life ==

Charaka in Indriyasthana described in detail about Arista which indicates span of life. “Niyat Maran Khyapakam Lingam Aristam” - signs and symptoms which indicates the definite death of the patient is called Arista [8]. It indicates the residual life span of the diseased person. The following factors must be taken into consideration by

Charaka in Indriyasthana described in detail about Arista which indicates span of life. “Niyat Maran Khyapakam Lingam Aristam” - signs and symptoms which indicates the definite death of the patient is called Arista [8]. It indicates the residual life span of the diseased person. The following factors must be taken into consideration by

Agrawal M, Byadgi PS, Dwibedy BK. Importance of Ayu Pareeksha for the Management of Diseases. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2017 Jan, Vol-11(1): OE01-OE04

Agrawal M, Byadgi PS, Dwibedy BK. Importance of Ayu Pareeksha for the Management of Diseases. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2017 Jan, Vol-11(1): OE01-OE04

== Scope of Ayurveda : Scope of knowledge about Ayu in Ayurveda ==

== Scope of Ayurveda : Scope of knowledge of Ayu in Ayurveda ==

तदायुर्वेदयतीत्यायुर्वेदः; कथमिति चेत्? उच्यते-स्वलक्षणतः सुखासुखतो हिताहिततः प्रमाणाप्रमाणतश्च;यतश्चायुष्याण्यनायुष्याणि च द्रव्यगुणकर्माणि वेदयत्यतोऽप्यायुर्वेदः| तत्रायुष्याण्यनायुष्याणि च द्रव्यगुणकर्माणि केवलेनोपदेक्ष्यन्ते तन्त्रेण||२३||

तदायुर्वेदयतीत्यायुर्वेदः; कथमिति चेत्? उच्यते-स्वलक्षणतः सुखासुखतो हिताहिततः प्रमाणाप्रमाणतश्च;यतश्चायुष्याण्यनायुष्याणि च द्रव्यगुणकर्माणि वेदयत्यतोऽप्यायुर्वेदः| तत्रायुष्याण्यनायुष्याणि च द्रव्यगुणकर्माणि केवलेनोपदेक्ष्यन्ते तन्त्रेण||२३||

Ayurveda is that source of knowledge which teaches about or deals with Ayu. How so? By its characteristics, it imparts the knowledge of joy and suffering, benefit and harm, and authentic/authoritative and unauthentic/unreliable (sources of information). It is also that which informs us about the span of life and substances with properties and actions that result in the same. This will be dealt with in the entire text at various appropriate contexts. [23]

Ayurveda is that source of knowledge which teaches about or deals with Ayu. How so? By its characteristics, it imparts the knowledge of joy and suffering, benefit and harm, and authentic/authoritative and unauthentic/unreliable (sources of information). It is also that which informs us about the span of life and substances with properties and actions that result in the same. This will be dealt with in the entire text at various appropriate contexts. [23]

[[Category:Ayurveda]]

[[Category:Ayurveda]]