Ayurvedic
Science
Mythical origin
Indian
mythology points out that Ayurveda was percieved by Lord Brahma.
It was taught and passed down from Daksa-Prajapati to the
Asvini-Kumaras (physicians of gods) to Indra to Lord Dhavantari to
Divodasa to Susruta, Aupadhevana, Hurabhra, Panskalavata,
Guraraksita, Bhoja, Kasyapa, Vasistha, Athriya and Bhrgu who in
turn passed it to the Brahmins and the common man. These sages
grouped into two schools:
*Atreya
school which dealt with medicine.
*Dhanuvantari
school which dealt with surgery.
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Ayurveda
Philosophy
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term combined with 2 words; 'ayur'
meaning life and 'veda' meaning knowledge, so collectively called 'Ayurveda'
or the science of life. This system of medicine extends for the treatment of
diseases in animals and plants in addition to human beings.Different
philosophical thoughts of India are enshrined in the darsanas. These darsanas
are divided into two groups Those believing in the authority of the Vedas are
known as 'astika darsanas'; and those not laying faith on the Vedas known as 'nastika
darsanas'. Bauddha and Jaina schools of philosophy and the philosophy of the
Carvaka's belong to the latter category. The following philosophical schools
belong to the former category.”
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1.Nyaya darsana of Gautama
2.Vaisesika darsana of Kanada
3.Sankhya darsana of Kapila
4.Yoga darsana of Patanjali
5.Purva mimamsa of Jamini
6.Uttara mimamsa or Vedanta darsana.
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The above given table is the map of all elements that make up all
living things as per Ayurvedic science. |
The collective name for all these schools is 'Sad
darsana'.
For explaining the physical and chemical activities,
help of Nyaya and Vaisesika darsanas has been taken in Ayurveda. To explain
certain phenomena the help of Bauddha darsana has also been taken. But to
explain the process of creation of the universe and that of the man, Ayurveda
primarily takes the help of 'Sankhya darsana'. Of course, this has not been
accepted in total but with certain modifications.
According to ayurveda, the universe has taken origin from Avyakata which
literally means ‘Unmanifested’. This concept of Avyakta includes both the
‘Purusa’ (conscious element) and the Prakriti (primordial matter stuff) of
Sankhya darsana. From this Avyakta the entire universe takes origin.
From Avyakta evolves the Mahan (intellect) and so also Ahankara (Ego)
consecutively. Ego has three different aspects like sattvika, rajasika and
tamasika. Sattva is the purer aspect, rajas represents dynamism and tamas is
the potential energy. Sattvika and rajasika types of Ahankara combine together
to produce eleven Indriyas. The tamasika and rajasika types of Ahankara
combine together to produce five tanmatras. From these tanmatras, five
mahabhutas take their origin. From these five mahabhutas, the entire material
world – both animate and inanimate – were created. Inanimate world consists of
these mahabhutas alone and the living beings (including both plants, human
beings and animals) are constituted of these mahabhutas as well as indriyas
which are eleven in number and include sensory faculties, organs and the mind.
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8 Branches of Ayurveda
*Kayacikitsa (Internal medicine)
*Salya Tantra (Surgery)
*Salakya Tantra (Treatment of head and neck)
*Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
*Bhuta Vidya (Phsyciatry and seizures by spirits)
*Bala Tantra (Paediatrics)
*Rasayana tantra (Rejuvenation and geriatrics)
*Vajikarna Tantra (Aphrodisiacs)
Pancha karma (5 elimination therapies) is believed to be an
additional
branch of Ayurveda.
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Ayurveda treats the entire body of the person. Ayurvedic
drugs are natural, cheap and there is no need to import sophisticated
equipments for preparation of the drug. It is free from toxins and each
medicine is a tonic for the patient and other healthy individuals. People
trust this system as the prescriptions are done in the line of the
individual's lifestyle and tradition. There is more emphasis on prevention of
diseases and this is accompanied by several precautions in terms of day/night
and seasons.
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