History of Ayurveda

Some texts have also described the Ayurvedic medical system as a gift from the gods to humanity, conveyed by contemplative sages. The Ayurvedic system of medicine is said to have originated from a conference of the great sages of the Adi era, which took place at the Himalayan site of Uttara Bharata. It is said that the Sage Pulasthi, who represented Hela Diva [Sri Lanka], attended this conference. The scholars shared their knowledge of how to use the various endowments to get rid of diseases and live a long and healthy life in nature.

Despite differing views of the beginnings of Ayurveda, Ayurvedic medicine has endured throughout the millennia without losing its fundamental ideas, and as a result, it has not evolved. This is because it is founded on rational and useful principles.

The science of life is Ayurveda. Thus, another name for it would be a philosophy of life. The renowned sage Dhanvantari is regarded as the founder of Ayurvedic medicine in Hindu philosophy. It is also believed that Maha Irshi Dhanvantari is an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Ayurvedavatharanaya

The Daksha (Prajapati) learnt the entire science of life from Maha Brahma, which was realized by him personally (swayambhu jnana). The two Ashwini princes from Daksha were given access to this enormous amount of information. All of that knowledge was later acquired by Indra when she visited the Ashwini princes.

“The four qualities of health are dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. Illnesses rob people of their lives and health-related resources. This poses a serious risk to humankind and impedes human advancement. As they considered how to get past this threat, the Himalayan sages engaged in meditation. They pledged that they should go to Indra (Shakra) to know about this when the eternal God Indra appeared to them at that moment. The sages gave the duty to Bharadwaja Muni after he initially responded, “I should be entrusted with this task,” in response to the question of who should be sent to Indra for that purpose.

“Bhardwaja Muni, who had arrived in Shakra’s realm, approached Indra, who was sitting there with the gods by his side and gleaming like a fire.”Devendra, please give me the information I need to get over these illnesses, which seem to be common in the human world and make all living things afraid. Hearing these remarks, Indra looked around his disciples and saw how knowledgeable Bharadwaja Muni was. Then he made a casual reference to Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is a magnificent path suitable for both the sick and the healthy, as it offers information on the causes of ailments, symptoms of both health and illness, and all medications. It is regarded as a priceless gem, has three sutras, and is eternal.

“The highly knowledgeable Bhardwaja Muni recognized that Indra had given Ayurveda, which has three masses and no end or boundary, correctly and without understanding. The sages who wished to learn Ayurveda were given all of that knowledge by Bharadwaja Muni, who lived a long and healthy life thanks to her understanding of the system.

Ayurvedic Ashtanga

Tridoshasism, the foundation of Ayurveda, offers the four virtues of Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha a comprehensive connotation that promotes longevity, health, and illness prevention. For convenience of study, it is separated into eight components, hence the name Ashtanga Ayurveda.

Medical Internal (Kaya Chikithsa)

In Sanskrit, “Kaya” means the body or the body’s metabolism, whereas “Chikithsa” means diagnosis and therapy. Thus, the term “Kaya chikithsa” refers to a broad field of health science that includes the diagnosis of underlying causes (NIDANA), signs and symptoms (Purva rupa and Rupa), pathophysiology (Upashaya), stage of illness presentation (Samprapthi), and treatment methods that are aided by a thorough examination of the patient and the disease as well as the medicinal plants and other materials, among other things. Ayurvedic internal medicine, or general medicine, is simply referred to as Kaya Chikitsa.

Surgery (Shalya Tantra)

The application of surgical methods to wounds and illnesses that are difficult to heal (such as ulcers) with traditional medical therapies is covered in Shalya Tantra, the Ayurvedic knowledge base. It is said that Sage Susrata is the originator of Ayurvedic surgery.

Shalakya Tantra: Eye and ENT

The word “Shalakya” means “probe.” Ear, nose, throat, and ocular disorders are addressed by Shalakya Tantra. Thus, according to contemporary medical science and more, it symbolizes otorhinolaryngology (ENT) and ophthalmology (eye).

Child care (Kaumar Bhritya)

Obstetric disorders and children’s health are the areas of expertise for Kaumar Bhritya. In accordance with contemporary sciences, it can be split into two components. Obstetrics is one, and pediatrics is another. Since these two areas of medicine are both concerned with children, Ayurveda combined them into a single field in the past. In Ayurveda, Kaumar denotes a youngster between the ages of 0 and 16, whereas Bhritya denotes cleanliness and care. The science known as Kaumarbhritya offers both preventative and therapeutic solutions for everything from egg fertilization to the upbringing, development, and growth of children up to the age of sixteen. It also offers mothers preventative and therapeutic strategies.

Health and Safety (Agada Tantra)

The area of ayurvedic pharmacology known as Agada Tantra (Toxicology) addresses the nature, impact, and treatment of poisons as well as their potential medical applications.

According to Bhutavidya, psychology

The area of ayurveda known as “Bootha Vidya” focuses on psychology and the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological and psychosomatic illnesses.

Rasayana tantra, or rejuvenating therapy

The field of ayurvedic medicine known as Rasayana Tantra focuses on how to live a long and healthy life, prevent illness, and revitalize the body. It covers ayurvedic nutrition, supplements, and medicines used in old age to avoid illnesses, detoxify the body, and boost the immune system.

Vajikarana Tantra, or Aphrodisiac Therapy

This area focuses on improving fertility and promoting the sexual health of both men and women. It focuses on the reproductive or genetic organs’ health and diseases. Sex, virility, potency, strength, excitability, methods, routine, food, herbal remedies, and therapies for ailments like erectile dysfunction, infertility, premature ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction are all covered in this branch.

The great three Ayurvedic texts

The Charaka-Samhitha

Under Bhrihattra, the Charaka Samhita is one of the core texts of Ayurveda and classical Indian medicine.

The sage Charaka, a practitioner of the old Indian medical system, is thought to have composed and edited the Charaka-samhitha, a comprehensive book on ancient Indian medicine, somewhere between the second century B.C. and the second century A.D. But according to research on ancient Indian medicine, the original was written several centuries ago by Agnivesha, one of the six students of Ayurvedic scholar Punarvasu Athreya. (The remaining five followers were Ksharapani, Parasara, Harita, Jatukarna, and Bhela.) The Sanhita texts are supposed to have been written by each of these sages using their own interpretations and the information they had acquired from the sage Punarvasu Atreya, Among these, the Agnivesha-Samhita was distinct in its breadth and content. Charaka, who is regarded as a pupil of Agnivesha, later edited it in greater detail, hence the name Charaka-Samhita. According to historians, an author by the name of Durdhabala added seventeen more chapters to the Charaka Samhita sometime in the first century A.D. “Wondering scholars” or “wondering doctors” is another interpretation of the term Charaka. As a result, Charaka-Samhita is also regarded as a compendium of numerous doctors’ knowledge.

The teachings of the sage Charaka hold that human effort and lifestyle can prolong life expectancy and that health and disease are not fixed. Additionally, prevention of all ailments is more vital than therapy, according to Indian and Ayurvedic beliefs. In accordance with the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which has six seasons or ritus in a year, it holds that people can attain personal wellbeing by adjusting their lifestyles to the cycles of nature and the six seasons. Therefore, it appears that Charaka was among the first to advocate for the idea that “prevention is better than cure.”

Charaka is said to have said the following:

Disease can never be cured by a doctor who does not enter a patient’s body with the lamp of knowledge and wisdom. Before prescribing the medication, he should investigate all the variables influencing the patient’s illness, including the surroundings. Finding a treatment is not as vital as preventing sickness.

Sutra, Nidana, Vimana, Siva, Indriya, Chikitsa, Kalpa, and Siddhidhi are the eight Ashtanga stations, or divisions, into which Charaka separates the Charaka-Samhita. There are multiple chapters in each of these sections.

Over the course of more than two millennia, Ayurvedic treatments have changed and developed. Herbal remedies, specific diets, massage, yoga, meditation, laxatives, enemas, and medicinal oils are examples of therapies. Usually, complex botanical components, minerals, and metal substances serve as the foundation for Ayurvedic remedies. Surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty, kidney stone removal, sutures, and foreign object extraction were also taught in ancient Ayurvedic writings.