Ayurveda is gaining popularity in the Western world for a number of reasons. It is a holistic form of medicine with a long history and time-tested results.
‘Ayur’ means life and ‘veda’ means knowledge, so Ayurveda is the knowledge or science of life. It is a comprehensive, holistic approach to treating the body-mind-spirit and incorporates all types of healing modalities (diet, herbs, water, metals, gems, yoga, breathing, acupressure, etc.) for bringing the body back into alignment. Ayurveda was the first organized medical system and laid the framework for medical practices around the world today. But how did this amazing and ancient system get started? Who invented it? When were the ancient ayurvedic texts written? …Read on to discover the answers to these and other historical questions.
The story of Ayurveda begins with Lord Brahma, who is the creator of the universe per Hindu mythology. Brahma taught the science of Ayurveda to his son, Daksha Prajapati, who went on to teach the Ashwini Kumaras, known as the twin physicians of heaven. They, in turn, passed it on to Lord Indra, the ruler of the Heavens. Up until this point, Ayurveda existed only in the heavenly realm.
In the meantime, people on earth had begun suffering from many diseases, preventing them from attaining the four aims of human existence: dharma (righteousness), artha (economic values), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation), which pave the path to spiritual fulfillment. To help out the suffering humans, the divine sages living on earth requested Lord Indra to teach them the ancient teachings. So, Sages Dhanvantari, Bharadwaja, Punarvasa and others learned the divine science of Ayurveda, and then they taught it to their disciples on earth, including Agnivesa, Parasara, Sushruta and others. In time, these spiritual teachers went on to write the classical texts of Ayurveda which we still use today.
The three most famous ayurvedic works are called Brhat-Trayī, or the three great treatises. They form the backbone of ayurvedic science. The first compendium is the Charaka Samhita, composed by Agnivesa and later edited by Charaka (ca 200-400 BC), focusing on general medicine. The second, is the Sushruta Samhita (ca 500 BC), composed by Sushruta, who is known as ‘The Father of Surgery’. And finally, Ashtanga Hridayam Samhita was written by Vagbhata (ca 600 AD), a combination of the previous two books; it is written in simple prose, making it a preferred reference for many ayurvedic practitioners.
Did you know: Acharya Sushrut performed the first rhinoplasty around 500 BC, while the first documented rhinoplasty in the western world was in 1794!
Later, three more ayurvedic encyclopedias, called Laghu-Trayī, or the three minor works, came out. They were Madhav Nidana (7th Cent CE) which covers diagnosis and pathophysiology, Sarangdhar Samhita (1300 CE), a general medicine compendium that also covers pulse diagnosis, and Bhavprakash (1500 CE) Nighantu, an in-depth review of Materia Medica and the pharmacology of herbal plants.
Rooted in the sacred Vedic scriptures, Ayurveda has withstood many historical trials. Ayurvedic surgery nearly dissolved during the Buddhist period, as it was considered a form of ahimsa (non-violence). This was followed by a period of Ayurvedic alchemy, which flourished during the Medieval period. Then came the time of the Moghul Empire, in which many ayurvedic texts and even large universities were destroyed in the ensuing wars. Finally, the period of the British Raj challenged the very basis of Ayurveda as an effective healing modality, calling it ‘quackery’, especially with the mass marketing of ‘quick-fix’ allopathic pills during the Industrial Revolution. The New Age movement which began in the U.S. in the 1970s, proved people were seeking personalized systems of healing that were ethical, spiritual, and holistic in nature. Ayurvedic, along with other modalities, fit the bill perfectly.
Today, people are still drawn to Ayurveda as a form of holistic medicine that treats the whole person, including body, mind, senses, emotions and spirit. The “one-cause-one-cure” approach of Allopathy, which focuses on treating symptoms, simply is not enough. Whereas Ayurveda works on the premise, that if the roots are nourished and watered, the plant will flourish. Food habits, lifestyle, sleep, daily and seasonal routines, with period internal cleansing are far more effective than expensive medicines, to maintain good health.
Uma Hingorani
Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ashoka Holistic Ayurveda, LLC
References:
1. Daksha – Wikipedia
2. The 4 Purusharthas: Dharma, Kama, Moksha, & Artha (chopra.com)
3. Brhat Trayi – Wikipedia
4. Laghu Trayi – The lesser trio of Ayurvedic Treatises (easyayurveda.com)
5. Sushruta and Indian rhinoplasty | ENT & Audiology News (entandaudiologynews.com)
