Ancient History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda in India
How Old Is Ayurveda
The origin of Ayurveda is believed to date back to over 6000 years in India when even the system of writing had not come into the picture. In the olden days, the knowledge of Ayurveda was passed on orally from one generation to another. The Hindu Mythology worships Dhanwantri as the God of Ayurveda. It was only after the advent of writing that Ayurvedic wisdom began to find a place in various scriptures. Sporadic mentions of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic practices appears sporadically in the Rig Veda, which is believed to be the oldest scripture in the world. The three Doshas in Ayurveda – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – find mention in the Rig Veda, along with mentions of various medicinal herbs and their uses. However, a more elaborate account of Ayurveda can be found in the fourth Veda known as the Atharva Veda. History of Ayurveda is believed to be one of the many constituent Vedas (Upaveda) of the Atharva Veda. It is here that we find the mention of the eight branches of Ayurveda, known as Ashtanga Ayurveda.
Story of Ayurveda
Apart from the Vedas, Various other ancient scriptures throw light on the Ayurvedic practices followed in ancient times. There are two major sources of knowledge in Ayurveda. Charak Samhita, the first recorded treatise on Ayurveda written by Maharshi Charak between 400 – 200 BCE, is considered to be the basic foundation of all Ayurvedic practices followed to this date. It is the Charak Samhita that mentions and explains the importance of Panchamahabhootas – the five great elements, namely, Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Space.
Another pivotal treatise on Ayurveda is the Sushrut Samhita written by Maharshi Sushrut. It talks about medicine and surgery at great lengths and mentions various medicines from the plant as well as animal sources. While Maharshi Charak is known as the father of Indian medicine, maharishi Sushrut is widely revered as the Father of Surgery not only in India but in the entire world.
Aim of Ayurveda
Traditional Ayurveda recipes have been written on Palm Leaves
Yet another source of Ayurvedic wisdom is the Ashtanga Hridayam written by Maharishi Vagbhata. All of these sources mention various ailments and ways to treat them with the help of medicine and other corrective therapies. All of these texts define are of grave importance as they discuss the basic principles of Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurvedic medicine and practices continue to be an integral part of the lives of many, especially in the Indian subcontinent. Various other systems of medicines such as Siddha have evolved from Ayurveda. The best example of this can be seen in the local cuisine. Various spices and herbs with medicinal properties are consumed as additives to food. This is in accordance with Ayurveda as it treats food as medicine. Not only does Ayurveda resorts to more natural and less invasive methods of treatment and healing in event of an illness, but also puts equal emphasis on the prevention of illnesses. This philosophy of healing and prevention is crucial in ensuring longevity and quality of life.
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