Ayurveda 101

 

Name 

The word Ayurveda is a compound word. Ayurveda comprises of two words Ayush and Veda. The word Ayush means life, whereas Veda means Knowledge.

Ayurveda is a part of Atharvaveda. Atharvaveda once again comprises of two words—atharvāṇas and Veda. Atharvanas means procedures for everyday life. Thus, Atharvaveda means the knowledge of procedures for everyday life. 

Myth

The mythical origins of Ayurveda reveal that originally Vedic knowledge was transferred from the Gods to the sages (they were also the early physicians). In fact, according to Sushruta (the original composer of Sushruta Samhita), Dhanvantari (the physician of the Gods) was born as an avatar in the form of the king of Varanasi. He originally taught medicine (Ayurveda) to Sushruta and his fellow physicians. 

Origin 

As we have mentioned earlier that Ayurveda is recognized as Upveda (regarded as supplementary to Vedas); thus, it originated in the Vedic era. A rough estimation of that period would be around 5000 years ago. Though it is widely accepted that Ayurveda is a part of Atharvaveda; however, even Rigveda (the earliest Veda) also mentions various diseases, symptoms, medicinal plants, and cures. We have to keep in mind that Veda's were created even prior to scriptures came into existence. In fact, most of it was passed from one generation to the next via oral traditions.

Apparently, Ayurveda or as a matter of fact, all Vedas appear to be a cross between practical know-how and religious literature. From our modern point of view, it might sound a bit strange, but we have to keep the perspective of the primitive people, from the earliest of human civilizations. Even in the modern era, we are concerned about our health and still fear death. So, these ancient people started recording available resources and solutions. People generally pray when they feel helpless; thus, the religious portions were added. Coincidentally, we still have some tribes who still follow the ways of their ancestors. It can be noted that people following these indigenous ways know a lot about medicinal plants that city dwellers like us are ignorant of. It can also be noted that they too mostly remember these life-saving properties of medicinal plants. This trait is even common among other mammals, such as elephants and monkeys, who also use some medicinal herbs, in their own ways. Guess, the instinct to survive is strong in all living beings.

Branches

There are mainly two branches of Ayurveda; they originate from Charaka Samhita (Charaka's Compendium) and Sushruta Samhita. According to the ancient literature, Charaka Samhita was propagated and popularized by Atreya (a descendant of Atri, a great Hindu sage), and Sushruta Samhita was propagated by Dhanvantari and his disciple Sushruta. The main distinction between the two schools of thought is that while Charaka Samhita focuses on medicines and immunity, Sushruta Samhita mainly consists of surgical procedures and techniques. Thus, both schools of thought actually complement each other.

Many of the earliest followers of these practices went on to create their own treaties. Bhela Samhita created by the disciple Bhela of Charaka Samhita is acknowledged as authentic. However, some other treatises, like Harita Samhita, are not beyond doubt.

Peak

Ayurveda flourished through the middle ages (between 1200-1500 AD). It reached its zenith during the Gupta empire in India; there were even hospitals with proper equipment for the Ayurvedic treatment of patients during this period. Ayurveda was translated into multiple languages like Chinese, Persian, and Arabic, between the 5th to 8th centuries. 

Decline 

The Brahmanical (priestly) tradition in the Indian subcontinent of transferring knowledge to a selected few based on caste and creed seriously hampered Ayurveda's chances to reach out to the masses. Foreign invasions in India was also one of the reasons that a lot of important Ayurvedic treaties were forever lost. Ayurveda further stagnated during the British rule in India. The British naturally preferred their version i.e. allopathy (the conventional medical practice) over Ayurveda; hence, it was mostly ignored by them. 

Modern Era

Over the years, Ayurveda has evolved. It is once again becoming popular in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian government is promoting it in India. Patanjali by Baba Ramdev also deserves credit to make Ayurveda and yoga relevant and popular among Indians. More than 75% of the population in Nepal is dependent on Ayurveda for their well-being. Since 1980, Ayurveda is undergoing a revival in Sri Lanka. Currently, there are about 20,000 registered Ayurvedic physicians in Sri Lanka. Nowadays, Ayurvedic physicians also use modern equipment, like the stethoscope, to check their patients.

Apart from the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda has also gained popularity all over the world, courtesy of its association with yoga, which is the new craze among millennials and subsequent generations of women. 

In the evermore conscious generations, who are wary of side-effects of allopathy treatment, Ayurveda is bound to find its place, mostly as a complementary system to modern medical practices.