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‘Ayur’‘veda’ – ‘Life’‘Science’
Udai SJC – 3rd MarchHappy HoliNikhil Rasiwasia
Ayurveda - Origins Accurate dating is uncertain
More objectively identifiable after the advent of Buddhism (c. 500 BC)
Invasion of Darius, Alexander brought exchange
Significant medical content can be found in Rig-Veda (presumed origin c. 1500 BC)
Early writings on perishable bhojpatra
Vedas It is the bedrock upon which Ayurveda rests Considered to be composed around 1500-2000 BC Four veda
Rig-veda : lots of stuff Sam-veda : Soma sacrifice Yajur-veda : entire sacrificial rite Athar-veda : non-relegious (1200 BC), lots of medical text
(fever, diarrhes, heart disease, jaundice, cough, leprosy) Authoritative supplements
Brahmanas Aranyakas (“the forest books", meaning treatises for sadhus
living in the wilderness.) Upnishads (self development spiritual text, philosophy,
meditation, and the nature of God )
End of Vedic Period (500 BC) Subsequent text deriving from primary
vedic samhitas Laid more emphasis on the dharma of self-
development with explicit spiritual and philosophical content
Vedanta – derived from Upnishads Ramayana Mahabharat, Bhagavad Gita Puranas – AD 320 to 520 - "tales of ancient
times"
Ayurveda and Buddhism Buddhism
attempt to purify, restructure and reform older vedic traditions.
Comfortable adopting Ayurveda Jivaka, - Taxila’s outstanding Ayurvedic physician,
buddha’s personal physicin Ashoka (convert to buddhism established many
charitable hospitals) Spread of Buddhism == spread of Ayurveda Nagarjuna – AD 100, brought about significant
advances in Ayurveda – father of iatrochemistry – preparation of medicinal mineral substances
Westerm Medicine and Aurveda Hippocrates : Father of western medicine
Humoral theory – blood, phelgm, yellow bile, black bile
Dietary therapy, influence of seasons on health
Aristotle Relied heavily on empirical observation and
naturalistic classification Four prime qualities: hot, cold, wet, dry Four fundamental essence: air, water, fire, earth
Chinese medicine and ayurveda
Oldest extant chinese medical text – Huang-di Nei-jing or Inner classic of the Yellow Emperor (300 BC)
Similarities – because of exchange of ideas via Buddhism and trade.
Ayurveda and Arab Medicine (Unani Tibb)
Arab medicine by Avicenna (AD 980) Produced Canon of Medicine, a compendium of
the previous works of Hippocrates and Galen
Mostly based on Greek medicine (Unani) Reports of exchange of ideas – Ayurvedic
physicians were invited to baghdad to teach and organize hospitals
Earliest Texts 760 BC: Charaka Samhita – herbal or plant based
pharmacopoeia 660 BC: Sushruta Samhita – Surgival approaches 7th Century : Ashtanga Sangraha of Vagbhata of Sindh
– summary of previous two AD 100: Nagarjuna – iatrochemistry 1331: Madhava Nidana by Madhava of Kishkindha –
Ayurvedic Diagnosis 14th Century - Sarangadhara Samhita – Pulse
Diagnosis
Ayurveda in 19th Century Ayurveda flourished till 12th century, till the Muslim
invasion Not much progress from 12th to 17th century British invasion : 1833 virtually all ayurveda schools
closed, opening of British medical schools 1920: a national revival and resurgence of interest in
traditional Indian culture and practices 1946: Formal govt. recognition and reacceptance of
Ayurveda and resurgence of research. Currently, however it holds a secondary place in
medicine in India Indian govt. officially recognizes as legitimate:
Allopathy, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Unani Tibb, Ayurveda, and its cousins Siddha and Yoga.
Ayurveda vs Western Science Philosophy
W: treats discrete disease entities A : treats subtle dysphoria, whose disruptive trends may later
develop into discrete disease. Diagnostic
W: scientific objectivity and verifiability (accumulating statistically significant data) – “experience-distant”
A : pratyaksha (perceptive understanding of each individual) – “experience-near”
Treatment W: Linear logic, categorical and uses a classification system of
disease. A : Maintenance of optimal health by daily proactive care,
continually modified according to seasonal changes Belief
A : Individual has the innate capacity for potential self-correction and primary self healing
Why Ayurveda? Health maintenance rather than disease treatment System of diet and lifestyle
enhance the quality of life by dealing with subtle trends that might lead to actual disease
Compatible with those whose beliefs include naturalistic, spiritual and consciousness-oriented approaches
Often require intentional and sustained self-discipline, perseverance and active personal role.
Ashtanga Ayurveda Kayachikitsa
Internal Medicine Shalyatantra
Surgery Shalakya Tantra
Otolaryngology(ENT), Ophthalmology Kaumarabhiritya
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics Agadatantra
Toxicology Bhutavidya
Psychiatry Rasayana
Antiaging and rejuvenation Vajikarana
Reproductive and aphrodisiac medicine
Theoretical Foundations Darshanas – ideological systems
Astika Sankhya – nontheistic creation sequence - by Kapila Yoga – Gradual liberation of human spirit to attain Samadhi –
by Patanjali Nyaya Darshana – monotheistic system, logical approach of
apprehending the world using reason Vaisheshika - postulates that all objects in the physical universe
are reducible to a finite number of atoms by Kanada Purva Mimamsa (inquiry) – emphsis on discipline, ritual and
service Uttara Mimamsa or Advita Vedanta – spiritually oriented,
emphasizes the spiritual base of reality, human misperception by Shankara (AD 780)
Nastika Buddhism Jainism Lokayata
Epistemology Knowledge Process From Nyaya Dharshana philosophy Four cognitive faculties
Manas – mind as it experiences sensations Chitta – transmitter from manas to higher cognitive functions Ahamkara – self-identity that provides the individual with the
experience of relative constancy. Buddhi – most refined, discerning ability, intellect, wisdom
Four techniques of knowing Pratyaksha – direct sensory perception Anumana – inference Sabda – authoritative statement Upmana - Analogy
World View Essentially unitary and dynamic, integrated coherence
with actively interdependent aspects Dynamic aspect is fueled by constant interaction
amongst three doshas – Vata : movement Pitta : transformation Kapha : consolidation
the fundamental regulatory principles of the body’s physiological functioning
Interplay between them modulates the interaction of the Gurvadi Gunas (10 pairs of opposite qualities) Characterize all perceptible substances
Gurvadi Gunas Shita/ushna Snigdha/ruksha Guru/laghu Sthula/sukshma Sandra/drava Sthira/chala Manda/tikshna Mridu/kathina Slaksha/khara Picchila/sishada
English please. Shita/ushna - cold/hot Snigdha/ruksha - wet,oily/dry Guru/laghu - heavy/light Sthula/sukshma - gross/subtle Sandra/drava - dense/liquid Sthira/chala - stable/mobile Manda/tikshna - dull/sharp Mridu/kathina - soft/hard Slaksha/khara - smooth/rough Picchila/sishada - sticky/clear
Vedic Standards
Four basic life goals (purushartha) Dharma – individual's abidance with the
inherent lawfulness in universe – purpose, duty, justice
Artha – possessions Kama – Pleasure Moksha – liberation
Sankhya Model of Creation Avayakta
pure existence in its unmanifest state Absolutely transcendental, indescribable Essence
Satyam – essential truth Ritam – deep structure, self-correcting Brihat – vast breath of its being
Two components Purusha – primal immaterial matrix out of which
all else emerge, pristine consciousness Prakriti – when ‘purusha’ spontaneously moves,
then at that moment the first material energy, prakriti, comes into being.
Maha Gunas
Three axiomatic attributes that are inherent to maha gunas (subtle) Sattva – pure, clear, harmony Rajas – dynamic movement, agitation Tamas – interita, dullness
Highly rarefied potentials that impart direction and create a unique character.
Ahamkara
Next step in the developmental process of prakriti
A giant leap which eventually becomes most characteristically individualized in human experience
Experience of personal sense of self. Next all steps are material
Pancha Mahabhuti
Ether/Space Air Fire Water Earth
Birth of Doshas - Vata
Pitta
Kapha