About Ayurveda

The science of life — a complete system of health handed down by the great Acharyas Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhata.

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What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda (Āyuḥ = life, Veda = knowledge) is the classical Indian science of life. It does not only treat disease; it teaches what is wholesome and unwholesome for life, how to live in harmony with nature, and how to restore balance once it is lost. Its knowledge is preserved in the great texts — the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya — known together as the Brihat Trayi.

हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्।
मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते॥

— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 1/41

भावार्थ: जिस शास्त्र में हितकर-अहितकर, सुखी-दुःखी आयु, आयु के लिए हित-अहित तथा आयु का मान बताया गया है, उसे आयुर्वेद कहते हैं।

Since When? — The Origin of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is called eternal (Shashvata): life and the laws of nature it describes have always existed — the science was not invented, it was perceived by the sages and handed down. Sushruta calls it an Upaveda (subsidiary part) of the Atharvaveda.

सोऽयमायुर्वेदः शाश्वतो निर्दिश्यते, अनादित्वात्, स्वभावसंसिद्धलक्षणत्वात्, भावस्वभावनित्यत्वाच्च।

— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 30/27

भावार्थ: आयुर्वेद शाश्वत (नित्य) है — क्योंकि इसका कोई आरम्भ नहीं है, इसके लक्षण स्वभाव से सिद्ध हैं, और पदार्थों का स्वभाव नित्य है।

इह खल्वायुर्वेदो नाम यदुपाङ्गमथर्ववेदस्य…

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 1/6

भावार्थ: आयुर्वेद अथर्ववेद का उपांग है।

Lineage in Charaka Samhita

Brahma → Daksha Prajapati → Ashwini Kumaras → Indra → Bharadvaja → Atreya Punarvasu, who taught six disciples. Agnivesha wrote the first treatise, which Charaka revised and Dridhabala completed — today’s Charaka Samhita, the classic of medicine (Kaya Chikitsa).

Lineage in Sushruta Samhita

Dhanvantari, born as Divodasa, King of Kashi, taught Ayurveda — with special emphasis on surgery — to Sushruta and other disciples. This is today’s Sushruta Samhita, the classic of surgery (Shalya).

Vagbhata

Acharya Vagbhata later brought the essence of Charaka and Sushruta together in the Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Sangraha. With Charaka and Sushruta these form the Brihat Trayi — the three great classics.

Later classics

Madhava Nidana (diagnosis), Sharngadhara Samhita (pharmacy) and Bhavaprakasha — the Laghu Trayi — and texts like Yogaratnakara carried the tradition forward.

The Aim (Prayojana) of Ayurveda

Ayurveda has two clear goals — to protect the health of the healthy, and to cure the disease of the sick. This is why classical Ayurveda gives equal importance to daily routine (Dinacharya), seasonal routine (Ritucharya), proper diet (Pathya) and timely purification, along with medicines.

प्रयोजनं चास्य स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ्यरक्षणमातुरस्य विकारप्रशमनं च॥

— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 30/26

भावार्थ: आयुर्वेद का प्रयोजन है — स्वस्थ व्यक्ति के स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा करना और रोगी के रोग को शांत करना।

Who is Truly Healthy?

Acharya Sushruta gives the most complete definition of health. Health is not just the absence of disease — it is the balance of body, digestion, tissues, excretion, senses, mind and soul.

समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रियः।
प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते॥

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 15/41

भावार्थ: जिसके दोष सम हों, अग्नि सम हो, धातु और मलों की क्रिया सम हो, तथा आत्मा, इन्द्रियाँ और मन प्रसन्न हों — वही स्वस्थ कहलाता है।

The Three Doshas — Vata, Pitta, Kapha

According to Ayurveda, the body is governed by three functional energies called Doshas. When they are in balance we are healthy; when they are disturbed, disease begins. The mind is influenced by Rajas and Tamas.

वायुः पित्तं कफश्चोक्तः शारीरो दोषसंग्रहः।
मानसः पुनरुद्दिष्टो रजश्च तम एव च॥

— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 1/57

भावार्थ: वात, पित्त और कफ — ये शरीर के दोष हैं; और रज तथा तम — ये मन के दोष कहे गए हैं।

Vata (Air + Space)

Governs all movement — breathing, circulation, nerve impulses, joints and elimination. Imbalance causes pain, stiffness, dryness, anxiety, sleeplessness and nervous disorders.

Pitta (Fire + Water)

Governs digestion, metabolism, body heat, vision and intellect. Imbalance causes acidity, burning, skin diseases, inflammation and anger.

Kapha (Water + Earth)

Gives structure, stability, lubrication and immunity. Imbalance causes heaviness, obesity, cough, congestion, sluggishness and diabetes.

How Many Branches? — Ashtanga Ayurveda

Ayurveda has eight branches (Ashtanga), covering every field of medicine.

कायबालग्रहोर्ध्वाङ्गशल्यदंष्ट्राजरावृषान्।
अष्टावङ्गानि तस्याहुश्चिकित्सा येषु संश्रिता॥

— Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 1/5

भावार्थ: काय, बाल, ग्रह, ऊर्ध्वांग, शल्य, दंष्ट्रा, जरा और वृष — ये आयुर्वेद के आठ अंग हैं, जिन पर सम्पूर्ण चिकित्सा आधारित है।

1. Kaya Chikitsa — General Medicine2. Bala (Kaumarabhritya) — Paediatrics3. Graha (Bhuta Vidya) — Psychiatry4. Urdhvanga (Shalakya) — Eye, ENT & Head5. Shalya — Surgery6. Damshtra (Agada) — Toxicology7. Jara (Rasayana) — Rejuvenation8. Vrisha (Vajikarana) — Aphrodisiac & Fertility

How Ayurveda Treats Disease

1. Nidana Parivarjana

Finding and removing the root cause — wrong diet, lifestyle or habits — so the disease does not keep returning.

2. Shamana

Pacifying the aggravated doshas with classical medicines, diet and lifestyle — suitable for mild conditions and weak patients.

3. Shodhana (Panchakarma)

Expelling the aggravated doshas out of the body through Panchakarma, so that the disease is uprooted completely.

4. Rasayana

Rejuvenation after purification — to strengthen tissues, immunity and longevity.

दोषाः कदाचित् कुप्यन्ति जिता लङ्घनपाचनैः।
जिताः संशोधनैर्ये तु न तेषां पुनरुद्भवः॥

— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 16/20

भावार्थ: लंघन और पाचन से शांत किए गए दोष कभी-कभी फिर कुपित हो जाते हैं, परंतु संशोधन (पंचकर्म) द्वारा जीते गए दोष फिर उत्पन्न नहीं होते।

The Three Pillars of Life & Daily Routine

Charaka names Ahara (food), Nidra (sleep) and Brahmacharya (disciplined conduct) as the three supporting pillars (Trayopastambha) of life. The classics place prevention before cure: waking in Brahma Muhurta, oil massage (Abhyanga), exercise according to strength, eating only after the previous meal is digested, and following the routine prescribed for each season (Ritucharya) keep the doshas balanced. Seasonal purification — Vamana in spring, Basti in the rainy season and Virechana in autumn — removes the doshas that naturally accumulate with the change of seasons.

Experience Classical Ayurveda in Nangal

Vedicure Panchakarma Center & Ayurvedic Clinic — serving Nangal since 2011.

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