Hello, the sweetest reader! I am Dr. Sahana Krishna, a professional Ayurveda Vaidya with post-graduate studies in Kayachikitsa. I am the founder, Chief Consultant Physician, and Chairperson at Dheerghayu Wellness Centre, an Ayurveda Chikitsalaya and Dispensary located in the serene village of Doddamallur, amidst the renowned Apprameya Swamy or Navaneeta Krishna Temple street in Channapatna Taluk, Ramanagar district. This place is surrounded by nature’s beauty, divine blessings, clean roads, the warmth of the local community, and, above all full of positive energies.
Now let us talk about the topic! We often hear about Ayurveda, one of India’s ancient systems of medicine, with a history that spans millennia. In this blog, I aim to demystify what Ayurveda truly is. For those new to Ayurveda, this will serve as a primer, and for those already acquainted, it will provide clarity and depth.
What is Ayurveda?
When we break down the word ‘Ayurveda,’ it reveals its essence: “Ayu” (life) which is formed of body(shareera), sensory organs(indriya), satwa(manas), and atma(soul). so in general it is a period from birth to death. and “Veda” (knowledge). Ayurveda is not just a system of medicine; it’s a life science that offers a blueprint for leading a healthier life. It defines what’s good, bad, happy, and unhappy life. In this blog, I’ll share unique concepts that form the foundation of Ayurveda, before that let’s see how this science evolved.
How Ayurveda Evolved?
The story behind Ayurveda’s origin is both intriguing and mythological. According to classical works of literature, Lord Brahma, the god of creation, memorized the science of Ayurveda and passed this pure knowledge to Dakshaprajapati, a king. The knowledge then descended to Ashwini Kumaras and, eventually, to Indra Dev. From Indra, it was imparted to eminent sages like Bharadwaja, Dhanwantari, and Kashyapa, etc like this the knowledge of Ayurveda descended to the earth, developed and established in the form of ashtanga Ayurveda (the eight branches of Ayurveda). This profound wisdom is considered part of Atharvana Veda, making Ayurveda one of the oldest sciences known to humanity.
The Aim of Ayurveda
Ayurveda’s uniqueness lies in its holistic approach to well-being and the individualized nature of its practices. The primary aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of healthy individuals and provide guidance on how to lead a healthy life. It offers personalized plans encompassing dietary choices(Pathya-Apathaya),daily regimens (wake-up to bedtime routine), seasonal regimens according to seasonal changes and more. Another important aim is to offer relief from diseases in diseased through its unique herbal and herbo-mineral combination of medications and more, making it a dual-shelter system—preventing ailments and offering curative measures.
Why Ayurveda Matters?
Understanding the fundamentals of Ayurveda and adopting its principles can profoundly impact your life. Ayurveda is distinct in several ways:
- Preventive Aspect: Ayurveda provides guidelines for daily routines (Dinacharya) which gives you idea about how you need to channel your day in right way starting from the time to wake up till the time to go to bed which includes oral health, fitness of mind, body and soul, skin care, hair care, dietary, gut care, night regimen etc. it also give insights on seasonal regimen (Ritucharya) to prevent illnesses and maintain well-being.
- Customization: Ayurveda Vaidyas help you to meticulously customise things to keep you healthy based on unique concepts like constitution (Prakruti), Agni(metabolism and digestion), koshta (gut health), current health status (Vikruti / disease), etc which will differ person to person.
- Holistic Approach: Ayurveda never focus only on isolated symptoms or systems, in-fact this science treats individuals as a whole, delving deep into the root causes of illnesses and correct it. Hence it says Nidana parivarjana (avoiding causative factors which are causing the illness) will become the first line of treatment.
- Mental, Physical and spiritual Well-being: Ayurveda recognizes that true health encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual balance, aligning with the WHO’s definition of health as complete well-being.
Closing Remarks
Ayurveda’s primary mission is to teach us the art of healthy living, emphasizing that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ This blog aims to create awareness about Ayurveda and encourages readers to embrace its principles for a fit and natural approach to health. These blogs are designed for easy comprehension, offering insights into how Ayurveda can enhance your well-being in a gentle and safe way. I hope you now have a glimpse of what Ayurveda is all about, and in our future blogs, we will dive deeper, debunk myths, and make this ancient science more accessible and understandable.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more intriguing insights into Ayurveda!