‘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