About Ayurveda

1. Ayurveda- An Overview

2. Origin of Ayurveda

3. Basic Principles of Ayurveda

4. Branches of Ayurveda

5. History of Ayurveda

History of ayurveda can easily be traced through the following Yuga (time periods)

Vaidika Yuga – It dates back to the prehistoric times to around the 2500 BC. It is important top note here that ancient texts in India have been divided into two. These are:

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Ayurveda is considered as the upa Veda i.e. a limb of Veda and gets its reference in puranas. It is called fifth Veda by rishi kashyap in his text known as kashyap samhita. Every Veda as its upa-veda. Ayurveda is considered upa-veda of atharveda as atharveda is the basis of ayurveda. Tridosha (vata, pitta and kapha) concept also has its reference in Vedas.

It can never be doubted that ancient sages and ayurvedic surgeons had a very good knowledge of anatomy of body. Various body organs also find there name in Vedas. There structural anatomy has also been described in Vedas. Below are the few of such examples:-

Reference related to bones and joints have also been found in Vedas.

There is also mention of number of bone. According to Vedas human body contains 360 bones.

It has also been seen that Veda has mentioned about the metabolism processes in the body. As mentioned in the verses in Veda the ana (food) that is consumed is divided in to three parts. The coarse part becomes purish (faeces), the second part becomes mamsa (flesh) and the third part becomes a part of the manas (mind). Again the apa (fluid) in taken also is divided into three parts. The gross one gets converted to mutra (urine), the second part gets converted into lohita (blood) and last part gets converted into prana.

Veda also has talked about bacteriology (Krimi and bhoot). These have been further divided into two. First is adrishta (invisible) and others are drishta (visible). The first category denotes to microorganism and the later includes parasites and protozoan. There have also been mentions of certain herbs in regards to diseases. These are. Shyama (bhringraj) in skin related diseases, prishnparni in relation to abortions, mrig sringa in kshay, leprosy and apasmaara, durva and shatavari as rasayan, Rohini in factures etc. even certain botany has been mentioned along with pharmacology. Soma is considered as king of plants because of its multiple use and finds its mention in Rig-Veda. It may seem unbelievable but it is a fact that a disease named takman which is similar to malaria also finds its reference in Vedas. Rig Veda also mentions about the suns role in treating various disease. Hydrotherapy is also mentioned in rig-veda.

It will be very surprising for you to know that surgery is mentioned Vedas. Ashwani kumar, the twin brothers were the celestial physicians and surgeons who were extolled in may hymns for their cures of disease and feats of surgery. It is believed that they were experts in the orthopedics.

Rasayan chikitsa was also developed as a special branch of ayurveda. Obstetrics and gynecology is also mentioned in Vedas.

In athrava veda there are mentioning of certain special mantra which were specifically made to target a disease. Disease like kamala (jaundice), kushth (leprosy) lso has a mantra. Mantra and nothing more than the psychological treatment by which patient is assured that he will surely be benefited by the treatment he had been put onto.

Rig veda has also contains certain references regarding the conditions of vaidya (physician) in those days. They were paid for there services and had a high reputation in the society. They are just considered equivalent to Gods. During those days there were three categories of vaidya (physicians), these were:

Brahma is the creator of the universe. He is said to be the originator of ayurveda. The knowledge was the passed to Prajapati. This knowledge was again passed to the Ashwani kumar and then to Lord Indra who intern taught to seven rishis who approached to him. Thus the science of ayurveda has been brought into the world through the celestials. In this period Agnivesh tantra, which late came to be known as charak samhita, was written. Sushurut samhita was also written during this period. Many other world renowned and very informative literatures were written during this period of time. During this time there has been evidence from the extant samhita and commentaries that numerous original classical works on each of the several branches of ayurveda might have existed at least 8-9 centuries ago. Below are the some of the names of rishis who have created certain text with their works.

Kaya chikitsa (general medicine)

Shalya chikitsa (general medicine)

Shalakya tantra (E.N.T disease)

Bhoot vidya (psychological treatment)

No specific commentary or book has been written on it but there has been certain references found in ayurvedic texts. Below are the some of the texts with there reference.

• Sushurut samhita, Uttar sthana chapter 6
• Charak samhita , chikitsa sthana chapter 8
• Vagabhatta, Uttar sthana chapter 4-5

It is probable, in ancient times; treatment of mental disorders may have been called as bhoot vidya. The commentaries which date back thousands years do not say anything about this science, a fact which goes to say that this science might have been lost at very early age.

Kumar bhritya (pediatrics)

Agad tantra (toxicology)

Rasayan chikitsa

Bajikaran chikitsa (aphrodisiac)

Many samhita have written on this branch of chikitsa from the reference made to certain names of the authors made to certain names of the author in vatsayan Kamasutra. But as the commentators have not made any reference regarding these texts in their commentaries, it seems that these original might have been lost at least a thousand years back. As vatsayan mentions aupanishadic treatment and process of sexual invigoration, it is evident that these texts were not lost 2 thousand years back.

Buddha Yuga: this period extends from 500BC to 600AD. It may be considered as the best period in which ayurveda really reached its glory. During this period may educational centers flourished including the world renowned Taxila. Jeevak is a famous example of a scholar who studied in this university. He was physician to the king and lord Buddha. It is said that he possessed a herb named bhaishaiyaraja, which had the specific property of illuminating the internal organs when placed over the body.

Various hospitals had been established to treat people. During the region of Maurya emperor Chandra Gupta (321 BC-296 BC) there was special attention paid in establishment of hospitals and dispensaries.

During the region of Ashok the great there were great efforts done in spreading ayurveda along the globe. Medicinal plants were cultivated and vrukshaayurveda (science of botany dealing with growth, classification and health of plants) were established.

Sushurut samhita was redacted by Nagaarjun, who was probably the founder of Mahayana. Agnivesh tantra was redacted by charak (123 AD – 150 AD). Dhanwantry nighantu was also created during this period which is the world’s first materia medica. Amarasimha, a contemporary of Dhanwantry created a lexicon by name amarkosh (dictionary) in which he gave synonyms of many drugs.

Pouranika yuga- this period ranges from 600 AD to 1000 AD. It got its name as puranas were compiled during this period. In this period the5re were set of dispensaries and the medication along with food was also supplied free to the patients. Some puranas not only mention the benefits of establishing such free hospitals but also deal in the subjects relating to medicine among which Agni puranas, garuda puranas, matasya puranas and the like are prominent. During 7 th century Jiajatt wrote his commentaries on charak and sushurut. During period of caliphs (750 AD to 850 AD) ayurveda also got publicized and many books were translated to Persian.

A very remarkable development during this era is the development of ras Shastra (organo-metallic preparations). Bhattar harichandra (931 AD) wrote commentary on charak and redacted kharanadha samhita.

Vedas may be the first book of knowledge of medicine and alchemy in ac\ancient Hindustan. The tern Ayushyam (securing long and healthy life), which occurs in the hymns of the athrava Veda, was converted later into rasayan which is particularly the equivalent of alchemy.

The great knowledge of ayurveda especially of ras Shastra (organo-metallic preparations) has also found its reference in the book written by Muslim scholar Alberuni (who lived in India from 1017 to 1030 AD). According to him he wrote that Indian people have an alchemy science which is called as rasayan which meant art that is restricted to certain operations, drugs and compounds and medicines. Most of which are taken from plants. He wrote that the principle of rasayan was to restore the health of the people who were ill beyond hope and gave back youth to fading old age.

Nagaarjun, the greatest achiever of the in making ayurveda reach new heights. He was the person who introduced metallic preparations in the ayurvedic system of medicine.

According to Hiuen tsang, who stayed in India in near about 629 A.D. described Nagaarjun as the bodhisattva who practiced art of compounding medicines by taking a preparation, he nourished the year of life for many hundred of years so that neither the mind nor-appearance decayed. Hence a time can be estimated for Nagaarjun is 7 th century. But it has also come to notice that there were also many Nagaarjun.

In this period, as mentioned in many literatures from different countries, it becomes clear that Indian were the first people who made out the mercury preparations which were used for internal use.

Mahammadeya yuga- this period ranged from 1000 AD. This time is the time of Muslim rule over India. Ayurveda enjoyed a prime spot in this period also. This period also saw enormous development of Ras Shastra (organo metallic preparations). This period also lead to the development of the pulse diagnosis. This period also say the translation of ayurvedic texts into Telugu.

Names of authors and their work

Aangala yuga- this period extends from 1700 AD to year 1947. This was the time when there was European invasion in India. The ayurveda and its practice were greatly patronized by the state and the people. In fact there are evidences of several drugs used in medicines and also of prepared medicines such as bajikaran (aphrodisiac) preparations being exported to Europe along the trade routes. Early European explorers studied Indian botany and materia medica with the idea of economic exploration. Since aid of the government wad denied to the practitioners of ayurvedic medicines after the establishment of British Empire in India, the progress of ayurveda took a back seat. Ayurveda was however was taught in gurukuls by the learned professors with their usual devotion to the subject. New literature was also contributed in the shape of nighantu as mentioned above.

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