The Notion of Health in Ayurveda

J.S.R.A. PrasadDept. Of Sanskrit Studies,

School of Humanities,University of Hyderabadjsraprasad@gmail.com

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What is the goal of human life? What causes to achieve the goal? What obstructs us in achieving the goal? What science tells us to remove the

obstruction?

Ayurveda Goal of Ayurveda?

स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ्यरक्षणम्, आतुरस्य विवकारप्रशमनञ्च । (The utility of this science is to help maintain the health of a healthy individual and cure diseases of a patient.) It is a 'patient centric' medical science than a 'disease centric' science.

The fundamental doctrine is called 'tridosha'

It has eight limbs.

Eight limbs of Ayurveda

1. कायचिचविकत्सा (Internal Medicine)2. शल्यचिचविकत्सा (Surgery)3. शालाक्यचिचविकत्सा (ENT)4. कौमारभृत्यचिचविकत्सा (Gynaecology&Paediatrics)5. अगदतन्त्रचिचविकत्सा (Toxicology)6. भूतविवद्या (Psychiatry)7. रसायनचिचविकत्सा (Rejuvenation)8. वाजीकरणचिचविकत्सा (Aphrodisiacs)

Ayus आयुः वेदयवित = आयुव,दः । The science which tells us about

'Ayus' is called 'Ayurveda.' What is Ayus?

a) आयुश्चेतनानुवृत्ति/ः । b) शरीर-इन्द्रिन्2य-सत्त्व-आत्म-संयोगः ।

The conjunction of all the four is called 'life' and disjunction is known as 'death.'

A causal relation is observed between the cognitive process and union of all the above.

Types of Ayus

1.SukhAyus – Happy Life2.DuhkhAyus – Unhappy Life3.HitAyus – Useful Life4.AhitAyus – Harmful Life

SukhAyus (Happy Life)

Is the one who is not afflicted with two types of diseases

Is the one endowed with the following: Youth, enthusiasm, strength, virility, reputation,

manliness, boldness, knowledge of arts and sciences, senses, objects of senses, ability of the sense organs, riches, various luxurious articles for enjoyment, progressive in all aspects

Such people lead a happy life

DuhkhAyus (Unhappy Life)

'Contrary to the above described.'

HitAyus (Useful Life) HitAyus are:

Well-wishers of all creatures, who do not aspire for the wealth of others, truthful, peace loving, who examine things before acting upon them, vigilant, who enjoy the three important desires of life, who respect superiors, who are endowed with the knowledge of arts, sciences and tranquility, who serve the elders, who have full control over – passion, anger, envy, pride and prestige, who are constantly given to charity, meditation, acquisition of knowledge and quite life, who have full knowledge of the spiritual power and are devoted to it, who makes efforts both for existing as well as the next life, endowed with memory and intelligence

AhitAyus (Harmful Life)

'Contrary to the above described.'

Definition of Health

समदोषः समाग्नि8नश्च समधातु मलवि:यः ।प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रिन्2यमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यत्तिभधीयते ।।

Equilibrium of all doshas, metabolic fire, seven tissues, three wastes, plesant state of the soul, senses and mind is called 'healthy.'

Contd...

सुषु्ठ विनर्विव>कारत्वेनाववितष्ठवित इवित स्वस्थः ।

Who is excellently abide by normalcy or uniformity is called 'healthy.'

Tripod of Life

सत्त्वमात्मा शरीरञ्च त्रयमेतत्त्रित्त्रदण्डवत् ।लोकस्तिस्तष्ठवित संयोगात् तत्र सवC प्रवितष्ठिष्ठतम् ।।

Mind, soul and body these three are like a tripod. The world is sustained by their combination. They constitute the substratum of everything.

Disease

Diseases mainly occures because of imbalance in the three doshas.

वात, विE/ and कफ are the physcial दोषs (शारीरिरकाः) and रजs and तमs are the psychological दोष's.

वायुः विE/ं कफश्चोक्तः शारीरो दोषसंग्रहः ।मानसः Eुनरुन्द्रिLष्टो रजश्च तम एव च ।।

'Duhkha' is the root cause of diseases.

Disease Types

caraka has enumerated two:a) Nija andb) AgantukaSushruta has enumerated four:1. आगन्तुकाः (diseases due to injuries)2. शारीरकाः (diseases due to vitiation in three humors)3. मानचिसकाः (diseases due to three primary factors of

psyche)4. स्वाभाविवकाः (diseases due to old age etc.)

Prescription to Health

Keeping doshas in balance Maintaining a sattvic diet Maintaining the Vegas Swasthavrtta Eight fold Yoga

Thank you!