UNDERSTANDING AYURVEDA

Ayurveda, the “science of life” which finds its roots in the four Vedas is a time tested system of Indian Medicine which helps in promoting positive health, in preventing diseases and helps in achieving long life to fulfill the four ultimate goals viz., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.



Ayurveda also called Ashtanga Veda consists of eight branches viz.
Kaya Chikitsa – General Medicine
Bala Chikitsa - Paediatrics
Graha Chikitsa – Psychiatry
Urdhvanga Chikitsa – Opthalmology and Oto rhino laryngology
Shalya Chikitsa – General surgery
Dhamshtra Chikitsa – Toxicology
Jara Chikitsa – Geriatrics &
Vrisha Chikitsa – Aphrodisiacs.





Ayurveda which accepts the philosophies of SANKYA and YOGA believes that the human body is made up of 25 basic factors viz.,

1. Athman (Purusha/Self)
2. Avyaktha (Primordial matter)
3. Mahat (Supreme intelligence)
4. Ahankara ( Ego)
5. Manas (Mind)
6-10 Pancha Tanmathras (Five basic elements viz., Earth, Water,
Fire, Air and Space in atomic state.)

11-15 Pancha Maha Boothas (Five basic elements in Gross state)


16-20 Pancha Gnanendriyas (Five sense organs viz., Eyes, Ears, Nose,
Tongue and Skin)

21-25 Pancha Karmendriyas (Five motor organs viz., Mouth, Hands, Legs,
Gender organs & Anus)
The above mentioned Pancha Maha Boothas predominantly exist in the human body in the form of Tridoshas viz., Vata (Air and Space), Pitta (Agni), and Kapha (Earth and Water). These Tridoshas (the Content) are contained in the Shareeram (the Container) which is made up of Sapta Dathus viz., Rasam, Raktam, Mamsa, Medas, Asthi, Majja, and Shukra. Tridoshas and Sapta Dathus are nourished by the 13 Agnis (Digestive fires viz., Jataragni, 5 boothagnis and 7 Dathwagnis) located respectively in the stomach, 5 boothas and 7 Dathus and which digests the Ahara made up of again the 5 Maha boothas and the resultant Malas (waste products) are 3 in nos. viz., Pureesha, Muthra and Sweda (faeces, urine, and sweat respectively).




Ayurveda defines Health as “the total equilibrium of 3 Doshas, 7 Dathus, 3 Malas, and 13 Agnis, and the total well being of Athman (Soul), Manas (Mind) and Indriyas (Sensory and Motor organs) in the Shareeram”. Hence, any disturbance in the quality or quantity of the above factors will lead to ill health. Disease is just the inequilibrium of Tridoshas, Dathus, Malas etc.,

Diseases are mainly caused by 3 factors viz.,
1. Asatmyaendriyartha samyoga – Incompatible contact between the 5 sense
organs and their respective objects.
2. Prajnaparadha - Misuse of Prajna, (the Intellect) &
3. Parinama - Transformation (because of time).
The Principal causative factor of all diseases is Asatmyaendriyartha samyoga, which is nothing but the excessive, less or wrongful contact between the 5 sense organs and their respective objects. For eg., i) excessive contact between the tongue and its object viz., the Madurarasa (sweet) will lead to Sthoulyam (Obesity), ii) Consuming in less quantity vital Vitamins and minerals leads to deficiency disorders (less contact between the tongue and its objects), iii) wrongful contact/misuse of contact between the nose and its object viz., poisonous gas will lead to unwanted disorder.

The other main causative factor of all diseases is Prajnaparadha the misuse of Prajna. Prajna, the intellect consists of 3 main functional faculties viz., i) Dhi (the capacity of the intellect to preserve knowledge, its faculty of rational thinking and its ability to take decision) ii) Dhruti. (the courage required to act or behave according to the decision taken by Dhi and iii) Smruti (Memory or the capacity of intellect to recollect promptly the decisions taken by Dhi and its ability to act without interruption according to Dhruti. When these faculties of Prajna are influenced by Satva quality it is called Samabuddhi i.e. healthy intellect and when the same are influenced by Rajas & Thamo gunas, they lead to harmful actions and misdeeds which are called Prajnaparadha. This Prajnaparadha leads to several non beneficial consequences like neglecting natural urges / body reflexes, not following Dinacharya (Daily regimens), Ritucharya (Seasonal regimens) etc., which leads to physical and psychological disorders.

The third causative factor viz., Parinama, (transformation) also causes various diseases due to the “time” factor. for eg. Geriatric disorders.