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Friday, June 06, 2008

Ayurveda: Philosophy

JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,
Radhekrishna!

In the last five months, we have discussed leach therapy, some basics on Ayurveda and about the herb called as Ashwagandha.

Today, let us discuss about the philosophy of Ayurveda:

Ayurveda is a system of medicine that is holistic. It is holistic in more ways than one.

· It looks at the body as a whole.

· It looks at prevention and care in addition to treatment.

· It looks at food as an essential ingredient of good health and treatment in addition to medication.

· It looks at the body and the mind.

· It considers genetic and environmental factors.

Ayurveda has a medico-social and medico-philosophical approach to health and treatment. It concerns itself as much with good health and disease-preventing lifestyle as with the treatment of illness.

Moving ahead, let us take a look at an extract from a Hindu scripture which speaks about ‘The factors responsible for promotion of strength’

Balavrddhikarastvime bhaavaa bhavanti. Tadyathaa

Balavatpurushe kale ca sukhasca kaalayogah

Sattvasampacca svabhavasamsiddhisca yauvanam

ca karma ca samharshasceti.

Meaning: These factors are strength promoters. They are: birth in a place of strong men in times of strong men and in a pleasant climate, healthy seed and uterus, nourishing food, good physique, good maintenance, healthy mind, natural disposition, youth, action and cheerfulness.

Source: Caraka-samhitaa, Sharira-sthaanam, Adhyaayah 6, Paragraph 13 (1st Century BCE).

Notes:

The causative factors listed here include:

· Genetic and environmental

· Physiological and psychological

Besides, there is no preoccupation with disease and treatment. The science emphasizes the role of factors like food.

…. to be continued

Sarvam Guruvarpanam

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