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What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda is the world's oldest recorded healing system and dates back to
an estimated 5,000-10,000 years and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health
keeping in the world. Many scholars presume that knowledge of Ayurveda spread out from
India and influenced the ancient Chinese system of medicine, Unani medicine, and the
humoral medicine practiced by Hippocrates in Greece. Ayurvedic texts were translated in
Arabic and Physicians such as Avicenna and Razi Sempion, both of whom quoted Indian
Ayurvedic texts, established Islamic medicine. This style became popular in Europe, and
established the foundation of the European tradition in medicine. In 16th Century Europe,
Paracelsus, who is known as the father of modern Western medicine, practiced and
propagated a system of Medicine, which borrowed heavily from Ayurveda. For this reason,
Ayurveda is often referred to as the "Mother of all healing." The knowledge of
Ayurveda is believed to be a Divine manifestation to the saints and sages of India who
received its wisdom through deep meditation. Ayurvedic knowledge was transmitted orally
through generations before the advent of writing. This ancient knowledge of healing system
was a part of religious tradition of the Sanatana Dharma (Universal Religion), or Vedic
Religion. |
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Veda Vyasa,
the distinguished sage documented the complete knowledge of Ayurveda, along with the more
directly spiritual insights of self-realization into a body of scriptural literature
called the Vedas. These sacred texts of India are believed to be the oldest collection of
writings in the world. They were originally four in number and included diverse subjects
as astrology, business, government, army, poetry, health, spiritual living and behavior.
These books are known as the four Vedas; Rig, Sama, Yajur and Arth. The Rig Veda, a
compilation of verses on the nature of existence, is the oldest surviving book of any
Indo-European language (3000 BC). The Rig Veda (also known as Rig Veda) refers to the
cosmology known as Sankhya which lies at the base of both Ayurveda and Yoga, contain
verses on the characteristics of health and disease, pathogenesis and principles of
treatment. In the Rig Veda the three doshas, Vayu, Pitta and Kapha, and the use of herbs
to heal the diseases of the mind and body and to foster longevity are discussed in detail
The Sages took the stanzas from the Vedic Scriptures relating to Ayurveda and wrote
Separate books dealing only with Ayurveda. One of these books the Atreya Samhita is the
oldest medical book in the world! The Vedic Brahmans not only carried out religious rites
and ceremonies, but also became Vaidyas (physicians of Ayurveda). The
sage-physician-surgeons of the time were deeply devoted holy people, who saw health as an
integral part of spiritual life. |
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During this
legendary time in Vedic history, circa 6000 BCE to about 1500 BCE, Ayurveda was not yet
very specialized or systematic.
Between 1500 BCE and 700 BCE, the Ayurvedic system (along with other
trends in Indian philosophy) began to differentiate into eight specialties and two schools
the Atreya School of physicians and Dhanvantari School of surgeons.
During this time Ayurveda underwent a revolution in scientific
reasoning, and the ancient enlightenment came under intense dissection, each concept and
prescription subject to thorough tests of effectiveness. The various, widely scattered
teachings were also compiled at that time into Samhitas (collection of writings) of which
three confirmed authentic works exist todaythe Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and
the Ashtanga Hridaya. These and other collections were later Translated into many
languages, such as Arabic, Persian and disseminated widely.
Historical Chronology of
Ayurveda
Branches of Ayurveda
Teachings
of Ayurveda
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