Yoga And Ayurveda-Part I... Contd.

Yoga

oi-Staff

By Super

Friday, April 20, 2012, 12:43

Ayurveda is more life and health oriented, than disease and treatment oriented. It presents a total life science and visualises the total health of an individual in an holistic way. It was a well-developed system of medicine even in ancient times. It advocates a complete restorative, preventive and curative system of medicine and appears to have been practised in ancient times in the form of eight major specialties: Kaya Chikitsa (general medicine), Salya Tantra (surgery), Salakya Tantra (disease of eye, ear, nose and throat), Kaumarabhritya (paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology) Rasayana Tantra (nutrition, rejuvenation and geriatrics), Vajikarana (sexology), Bhuta Vidya (psychiatry) and Agada Tantra (toxicology).

This healing system has been practised in India for more than 5000 years. Ayurveda teaches that man is a microcosm, a universe within himself. According to the teachings of Ayurveda, every human being has four biological and spiritual instincts: religion, financial, pro creative and the instinct toward freedom. To fulfill these instincts, balanced and perfect good health is the foundation.

Ayurveda evolved in the meditative minds of seers of truth, the Rishis. They perceived that consciousness was energy manifested into the five basic principles or elements-ether (space), air, fire, water and earth. Man is a microcosm of nature, and so the five basic elements present in the matter also exist within each individual.

Ether, air, fire, water and earth, the five basic elements, manifest in the human body as three basic principles or humours known as the tridoshavata (three imbalances), vata, pitta and kapha. These three elements govern all the biological, psychological and physio-
pathological functions of the body, mind and consciousness. They govern the creation, maintenance and destruction of bodily tissues, and the elimination of waste products from the body. Thus, the tridoshas are the foundation of the psychosomatic existence of man.

About The Author

Dr. K. V. Raghupati is a professor at the S.V.University, Tirupati. He has authored many books which include 'Voice of the Valley' and 'Wisdom of the Peepal Tree'

To Be Continued