Ayurveda
: Ancient Heritage in the Age of Globalisation
11
Ayurveda : Basic Principles:
Ayurveda is the Sanskrit name of IndianTraditional
Medicine and this name is a combination of two terms –
Aayu
(life) and
Veda
(knowledge). Hence Ayurveda could
be translated as the “knowledge of life”. There is only one
complete definition for Ayurveda as given in
Caraka
Samhita
. It says “Ayurveda is that knowledge system that
deals with what is good, what is bad, what is happiness,
what is sorrow, what is life, what is suitable for life and
what is unsuitable for life
2
”.
“Aayu”
or “Life”, and not just
health, plays the central role in this knowledge system. As
mentioned in the beginning, this system itself is for those
who desire life.
Aayu
isacombinationofmind, spiritconsciousness
and body. Like a tripod, they sustain life. So all states
of human being – health or ill health, happiness or
sorrow – will have a toll on all three planes of existence,
i.e. physical, mental and spiritual.
Body
is the seat of
Dosha
(the functional
principles),
Dhaatu
(the structural principles) and
Mala
(the metabolic byproducts)
3
.
Dosha
, translated as
“vitiators”, are three in number –
Vata, pitta
and
kapha
.
Vata
is responsible formovement,
pitta
for transformation
and
kapha
for cohesion in a very broad understanding.
2
Charakasamhita, Sutrasthaana. 1. 41
3
Ashtangahridaya. Sutrasthaana. 11.1
