Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine that promotes health and treats disease by maintaining balance in the body through natural therapies, diet, and lifestyle.
"Ayur“ - life and
“Veda” - knowledge or science.
Thus "AYURVEDA’ in totality means ‘Science of Life’.
Ayurveda is considered an Upaveda of the Atharva Veda. According to ancient Indian mythology, the knowledge and essence of Ayurveda were revealed by Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. The Vedic literature by the great sage Ved Vyasa, regarded as a Shaktavesha avatar of Lord Vishnu
Vedic sages extracted the medical concepts related to Ayurveda from the Vedas and compiled separate treatises exclusively devoted to this science. Among these early works, the Atreya Samhita is considered one of the oldest medical texts in the world.
Ancient Acharyas: Charaka and Sushruta
There are two main re-organizers of Ayurveda whose works are still available today Charaka and Sushruta. Charaka is regarded as the principal exponent of the Ayurvedic system of medicine. His work, the Charaka Samhita, is considered one of the oldest and most important texts of Ayurveda. It describes around 340 medicinal plants and provides a comprehensive explanation of human anatomy, fetal development in the womb, and the etiology of physical as well as spiritual diseases. The Charaka Samhita was edited from the Agnivesha Samhita, authored by Agnivesha, a disciple of Sage Atreya.
The Sushruta Samhita, written by Sushruta, describes about 400 medicinal plants and gives detailed accounts of the physiology of joints, nerves, and internal organs. Due to his pioneering contributions to surgery, Sushruta is known as the “Father of Surgical Medicine.”
During the medieval era
Ayurveda flourished in universities like Nalanda University. Scholars wrote commentaries, expanded pharmacopoeias, and integrated Ayurveda with other sciences. Despite foreign invasions and the rise of other medical systems, Ayurvedic knowledge survived through manuscripts and family traditions
Under British rule
Ayurveda declined due to the promotion of Western medicine. However, in the 20th century, Ayurveda was revived through institutional support and scientific research. Today, it is recognized and regulated by the Ministry of AYUSH, and practiced globally as a complementary and alternative medicine.
The classical Ayurvedic works, rooted in the Vedas, especially the Atharva Veda, were systematized by Charaka and Sushruta. Their contributions laid the foundation of holistic medicine and continue to guide Ayurvedic practice today.
MBH/PS