24 May 2008
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the name, which the ancient Indians gave to their science of medicine. ‘Ayul’ means life and ‘veda’ to know or attain. Ayurveda therefore is the science by the knowledge of which life can be prolonged or its nature understood. The Vedas are the earlier sacred books of India. They are four in number, viz… Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvanaveda. They were handed down by word of mouth from a period of unknown antiquity and the Hindu believes that they were never composed by man. It was supposed that they were taught by the gods to the sages, or revealed to the sages, who were the seers of truth. There was really no veda called Ayurveda. Its existence is a myth. Susruta calls it an upanga of the Atharvanaveda. It was raised to the status of a veda and appended to the Atharvanaveda to give the science of medicine the necessary sanctity and authority. In accordance with the traditional origin of the veda, it was supposed to have been divinely revealed to the sages. There are two versions of its origin. The medical school traces its origin to Bharadvaja, who received it from the god Indra. The surgical school traces its origin to Dhanavantari who received it also from this god.