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|title=Ayurveda

|title=Ayurveda

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|keywords=Ayurveda, Ayurveda meaning, Ayurveda defination, What is Ayu, Benefits of Ayurveda, Eight specialties of Ayurveda,  

|keywords=Ayurveda, Ayurveda meaning, Ayurveda defination, What is Ayu, Benefits of Ayurveda, Eight specialties of Ayurveda,Indian system of medicine

|description=Ayurveda literally means "Knowledge of life" or "Science of life"

|description=Ayurveda literally means "Knowledge of life" or "Science of life"

|image=http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.32.1/resources/assets/ogimgs.jpg

|image=http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.32.1/resources/assets/ogimgs.jpg

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Ayurveda literally means "Knowledge of life" or "Science of life".<ref>Official document by World Health Organization on Benchmarks for training Ayurveda available from https://www.who.int/medicines/areas/traditional/BenchmarksforTraininginAyurveda.pdf accessed on 30/05/2020</ref> This life-care and healthcare system deals with good, bad, blissful and sorrowful life. It describes all wholesome and unwholesome for life, longevity, and about what Ayu (life) is in itself. [[Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya#Definition of Ayurveda|(Cha.Su.1/41)]] It is not merely a system of medicine, rather it is a way of life to increase lifespan by preventing or delaying the aging process. <ref>Sharma H., Chandola H.M., Singh G., Basisht G. Utilization of Ayurveda in health care: an approach for prevention, health promotion, and treatment of disease. Part 1 – Ayurveda in primary health care. J Altern Complement Med. 2007;13(9):1011–1019.</ref>

Ayurveda literally means "Science of life" or "Knowledge of life" .<ref>Official document by World Health Organization on Benchmarks for training Ayurveda available from https://www.who.int/medicines/areas/traditional/BenchmarksforTraininginAyurveda.pdf accessed on 30/05/2020</ref> This life-care and healthcare system deals with good, bad, blissful and sorrowful life. It describes all wholesome and unwholesome for life, longevity, and about what Ayu (life) is in itself. [[Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya#Definition of Ayurveda|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 1/41] ]] It is not merely a system of medicine, rather it is a way of life to increase lifespan by preventing or delaying the aging process. <ref>Sharma H., Chandola H.M., Singh G., Basisht G. Utilization of Ayurveda in health care: an approach for prevention, health promotion, and treatment of disease. Part 1 – Ayurveda in primary health care. J Altern Complement Med. 2007;13(9):1011–1019.</ref>

==What is Ayurveda?==

==What is Ayurveda?==

''Ayu'' (life) implies the conjunction of physical body, senses, mind and soul and is known by the synonym ''dhari'' (that which sustains), ''jivita'' (that which is live), ''nityaga'' (that which is in continuum), and ''anubandha'' (that which is interdependent, or a link between past life and the future life).[[Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya#Definition of Ayu (life) and its synonyms|(Cha.Su.1/42)]]

''Ayu'' (life) implies the conjunction of physical body, senses, mind and soul and is known by the synonym ''dhari'' (that which sustains), ''jivita'' (that which is live), ''nityaga'' (that which is in continuum), and ''anubandha'' (that which is interdependent, or a link between past life and the future life).[[Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya#Definition of Ayu (life) and its synonyms|(Cha.Su.1/42)]]

Thus ''Ayu'' means the ''anuvritti'' (continuity) of ''chetana'' (consciousness) i.e., ''chetananuvritti'', being alive (''jeevita''), bonding with the body (''anubandha'') and sustenance of life (''dhari'').[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#The meaning of Ayu|(Cha.Su.30/22)]].  

Thus ''Ayu'' means the ''anuvritti'' (continuity) of ''chetana'' (consciousness) i.e., ''chetananuvritti'', being alive (''jeevita''), bonding with the body (''anubandha'') and sustenance of life (''dhari'').[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#The meaning of Ayu|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/22] ]].  

Life is not merely the existence of machine-like physical structure of body. The conscious interaction of soul, mind and sense organs makes it live. Therefore these are essential components of Ayurvedic biology of human beings.  

Life is not merely the existence of machine-like physical structure of body. The conscious interaction of soul, mind and sense organs makes it live. Therefore these are essential components of Ayurvedic biology of human beings.  

== Scope of Ayurveda ==

== Scope of Ayurveda ==

Ayurveda is the source of knowledge that teaches about or deals with Ayu. Through its virtues, it imparts the knowledge of joy and suffering, benefit and harm, and authentic/authoritative and unauthentic/unreliable (sources of information). It also informs about the lifespan and substances with properties and actions that result in the same. This is dealt with in the entire text of [[Charak Samhita]] at various appropriate contexts.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Scope of Ayurveda|(Cha.Su.30/23)]]

Ayurveda is the source of knowledge that teaches about or deals with Ayu. Through its virtues, it imparts the knowledge of joy and suffering, benefit and harm, and authentic/authoritative and unauthentic/unreliable (sources of information). It also informs about the lifespan and substances with properties and actions that result in the same. This is dealt with in the entire text of [[Charak Samhita]] at various appropriate contexts.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Scope of Ayurveda|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/23] ]]

Thus, Ayurveda deals with good, bad, bliss and sorrow in life, and with (what is) wholesome and unwholesome for it, longevity, and about what Ayu (life) is in itself.[[Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya#Definition of Ayurveda|(Cha.Su.1/41)]]

Thus, Ayurveda deals with good, bad, bliss and sorrow in life, and with (what is) wholesome and unwholesome for it, longevity, and about what Ayu (life) is in itself.[[Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya#Definition of Ayurveda|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 1/41] ]]

==Benefits of following Ayurveda-good life==

==Benefits of following Ayurveda-good life==

People whose body and mind are disease-free, and those who are endowed with youth, enthusiasm, strength, virility, reputation, manliness, courage, knowledge of arts and sciences, healthy senses, objects of sensory perceptions, ability of the sensory organs, riches and various luxurious articles for enjoyment, and who can achieve whatever they want and think about wellness can enjoy a happy life.  The people with opposite characteristics have sad life.  

People whose body and mind are disease-free, and those who are endowed with youth, enthusiasm, strength, virility, reputation, manliness, courage, knowledge of arts and sciences, healthy senses, objects of sensory perceptions, ability of the sensory organs, riches and various luxurious articles for enjoyment, and who can achieve whatever they want and think about wellness can enjoy a happy life.  The people with opposite characteristics have sad life.  

Those who are the well-wishers of all beings, who do not wish to take other's wealth, who are truthful, peace loving, who are thoughtful before taking action, who are vigilant, who experience the three important objectives of life (righteousness, wealth and desire) without one affecting the other, who respect superiors, who are endowed with the knowledge of arts, sciences and tranquility, who serve the elders, who have full control over lust, anger, envy, arrogance and pride, who constantly indulge in various types of charity, meditation, acquisition of knowledge and quiet life (solitude), who have full spiritual knowledge and are devoted to it, who work both for the present as well as for the next life, and are endowed with memory and intelligence lead a useful rather beneficial life, while others don't. [[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Characteristics of happy and healthy life|(Cha.Su.30/24)]]

Those who are the well-wishers of all beings, who do not wish to take other's wealth, who are truthful, peace loving, who are thoughtful before taking action, who are vigilant, who experience the three important objectives of life (righteousness, wealth and desire) without one affecting the other, who respect superiors, who are endowed with the knowledge of arts, sciences and tranquility, who serve the elders, who have full control over lust, anger, envy, arrogance and pride, who constantly indulge in various types of charity, meditation, acquisition of knowledge and quiet life (solitude), who have full spiritual knowledge and are devoted to it, who work both for the present as well as for the next life, and are endowed with memory and intelligence lead a useful rather beneficial life, while others don't. [[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Characteristics of happy and healthy life|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/24] ]]

The above are clinical parameters of good quality of life.  

The above are clinical parameters of good quality of life.  

== Signs of decrease in lifespan==

== Signs of decrease in lifespan==

The decrease of lifespan is signaled by various abnormal changes in the sensory perception, objects of perception, mind, intellect, and movement. These signals help in predicting the remaining lifespan and death of an individual at a particular moment. ''Svabhava''(return to the natural state), ''uparama'' of ''pravritti'' (cessation of all activities), ''marana'' (death), ''anityata'' (temporary state) ''nirodha'' (restriction in the continuation of life)- all these are synonymous with death. In the absence of such signs and symptoms, the life span is to be determined as unlimited from the prognostic point of view. In Ayurveda, life span is determined by the characteristics of natural constitution.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Signs of decreasing life span|(Cha.Su.30/25)]]

The decrease of lifespan is signaled by various abnormal changes in the sensory perception, objects of perception, mind, intellect, and movement. These signals help in predicting the remaining lifespan and death of an individual at a particular moment. ''Svabhava''(return to the natural state), ''uparama'' of ''pravritti'' (cessation of all activities), ''marana'' (death), ''anityata'' (temporary state) ''nirodha'' (restriction in the continuation of life)- all these are synonymous with death. In the absence of such signs and symptoms, the life span is to be determined as unlimited from the prognostic point of view. In Ayurveda, life span is determined by the characteristics of natural constitution.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Signs of decreasing life span|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/25] ]]

== Objective of Ayurveda ==  

== Objective of Ayurveda ==  

The prime objectives of this science is to preserve the health of the healthy and cure the disease of the unhealthy.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Objectives of Ayurveda|(Cha.Su.30/26)]] Thus Ayurveda focuses on the preservation and promotion of health and management of diseases.  

The prime objectives of this science is to preserve the health of the healthy and cure the disease of the unhealthy.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Objectives of Ayurveda|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/26] ]] Thus Ayurveda focuses on the preservation and promotion of health and management of diseases.  

== Authenticity and eternal qualities of Ayurveda ==

== Authenticity and eternal qualities of Ayurveda ==

Ayurveda is eternal because of the following: It has no beginning; its characteristics are self-evident, and those of things dealt with it are eternal. It has been seen that Ayu (the combination of body, its organs, mind, and soul) and intelligence about Ayu (knowledge about Ayu) are perpetual. Hence Ayu and its knowledge (i.e. Ayurveda) have been eternal. The knower becomes eternal after knowing Ayurveda. Concepts such as happiness and suffering (i.e., health and illness), therapeutics and pathogens, etc. - their causes, signs, and perpetuation are all eternal. This is what is described in Ayurveda.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Eternal qualities of Ayurveda|(Cha.Su.30/27)]] It is observed in clinical practice that the principles described in Ayurveda texts are universal, time tested and stand true on scientific validation tests. For example Samanya Vishesha siddhanta is applicable universally with immense importance.<ref> Pandey Deep Narayan , Pandey Neha Prakash. Universal significance of the principle of Samanya and Vishesha beyond Ayurveda.Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.2018;9(4),308-311. available online from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947617305727 </ref>   

Ayurveda is eternal because of the following: It has no beginning; its characteristics are self-evident, and those of things dealt with it are eternal. It has been seen that Ayu (the combination of body, its organs, mind, and soul) and intelligence about Ayu (knowledge about Ayu) are perpetual. Hence Ayu and its knowledge (i.e. Ayurveda) have been eternal. The knower becomes eternal after knowing Ayurveda. Concepts such as happiness and suffering (i.e., health and illness), therapeutics and pathogens, etc. - their causes, signs, and perpetuation are all eternal. This is what is described in Ayurveda.[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Eternal qualities of Ayurveda|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/27] ]] It is observed in clinical practice that the principles described in Ayurveda texts are universal, time tested and stand true on scientific validation tests. For example Samanya Vishesha siddhanta is applicable universally with immense importance.<ref> Pandey Deep Narayan , Pandey Neha Prakash. Universal significance of the principle of Samanya and Vishesha beyond Ayurveda.Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine.2018;9(4),308-311. available online from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947617305727 </ref>   

== Eight specialties of Ayurveda ==

== Eight specialties of Ayurveda ==

There are eight main branches of Ayurveda:[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Eight branches of Ayurveda|(Cha.Su.30/28)]]

There are eight main branches of Ayurveda:[[Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya#Eight branches of Ayurveda|[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 30/28] ]]

#Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)

#Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)