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Introduction to Ayurveda
आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः।
'Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah' Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions
Rigveda 1.89.1
We have more access than ever to explore traditional healing systems which have endured over centuries. Ayurveda is one such tradition that has evolved with the times without losing its fundemental curiosity for understanding the human landscape through the experiential perception of elements (either, air, fire, water, earth) both inside and outside the body-mind.
The mapping out of elements is known as Samkhya philosophy and has ancient roots. The Rigveda, the oldest vedic text which dates back to approximately 1900 - 1200 BC, contemplates the mysterious origins of the universe and offers praise for the natural forces of the elements and their matching deities.
The first hymn in this text is an invokation of Agni, the fire god, which represents primordial will and is symbolized in the Ayurvedic tradition as our digestive fire that sustains health and promotes intelligence. As David Frawley states:
“Agni is the primary principle in Vedic knowledge.”
Ayurveda evolved from these first depictions of elements as it refined the craft of noticing and balancing these elements through various therapeutic methods.
The complex interplay of these natural forces and how to attune oneself to their rhythm was passed down orally and eventually recorded in ancient texts.
Surviving Sanskrit ayurvedic texts date back to 1500BC, but the most well known and applied is the Charaka Samhita (150BC - 100CE) which was compiled by Rishi Charak who was the royal physician of King Kanishka. The text is composed of 8 books with 120 chapters and includes 300 therapeutic remedies. It also credits Sages Atreya Punarvasu and Agnivesha who have passed down the knowledge and teachings of Ayurveda from 600BC.
The Sarngadhara Samhita (1300-1400CE) is a more accessible text written by Acharya Sarngadhara which in its 32 chapters lists remedies and formulas along with the pulse reading technique still practiced today by ayurvedic practitioners.
A 16th century text, the Bhavaprakasa written by Bhava Misra, is a compilation of Ayurvedic knowledge with a special focus on herbal remedies and preparation still widely used.
More recently, ayurvedic practitioners such as Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. Robert Svoboda, Dr. Sunil V. Joshi, John Douillard, David Frawley, Sabatian Pole and others have, through their numerous books and teachings, expanded Ayurveda to a western audience.
These great teachers not only translate some of the oldest wisdom available, they also adapt the ancient teaching to modern living, helping us cope with new and unprecedented challenges wisely and thoughtfully. Even with modern and innovative applications of Ayurveda, there is a strong thread to an ancient past that remains relevant and should be preserved for future generations.
Practicing Ayurveda today defies the current mechanistic worldview that sees the body as a machine to be optimized, beautified and commodified. It is a living tradition that favours the cultivation of physical, emotion and spiritual development over scientific certainty and progress.
In this information age, where there is an abundance of wellness advice and shared practices, Ayurveda has endured over the centuries as a wise methodology that keeps us rooted in the natural forces of the elements that are alive within. Ayurveda celebrates this vitality as its methods guide us back to nature.
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