- This article simply and briefly tells why Ayurveda is a science
that shall always remain modern.
Did our ancient seers know that Ayurveda will be “talk of the world” in 2021? The answer is surely, yes. Our ancient seers very confidently talked about ever-modern nature of Ayurveda. The ancient seers were very confident about the soundness of the principles of Ayurveda.
According to Ayurveda, the human body
is a miniature universe!
The concept of
TRIDOSHA, i.e. of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which are the functional elements of
the body, is based on the Sun, the Moon and the Wind! Eternal nature of Sun,
Moon and Wind ensures the eternity of Ayurveda!!
India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said, “Ayurveda could rightly be described
as a holistic human science. The current situation presents a right time for
traditional medicine to become even more popular globally.” He was inaugurating the fourth edition of the Global Ayurveda Festival 2021. Here, he was referring to the current situation of CORONA pandemic. Corona pandemic has underlined the importance of the need for having strong immunity.
According to Ayurveda,
a strong defense system means a strong and sound balance of Tridosha, the
functional elements of the body.
For millennia,
Ayurveda evolved through a process of scientific enquiry
involving communities and societies. The scientific knowledge was created by an
interchange of information between patients, physicians and researchers.
Teachers would pass their wisdom, updated with this scientific inquiry and
application of their own learnings to their students in an interactive manner,
through what was called as the Guru-Shishya tradition.
There are no
limitations to the knowledge of Ayurveda, continuous growth is its nature.
Also, there is no limit for knowing the Science of Ayurveda. Various Tadvidya Sambhasha, Scientific
conferences are described in Charak Samhita, the ancient book of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is eternal and being self-proven is an everlasting science. Ayurveda means ‘Veda of life’ i.e. Science of life. The ancient seers had a great vision of Ayurveda that, ‘each science is a quintessential part of Ayurveda’. Under this huge Ayurveda tree, every branch should preserve its specialty and expand their sub-branches too. To study this holistic Ayurveda, it is important to study its basics principles too.
We realize the
importance of Ayurveda, when we hear about the Nobel Prizes in Medicine or
Physiology awarded in the current decade. From 2015 to 2021, all Nobel Prizes,
confirm the authenticity of some or other basic Ayurveda principle, be it Fasting
or Circadian Rhythm!
In his book ‘Grammar of Science’, published in 1892, British Mathematician Karl Pearson mentioned some distinguishing characters of “Science”:
1. Science or scientific branch has
its own definition.
2. It has specific aims and
objectives.
3. The facts stated are well
classified, the topics of classification reveal mutual relation and are in
proper sequence.
4. The topics are based on definite
fundamentals or theories, which do not change with changing times.
5. But the concepts are upgraded with
upgradation of relative branches of science.
For this experts in the field confer
periodically with specific agenda to share their expertise.
Ayurveda, the Science of Life,
fulfills all the above conditions and therefore, Ayurveda, though ancient, is
truly authentic EVERMODERN SCIENCE.
Did Karl Pearson,
identify the above distinguishing characteristics of “Science”, by minutely going through Charaka-Samhita, the treatise on medicine written by
Acharya Charaka, is a thought worth pondering over?
It is necessary that
scientific communities reach out to Translational
Knowledge Systems available locally, as rightly said by
our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, so that Ayurveda becomes eternally
relevant in healthcare, globally.
Our Rishis of Ayurveda, Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhata, did show us the path: Charaka said “Master the Ayurveda”; Sushruta stressed on the need for “looking around”; and finally, Vagabhata emphasized the importance of rejuvenation – Renewal – of the science, the Ayurveda. These Rishis, the SEERS, knew the TRUTH!
This way, Ayurveda will no more be
local but it will become UNIVERSAL LIFE-SCIENCE. It will become the integral
part of daily life, for prevention of disease, for promotion of health and as a
cure of a disease.
About Author Dr Milind Patil, M. D. (Ayurveda) is a
Senior Pharmaceutical Physician and Academician. He is an alumnus of Podar
Ayurvedic Medical College, Mumbai. Initially he taught for many years in Podar
Ayurvedic College before shifting to Pharma medico-marketing. Dr Patil made
significant contributions to the pharma companies he was associated with.
Currently, he is a Medico Marketing Consultant to a leading Pharma company. He
continues to be passionate about teaching and is ever willing to interact with
students and professionals in a friendly manner.
To read all articles on Ayurveda
Also read
1. Why the Global Centre for
Traditional Medicine in India is good news
2. Ayurveda is the Science of Life
that is ancient yet modern
3. Ayurveda
and Modern Concepts – Dr R D Lele wrote here, The aim of Ayurveda is to promote health-‘Swasthasya
Swasthya rakshanam’, increase immunity and resistance-‘Vyadhi Kshamatva’ and to cure disease-‘Aturasya Vyadhi parimokshah’.