History Information about Ayurveda



Ayurveda refers to the science of life. In terms of longevity and prevention, it is the most holistic and oldest medical system available in the world today. From the historical records of India way back 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is a medicinal methodology that deals both the spirit and the body. This ancient healing system was relatively a part of the spiritual tradition of the Verdic Religion or more known as the Sanatana Dharma in India. A famous wise person by the name of Veda Vyasa had written the complete knowledge about Ayurveda. In his writings, he was able to discuss the spiritual insights of self-realization into the human body. These insights are written in scriptural literature known as the Vedic literatures or Vedas.

The spiritual insights of Ayurveda were originally written in four books that include topics about spiritual behavior and living, poetry, army, government, spiritual business, astrology, and health. These books are also known as the four Vedas: Atharva, Yajur, Sama, and Rik.



The Rik Veda contains verses compilations about the existence of nature. It is the oldest living book with Indo-European language inscriptions. Some people called this book as Rig Veda. It is commonly referred to the cosmology called Sankhya that lies at the bottom of both the Yoga and Ayurveda. It contains verses on the nature of disease and health as well a principles and pathogenesis treatment. It discussed about the use of herbs in healing diseases related to body and mind that will help foster longevity. The book also discussed about the three dosas, Kapha, Pitta, and Vayu.

The Atharva Veda contains Ayurveda’s eight divisions namely the Science of Fertility, Gerontology or Science of Rejuvenation, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Toxicology, Surgery, Otorinolaryngology & Opthamology, Surgery of Neck & Head, and Internal Medicine. In 1500 B.C., these divisions were taught in two major schools of Ayurveda: the Dhanvantari, which is the school of surgeons, and the Atreya, which is a school of physicians. These two schools have made Ayurveda a more scientifically classifiable and verifiable medical system.

Because of these schools, people from various countries came to India to learn Ayurveda. Among them are the Persians, Afghanistans, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Tibetans, and Chinese. These people traveled back to their countries with a complete wisdom about Ayurveda, as a form of medicine. The Ayurvedic texts were then translated in Arabic language by two physicians named Razi Sempion and Avicenna. The translated texts became popular in Europe and been used to form the foundation of the country’s traditional medicine.

The Vedic literatures contain scriptures related to Ayurveda. There are many compiled individual books related only to Ayurveda. One of them is the Atreya Samhita, which is also the oldest medical book worldwide.

Priests who performed religious ceremonies and rites related to Ayurveda are called Vedic Brahmanas, which eventually came the physicians of Ayurveda known as the Vaidyas. Both the Vedic Brahmanas and the Vaidyas are wise people during that time who are deeply devoted people who considered health as an integral part of spiritual life. Through direct cognition of their meditation, it is said that they had received their Ayurveda training.

With the records contained in the Vedic literatures, it shows that Ayurveda is the knowledge of using various methods of surgery, longevity, prevention, and healing through divine intervention. It also deals with the use of lifestyle, mantras, yoga, colors, gems, aromas, foods, and herbs. Today, the use of Ayurveda had rapidly grown into a widely and respected used system of healing in India.

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