Ayurvedic Concepts in Thirukkural (Medicine)

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A number of unexplored, undiscovered treasures of the rich heritage of Indian science are being surfaced by enthusiastic young sciences of India in the present era. Apart from the Ayurvedic treatises is one thirualluvar, which has gained so much importance and has seen many translations and commentaries into almost all major languages of the world. This book is a tiny effort to fetch the glory of contributions of ancient Indian seers to the medical science is placed before the reader in the aspect of various references in couplets of thirukkural with regard to medicine i.e. Ayurveda and its similarity between concepts like causes of the disease, nutritional disciplines, treatment principles and importance of four pillars in the treatments principles and importance of four pillars in the treatment in detail.

DR. M.S. Thirunavkkarasu completed his BAMS in 2004 from j.s.s ayurveda medical college , mysure ; MD (kayachikitsa ) in 2008 from S.D.M . College of ayurveda udupi and PHD (kayachikitsa ) in 2012 from IPGT&RA , Gujart Ayurveda university ,Jamnagar. He started his career as junior research officer from November 2004 –april 2005 and then as a senior research officer from November 2004 april 2005 and then as a senior research officer from june 2008 – November 2009 at avt institute for advanced research , a research division officer from june 2008 – November 2009 at avt insitiute for advanced research , a research divisions of arya vaidya pharmacy , Coimbatore for the period July 2009 –November 2009 . Later , he joined as an assistant professor in February 2012 at government ayurveda medical college and hospital , naturopathy (based on CCIM syllabus ). His articles have been published in various international journals and had participated in various conferences at national and international level.

Ancient Indian Science has contributed to the scientific world since inception. Various Indian texts have influenced and are being utilized by the contemporary sciences, especially the West. A number of unexplored, undiscovered treasures of the rich heritage of Indian Science are being surfaced by the enthusiastic young scientists of India in the present era. Apart from the Ayurvedic treatises, several texts explain the various aspects of Ayurveda, among that Thirukkural is one such ancient scripture in Tamil literature which was basically written by Thiruvalluvar, which has gained so much importance and has seen many translations and commentaries into almost all major languages of the world.

This book is a tiny effort to fetch the glory of Contributions of Ancient Indian seers to the Medical science is placed before the readers in the aspect of various references in couplets of Thirukkural with regard to Medicine i.e. Ayurveda and its similarity between concepts like Causes of the disease, Nutritional disciplines, treatment principles and importance of four pillars in the treatment in detail.

Ancient Indian medicine is applauded all over the world for its application in overcoming the maladies of human race. Many medical & non medical treatises elaborate on various aspects of Ayurveda, though several texts have caught our attention still there are many which are yet to come into limelight. One such poetic masterpiece is 2,200 year old south Indian Dravidian classic "Thirukkural".

Researchers are now slowly gaining foot focusing on the unpublished and unexplored manuscripts, which deals with the basic principles of this science. CCRAS and other such institutions are imparting stress on such research activities. Apart from the classical Ayurvedic texts, principles of Ayurveda are found in numerous manuscripts written during post Vedic era. A Critical appraisal of one such work "Thirukkural" is being detailed in this book.

Thirukkural is one of the ancient scripture in Tamil literature and it is universally accepted and was written by in Thirukkural 2nd century A.D. It is the only Tamil literary work which has gained so much importance and has seen many translations and commentaries into almost all major languages of the world. As Dr. Albert Schweiteitzer had rightly said "There hardly exists in the literature of the world a collection of maxims in which we find such lofty wisdom".

Thirukkural consists of 133 chapters each containing 10 couplets, collectively to 1330 couplets and were grouped into 3 sections namely Virtue, Wealth and Love. < p> • The first part deals with the moral value of human life and has 38 chapters.
• The second part is on socio economic values of men in a civilized society and has 70 chapters. In this, the last chapter is dedicated to Medicine (Chapter 95).
• The Third part is on psychological values of life and has 25 chapters.
The word Ayurveda means Knowledge of Life or Science of Life. Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine native to India and is in the process of evolving into Integrative medicine. The science originated from Lord Brahma and received by Dhanvantari more than 3000 years ago and is an unpaved (auxiliary knowledge) of Atharvaveda. Golden period of Ayurveda ranges from 800 B.C. to 1000 A.D. The three most important treatises in Ayurveda appeared during this period, they are Charka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Samgraha.

Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine, but it is a life science that deals with Yoga, Naturopathy, Vastu shastra, Astrology and Astronomy. Ayurveda believes that each individual is born with a distinct prakruti (constitution) which is formed by the qualities of parent's gametes, time of fertilization, environment, food regimen adopted by the mother during pregnancy etc., and

Ayurveda treats each and every individual after considering the prakruti (Constitution) of the person, propensity to diseases, mental strength and life style of the person. Thus, Ayurveda consider the individual as a whole rather than just focusing on the diseases. Thirukkural came into existence subsequently i.e. after Ayurveda, as the author had explored certain ideas like Life skills, Education, Politics, Medicine, sexual life, etc., in his work. This book is an attempt to discuss those various instances referred in couplets with regard to Ayurvedic concepts.

The chapter of Medicine in Thirukkural consists of 10 couplets. Among them the first couplet explains about the causes of diseases. The next consecutive six couplets (2nd-7th) explain about the maintenance of Health by adopting the right kind of food regimen. Eighth and ninth couplet explains about the method of treatment and the last one explains the importance of four limbs (Chatuspadas) in the treatment of a patient.