Lessons From The Ayurveda

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The Ayurveda is the Vedic science of life. It contents the fields of biology, botany herbology, anatomy, nutrition, hygiene, medicine and surgery. This branch of vedic knowledge is revealed by Sri Bhagavan Dhanvantari, an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. Therefore it is a perfect science and it will amaze the science reader. However, just as in the case of spiritual knowledge, without a disciplic succession, the science appears to be lost. Whatever limitations that may be detected in the application of the Ayurvedic science today are due to this fact.

It is believed that originally there were sixteen parts to Ayurveda. Today only one part remains. It is also said that the Ayurveda was spoken by the great sage Atreya Rsi to the sages assembled at Naimisaranya during their thousand year sacrifice. Later, this knowledge was put unto written form by several authors. The Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are the oldest and the most authoritative of these commentaries.

One note of caution to the devotees who read these notes: do not try to become your own physician (or, even worse, your family's physician) on the strength of the information presented herein. All the preventative measures may be taken with great success. But I do not recommend home remedies to be used in the place of a physician's care in any serious illness. Even the best medicine without a physician To diagnose the patient's condition and prescribe the amount, may act as poison. This is especially true in regards to caring for children. The Ayurveda has a pediatrics section which gives a totally different approach to treatment of children as opposed to adult therapeutics. From the first hour of illness, a child's condition should be considered as serious.

I am indebted to the Ayurvedic physician and teacher who so generously translated and explained many concepts of the Ayurveda to make these notes possible. He humbly wished to remain anonymous, but he is a devoted Vaisnava and I hope Srila Prabhupada will bless him and engage him more and more in assisting the spreading of Krishna Consciousness.

For me, this experience has given me an appreciation of a truly great Vedic science and has strengthened my faith in Vedic knowledge. It has also helped me see through the cheating of modern bogus theories on nutrition and health care.

I hope that the readers of these notes, devotees of Lord Krishna, will also benefit. Hare Krishna.

Your servant. Navayauvana dasa
May 15, 1978.