Ayurveda and Yoga are as old as the oldest surviving text of the human race. We are referring to the Vedas. In fact, the Vedas have detailed account of both Ayurveda as well as yoga.

AYURVEDA: WHAT IS IT?

The Sanskrit term ‘Ayurveda’ is made up of two other words: ‘Ayur’ and ‘veda’.

In the Sanskrit language ‘Ayur’ has its roots in the term ‘Ayus’ which means life or the vital life force or health.

The other word ‘veda’ connotes knowledge. Therefore, Ayurveda is the science of medicine and health.

THE FIRST TEACHER OF AYURVEDA AND YOGA

According to Hindu tradition, the creator of the universe – Brahma – also wrote the Vedas by amalgamating knowledge from the four directions. Therefore,

The Vedas contain knowledge about the Universe. Hence it contains knowledge about life too. So, the first teacher or the ‘adya guru’ of Ayurveda and yoga is Brahma.

YOGA: HOW IT WORKS…

The Sanskrit term ‘yoga’ means union. Hence, ‘Yoga’ refers to the synthesis of the body and the mind.

The source of yoga is called Hatha yoga. It is from this form of yoga that the other forms of yoga were distilled and enunciated.

Yoga is turning out to be one of the most practiced means of physical and mental exercises across the world.

One of the popular forms of Hatha Yoga that has been repackaged is ‘Hot yoga’ of Vikram Choudhury. Hot yoga is having lots of fan following in USA.

YOGA: HOW IT WORKS…

A yoga practitioner does this through regular practice of a series of slow and deliberate exercises.

The yogic exercises require total concentration.

The yogi (person practicing yoga) makes use of the breathing techniques and the will power to cleanse the body of the harmful toxic substances and cure all disease.

AYURVEDA: A SUPPLEMENT OF ATHARVA VEDA

In the Indian tradition that has its roots in the hoary past, there are four sources of knowledge or ‘veda’, viz., The Rig Veda, the Atharva Veda, the Sama Veda and the Yajur Veda.

Ayurveda is a supplement to the Atharva-Veda.

OTHER SOURCES OF AYURVEDA

Besides the Vedas, the other ancient Indian treatises that deal at length with Ayurveda are the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Upanishads, and the Brahmanas.

Mention may be made of the Garbhopanisad. We find scattered references to various aspects of Ayurveda like ‘dhatu’ and the ‘doshas’ besides the various stages through which a fetus grows.

WHEN WAS AYURVEDA ACTUALLY ORGANISED SYSTEMATICALLY

The various texts or references on Ayurveda were brought together by various persons at different times between the period from the second century BC and the 10th century A.D.