Introduction
Ayurveda is a science of longevity has its origin from Vedas. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, derived from two roots: ayur, which means life, and veda, which mean knowledge. Vedas are ancient Indian literary works done by sages through their deeper studies of 'Brahman' that is the entire world. Principles of Ayurveda are mainly from Rigveda and Adharva veda.
According to Ayurveda, life is the union of body, mind and prana (life force). That is the reason why it is a science in its complete holistic manner. We all in this living world are mainly for performing 'Dharma' (It is the principle of harmony and regularity, and thus provides a moral basis to all actions) which indeed requires balance of body, mind and prana.
Ayurveda is the system of medicine incorporating centuries of wisdom in it. The emphasis here is on ways to promote health rather than just treat disease. The beauty of the system is that every individual is unique rather than being just another case of particular disease. It is one of the few systems of medicine taking mental, emotional and spiritual well being into account. All the suggestions and remedies prescribed are totally in conjunction with nature.
Shareera (Body)
According to Ayurveda the body is a combination three dhoshas (three humors), seven Dhatus (The whole tissue system) and three malas (Metabolic wastes). The internal harmony of these thirteen factors with the surrounding nature and environment promise a completely healthy body to every human being with a perfect body cell and psychic humors equilibrium, uniformly healthy digestion, normal functioning of the fundamental tissues of the body and body wastes, accompanied by the enlightenment of the soul, cognitive organs and the mind.
Doshas (Vital bio energies)
The dosha principle is mainly for establishing the fact that, the functioning of the body is in accordance with the surroundings. Everything in nature, including our bodies, is made from the five eternal elements of space, air, fire, water and earth. These five elements combine to form the three basic body-mind profiles, called doshas. Doshas govern the psychological, biological, and the physiological aspects of the mind and the body. As morning, noon, evening, night, wind and sunlight create changes in the surroundings our body inclined to react and interact with the surroundings and various changes take place in the subtlest cellular level of the body. Function wise these changes are manifested in our body in the form of doshas. Ayurvedic 'Panchakarma' (Five step purification therapy) procedures are mainly for balancing these dhoshas and help the body to regain its rhythm with the surrounding nature.
Dhatus (The whole Tissue System)
Dhatus are basically the body tissues which are responsible for the functioning of the systems and organs and the structure of the body. Our body mainly consists of seven Dathus, that is 'Rasa' (the essence of digested food), 'Raktha' (the blood tissue), 'mamsa' (the whole masculine organs), 'medas' (adipose tissue or soft tissue), 'Asthi' (skeletal tissue or hard structures), 'Majja' (the marrow tissue) and 'Sukra' (the reproductive tissue). Formation of all tissues, its nourishment and balanced functioning depends on 'agni' (the digestive mechanism of body). Balancing of 'Agni' according to individual's age constitution and mental status can be gained through proper diet and meditation after the 'Panchakarma'. The result is proper immune mechanism of the body.
Malas (the metabolic wastes)
These are the waste matters which are produced after the digestion in the body, that is after digestion at the gastric, intestinal and tissue levels. The malas as been classified as 'Sweda' (sweat), 'Moothra' (urine), and 'Pureesha' (faces). It has to be expelled from the body in a correct manner. Any physical or psychological changes affect the proper expulsion and leads to manifestation of various ailments. 'Panchakrma' treatment acts in the deeper cellular level and expels out the unnecessary wastes and maintains the balance of the body. So, in the treatment programme we include 'Panachakarma Programme' for balancing 'dosha', 'dathu', and 'mala'. And there by balancing physiological functioning of body ('shareera'), sensory organs ("Indriya'), through life style diet (which is planned for balancing 'doshas') and treatments. Treatment includes monsoon treatment programme.
Manas ( Mind)
According to our concept it is the knowledge that is inherited through civilizations, from our parents, friends, society, teachers, education etc. All these factors one or other way are responsible for stage wise development of mind. The learning process, what we felt and still feeling, what we learned and still learning requires an object sense organs and a place to get it either analyzed or synthesized. Manas is the place where analyzing or synthesizing of the perceptual forms derived from the indriyas (sensory organs) into conceptual images. The mind has three Gunas, viz., Sattva (light, bliss, goodness), Rajas (passion, motion) and Tamas (inertia, darkness).By balancing these three gunas one can gain control over one's mind. One can achieve this mind balance through the simple and effective methods of balanced life style diet along with yoga. Our Yoga is based on Ashtangas or the eight stages 'Yama', 'Niyama', 'asana', 'Pranayama', 'Dhyana', 'Dharana', Pratyhara' and 'Samadhi'. Stage wise learning and practice of 'Ashtangas' transform the body and mind into the next level.
