The present study "Indian Medical Text in Central Asia" is divided into three parts (I) A short synopsis of medical texts in India (11) Bower Manuscript on medicine (III) Fragments of Khotanese medical texts.
Ayurveda is the legitimate heir to the Veda. It has co-ordinated and systematised ancient ideas and it has constituted on immense treasure of observations and experience, both concerning the diseases and means of curing them. The legends of the origins of Ayuveda may take back to the furthest antiquity and attribute the transmission of its teaching to vedic personalities with known names but we cannot follow them therein. They invoke arbitrary and tendentious genealogies whereby obscure families claim des-cent from illustrious stocks. Ayurveda means the knowledge of long life. Ayurveda is exceedingly important in the history of science. "It is a key concept of Indian medicine and it roughly means rational application. Among other things what it re-quires is the knowledge of how a number of courses combines to produce an effect... At the same time they feel that something more than mere knowledge of substances is required for their purpose. This something is the intellectual discipline or 'yukti'. Hence they claim 'yukti' or rational application is the ultimate foundation of (therapeutic) success." A physician accomplished in rational application is always Superior to one with the mere empirical knowledge of the substance (Siddhiḥ yuktau pratisthitä/tişıhati upari yuktijnah dravyajnanavatam Sada carakasamhita 1.2.16). Intellectual discipline and rational application constitute Ayurveda.
R. C. Majumdar writes:
"There is a remarkable theory in Ayurveda to the effect that man is an epitome of the universe, a "microcosm" of the macrocosm. Both the universe and man are manifestations of one and the same eternal spirit... The concept of the microcosm follows the philosophical doctrines of the Samkhya and Vedanta schools of Indian thought. The theories of cosmic evolution of matter and life and of the common constituents of living and non-living matter are also based on Samkhya and Nyaya-Vaisesika doctrines. The idea of the eternal and omnipotent soul serving a span of existence inside on animated body, as a result of the residual effects of karma (deeds in previous births), is from the Nyaya... The basic common concepts of Indian philosophy have also been largely incorporated into Ayurveda. Ayurveda accepts that the highest aim of life is the quest for ultimate truth and realisation; that the perception of our senses is not valid in the absence of spiritual insight; that suffering is due to the human error of discrimination between the body and mind which suffer and the spirit which is immune that the final wisdom is to shed passions and illusions; that the supreme essence of power and awareness is present in man, making him potentially omniscient and omni-potent when he achieves self-realisation; and that it is possible for the trained mind to achieves self-realisation and salvation; a healthy body, long-life and keen mind being desirable aids to this end". (Majumdar, Compilation of History of sciences in India, p. 237-38).
Acupuncture & Acupressure (197)
Gem Therapy (23)
Homeopathy (513)
Massage (22)
Naturopathy (429)
Original Texts (220)
Reiki (59)
Therapy & Treatment (171)
Tibetan Healing (131)
Yoga (43)
हिन्दी (1087)
Ayurveda (3168)
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