AYURVED AND CHURNING OF THE OCEAN
By Dr. Jyoti | November 13, 2020, 08:20 IST
DHANVANTARI EMERGING WITH POT CONTAINING NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY AT THE END OF CHURNING OF THE OCEAN.
Medicine and its history is nothing but the compilation of humanity's struggle against diseases and infirmities. For the greater length of time each part of the world had its own medicinal systems which were known by different names. In the beginning, general population called and perceived people practicing these systems as saints of their respective religion. One such system is Ayurved which has been flourishing in India since 400 BCE. It is believed in Sanatan Dharm or Hinduism that all knowledge of this universe has been passed to humanity by Supreme Soul in the form of "Veda" (four primitive sanskrit scriptures) at the beginning of the time. The knowledge related to diseases and their treatments was passed in the fourth veda i.e. "Atharva Veda". Although this knowledge was there since time immemorial, it is believed that Ayurved was kept hidden to practise only by Gods and Demi Gods. Period of roughly around 400 BCE to 1000 CE was the time when this knowledge is finally passed to human physicians. This period was golden period of Ayurved because during this period most notable Ayurvedic Samhitas (Charak Samhita, Sushrut Samhita & Ashtang Sangrah etc.) were written so that all upcoming physicians can use this knowledge to cure diseases of the general population....
Charak Samhita and Sushrut Samhita both have described the descent of Ayurvedic Knowledge for people living on this earth. According to both of these Samhitas, Lord Brahma recalled Ayurved and gave this knowledge to Daksh Prajapati, Daksha Prajapati gave this to Ashvani Kumar, Ashvani Kumar gave this to Indra and from Indra it came to selfless seers like Dhanvantari, Bhardwaj, Kashyap and their student seers. These seers got comprehensive Ayurvedic knowledge and they wrote their respective Samhita with focus on any one of the eight branches of Ayurved. These branches were Kaya Chikitsa (Internal Medicine), Baal Chikitsa (Paediatrics), Graha Chikitsa (Psychiatry), Shalya Chikitsa (Surgery), Shalakya Chikitsa (ENT Diseases), Vish Chikitsa (Toxicology), Rasayan Chikitsa (Rejuvenation) and Vaajikaran Chikitsa (Aphrodisiac). Most of Samhitas written by these seers were lost in time or only partly available today.
Despite this loss, from 1000 CE till the starting of medieval period, Ayurved continue to cure numerous people in India all thanks to very thoughtful and holistic concepts coming from Charak Samhita and Sushrut Samhita. The patronage for the Ayurvedic system of medicine decreased during British Rule on India possibly because of official patronage of Allopathy. After Independence, Government of India started giving support to Ayurved to strengthen primary health care of the country. Many Governing Bodies, Colleges and Hospitals of Ayurved was established. Some of the early Governing Bodies were CIRISM (in 1955), CCIM (in 1972), CCRIMH (in 1971) and CCRAS (in 1978).
In 1995, Ayurved got legislative participation with establishment of Department of ISM & H in the Ministry of Health of Government of India. This Department was renamed as Department of AYUSH in 2003. Because of increasing roles and benefits of Indian System of Medicines in health care sector, GOI announced formation of Ministry of AYUSH in 2014. Since then AYUSH Ministry has been working tirelessly in promotion of various Indian System of Medicine including Ayurved. In this effect Ministry of AYUSH is celebrating "Dhanteras" as "National Ayurveda Day" since 2016. Because of global health emergency of COVID-19, this year "National Ayurveda Day" is being celebrated with the theme of "Ayurveda for COVID-19" on 13/11/2020 in more than 70 countries.
"Dhanteras" has been chosen to celebrate "National Ayurveda Day" because of its special significance both in Hinduism and Ayurved. According to Bhagvat Puran and Vishnu Puran, on this day in vedic period, the lord of health Dhanvantari was emerged from ocean, with a pot full of nectar of immortality, at the end of churning of the ocean. This is not an another story from Hindu religion. The symbolism hidden in this story is very deep. This story signifies that immortality or perfect happiness can be achieved only through perfect state of health which need immense efforts.
So, to remain safe from COVID-19 infection we all have to put up efforts of wearing mask, physical distancing and inclusion of immunity enhancing measures of Ayurved in our lifestyle. We end here with this message to wish you a very Happy National Ayurveda Day!