Introduction
The Vedas are the oldest literary record of Indo- Aryan civilization. They are the original scriptures of Hindu teachings containing information regarding all the spheres of life. The word Veda is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Vid’ which means to know. Veda is, therefore, the storehouse of knowledge.
As per Dr. Krishna Lal, supreme knowledge is present in Vedas. It is the source of Indian mathematics, astrology, science, politics, music, art, and medicines. This knowledge of Vedas is very important to attain spiritual knowledge, remove darkness and negativity from the world, end all the disputes of humankind and lead a healthy and happy life.
The Vedas have been classified as Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda has an up Veda if its own called Ayurveda which dealt with the use of plants in making medicines. They used the plants for curing different diseases.
They also knew the autonomy of the animals. The Atharva Veda consists of principles of healing on which Ayurveda is based. The roots of modern medicines are derived from the Vedas. Ayurveda is an ancient system of healing which is being used for 5000 years. It believes in maintaining a balance between the mind, body and soul.
A healthy spirit lives in a healthy body. It is therefore very important that our body is free from any diseases. In ancient times, Ayurveda was the solution to all such ailments and problems which is still popular in the Indian culture
The reports by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing suggest that more than 90 percent of Indians use some form of Ayurvedic medicine and it is now gaining popularity in the western world as well.
Today’s advancement in the medical sciences and the healthcare system have all been taken from the Vedas. One of the other techniques is the modern version of Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, the body is made of three Doshas, namely- Vata, pitta, and Kapha. A state of equilibrium must be maintained between them, which signifies a healthy life and a state of disequilibrium will mean disease.
Each Dosha is represented by the five elements of nature- fire, earth, air, water, and space. These doshas inherent the qualities of these elements. For the body to be healthy, the mind must be peaceful and stable. Ayurveda helps in healing the mind and keeping the diseases away from the body. The physicians of Ayurveda realized that health is a very important part of life. So, they started learning about the process of healing, prevention, surgery through spiritual revelations which were later recorded in the Vedas.
Ayurveda uses natural things like herbs, plants, colors, gems, aromas, mantras, yoga, meditation, surgery, and lifestyle. There are two main schools of thought in Ayurveda- Atreya (school of physicians) and Dhanvantari (school of surgeons). In the field of surgery, Sushruta, a student of Dhanvantari, contributed significantly.
Such complicated surgeries like cataracts, fractures, kidney and bladder stone removal, brain surgery, plastic surgery of nose etc. were mentioned in the Vedas. Knowledge of the instruments used in operation is also described in the Sushruta Samhita, which is even brought to use today.
The Sushruta Samhita contains information regarding different types of diseases, their causes, and treatments. It also mentions the importance of cleanliness and sterilization of the instruments after use. He has also told about how to numb the individual during surgery which is known as anesthesia nowadays.
The Shataphta Brahma describes the functioning of the heart. It explains the importance of the heart in the body and how the heart functions. It explains how the heart helps in circulating blood to all parts of the body. It tells how blood is the lifeline of the body and is always replenished and on the move. The information regarding arteries and veins can also be found in the Atharva Veda. It also has prayers and mantras for curing different diseases.
The chakra Samhita contains 120 chapters on eight topics which include- surgery, eye and head treatment, therapeutics, toxicology, pediatrics, pharmacology, and medicine preparation, mental diseases, and treatment of reproductive systems.
It also mentions the effect of diet and yoga on the mind and body. It also emphasizes the importance of herbs and plants in making medicines. Nature has everything around us to provide us with relief from our ailments.
The Vedas also include the magical cures to the diseases and mantras and chanting’s for the destruction of the demons that cause infections. There are a plethora of herbs and medicines available for the treatment of diseases like fever, diarrhea, pneumonia, skin diseases, tumors, etc.
Ayurveda is the Vedic system of medicines. It has gained much popularity in the west in recent years. All the information described in the Vedas is still valuable after three decades.
Ayurveda uses a mix of religious practices with medicines that involve mantras and chants, combined with administered drugs and medicines. It is the concept of taking care of the patients and their natural environment.
Conclusion
Ayurveda has been in practice and uses in different parts of India since ancient times. This system of healing is still used by the people of India and is becoming popular in the west as an alternative to allopathy. There are many healing Centres available where different diseases are cured by communicating with nature. They help relax the mind and body and maintain a balance between the two. Bladder stone removal, plastic surgery have all been successful in India. The results have been satisfactory. All these have been derived directly or indirectly from an ancient sources. It clearly shows the contribution of Vedas in the healthcare sector.
