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At the dawn of history, Ayurveda rose some three thousand years before Christ.
There is a legend that talks about the spiritual godfathers, the greatest thinkers and Sages of India, who gathered for a conference in the Himalayas in a gathering of monumental purpose. Some had to travel thousands of miles to reach this remote destination. Their goal – today we would say the main theme of the conference - was nothing less than the alleviation of human suffering.
These enlightened scholars, ascetics and teachers already knew from their individual experience that the nature of human suffering is of three kinds - spiritual, mental and physical. They all gathered together to examine the means by which suffering could be healed. The outcome of their enquiries came to be called ‘Ayurveda - the Knowledge of Life’. The search of the very source of Ayurveda leads us to Brahma himself, the Creator. From Brahma twin physicians, Asvini Kumara, gained the knowledge of Ayurveda and passed it on to the king of gods, Indra. The Rishis of the gathering sent their representative, a sage Bharadvaja, to Indra.
Ayurveda has its four legendary physicians and scholars – Atreya Punarvasu, Agnivesha, Charak and Sushruta. The first of these was a pupil of Bharadvaja and belonged to the original group of Rishis who stood at the birth of Ayurveda. Atreya´s student, Agnivesha, under the instruction of his teacher, put together the written treatise named after its author Agnivesha Samhita. In his work he described the human body as made up of invisible particles, each of these units carrying inherited individual information. Molecular biology and genetic coding was intuited long before the invention of the microscope. The work of Agnivesha forms the basis of general medicine and survived through the later work of Charak.
Ayurvedic science is divided into two other lines – The God Dhanvantari represents the line of surgery and Kasyapa is acknowledged as the father of paediatrics.
It was in the third century before Christ that trade with spices and herbs flourished in the region of the Indus valley and Egypt or Mesopotamia as archaeological findings reveal to us. Lively exchange of Indian spices existed between the queen of Sheba and the Israelites during the reign of King Solomon. The knowledge of Indian pharmacopoeia spread into the midlands of China across Tibet.
Buddhism played a great role in the spreading of Ayurveda. The personal Buddha’s physician was a great Ayurvedic doctor of his time and belonged to one of the legendary pupils of the oldest university of Takshashila.
Ayurveda was studied in great detail by Arab doctors. Ayurvedic herbs gradually became a part of Arabian pharmacopoeia. Knowledge from the Arab region was imparted to the Greeks and then to the Romans. The first European records on Indian herbs come from generals and physicians, who accompanied Alexander the Great on his conquest to India. At the time of the 5th and 4th century BC, Hippocrates formulated the basic postulates of his medicine.
During the period of the 3rd century BC, Ayurveda became so widespread that Emperor Ashoka, whose empire covered almost the whole of the Indian subcontinent, provided free health care for all. Ashoka founded a perfect system of public medicine-hospitals, hospices, pharmacies and veterinary centres, which provided service to all in need. No one was requested to pay for their treatment, but patients could voluntarily contribute. The state maintained the forests and established botanical gardens where herbs for healing purposes were cultivated. The imperial law banned destruction of these places as well as the pollution of water. These edicts were carved in rock and can be seen in Indian museums today. The extraordinary and profoundly compassionate vision of their authors continues to astonish our modern mind.
In the following millennium the classical texts were added to the new experiences from countless physicians and surgeons. One of the most prominent figures of this period was a Buddhist monk Vagbhatta, who wrote his treatises in the 8th century.
Ayurvedic information was flowing in through Arab merchants in the regions of Arabia, Greece and Rome. Medieval European medicine was at a primitive level and Europeans were learning from famous doctors of the Moorish empire as was Avicenna of Bukhara (980–1037) or the physician and philosopher Averroës of Cordoba (1126–1198).
Between the 11th and 16th centuries other great authors such as Chakradatta (11th century), Sharngadhara (14th century) wrote their texts. From the 15th century the history of Indian medicine became strongly influenced by increasingly frequent expeditions and later still with the colonizing efforts of the European super powers of that time. After the decline of the Arab rule in Spain, Europeans sought to break the Arab monopoly on the trade with Indian spices and medicine. During this time, British, French, Spanish, Danish and Portuguese fleets began to rush to India.
Ayurveda flourished during the zenith of the Mogul empire, which is proven by records of successive Indian dynasties and European travellers. The decline of the Mogul empire coincided with the unfortunate disintegration of India in the civil war which had tragic consequences for Ayurveda. Two decades of civil war and political instability brought destruction to the main centres of education. Ayurvedic knowledge retreated into temples and courtyards of village doctors. In the middle of the 19th century Ayurveda was so weak, that it became easy for British colonizers to label it as yet another superstition that had to be removed once and for all. At this time many precious works of Ayurveda were lost.
The first signs of change appeared with the new wave of patriotism at the beginning of the 20th century, when a process of enlivening small Ayurvedic centres began again. Ayurveda had to wait until Indian independence was regained for its reputation was restored as a valid medical system.
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Titled as “Roving Ambassador of Ayurveda”, belongs to the first generation of Ayurvedic practitioners and teachers who have pioneered the way for Ayurveda's recognition as a mainstream system of medicine.
Born and raised in Paris, she has always been looking at the horizon. The city that nourished her, it was her trampoline for courageous free flight around this planet. It’s inspiring to keep up with her.
VISHU FESTIVAL
NEW YEAR IN KERALA
The Malayalam word kani literally means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the New Year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu.
10 REASONS WHY AYURVEDA TRAILS ARE DIFFERENT
Ayurveda trails is using the symbol of mudra as reminder, healing is in your hands. We are creating a small collection of highly specialised ayurveda resorts run by passionate ayurveda experts, who want to keep authentic healing knowledge for modern world.
What is ayurveda? How is this ancient medical system connected with yoga, meditation, healthy food, relaxation in nature and modern life style? Ayurveda Trails is dedicated to everyone, who would like to travel and search answers to these questions.
NAVARATRI
Festival of Nine Goddesses
Navaratri is a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all her manifestations. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing. Each day has a different ritual associated with it.
ONAM
The Harvest Festival in Kerala
Onam is the most popular festival in Kerala. It can be traced to the primitive harvest festival and also to the myth regarding King Mahabali - the benevolent asura ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his country. It is celebrated in August and September.
The importance of the feast to the Kerala's Onam celebration culture is captured in the famous Malayalam proverb: Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam - which means: One must have the Onam lunch even by selling one's property, if need be.
MANALTHEERAM AYURVEDA BEACH VILLAGE
Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, gives you an opportunity to pamper yourself with a heavenly experience. Enter the world of holistic healing and let Ayurveda and meditation restore your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional equilibrium.
MANALTHEERAM
Dr. Hemalatha Manoj
In Manaltheeram, we believe, that Ayurveda is a divine science of life, our hands should be pure to treat a patient. Sometimes we are not able to cure every one but it is important not to make any mistakes from our hands. We pray to God.
Somatheeram, the world’s first Ayurveda hospital set in a resort ambiance to provide Ayurveda healing and treatments programmes. With its exotic tropical beauty and tranquil hospitality, this getaway is the perfect place for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The World’s First Ayurveda Tourist Resort: Baby Mathew, in 1985 together with his brother Dr.Pauly Mathew, has founded the world’s first ayurveda tourist resort Somatheeram in Kerala. How has this journey started?
Cliff View Ayurveda Retreat is built in the Bauhaus style, which aims to reunite fine art and functional design, creating practical objects with the soul of artworks. The resort embrace the philosophy of traditional Ayurveda in modern style.
HARIVIHAR HERITAGE
Dr. Sri Kumar
Harivihar, abode of the divine, is a 170 year old painstakingly restored royal heritage homestead located in Calicut. It offers unparalleled experience of staying in a heritage ambience and benefit from the goodness of Ayurveda and Yoga, two great contributions of India to mankind.
I hesitated for publishing this story quite late, but there’s a beauty in rewinding. Makes me appreciate how all those days have become of me. The clever fall of dominoes of life events that led me to still standing. A very happy new year to all!
SwaSwara means your inner voice, this is a place of natural harmony to release, refocus and recalibrate the self. Inspired by the first sound of creation, the resort in Gokarana on Aum Beach is a perfect setting to enable one to hear the voice of the inner self.
Green gram is a powerhouse of nutrition. It has high nutritive value and can be consumed by anyone for improving health. Hence, this superfood is one of the most vital detoxifying agent as well as an energiser that helps to enhance the immunity of the body.
KAIRALI - THE AYURVEDIC HEALING VILLAGE
There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala's Pala trees. Time spent at this jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of India.
