Ancient Complete Medical Science- Ayurved

Major advertisement, expansion and popularity of ‘allopathy’ in the present era reflect an illusion that it’s the ancient treatment system. But fact is that it’s ayurved which is the oldest and complete medical science. Emanated from ved and fostered by great rishi, acharya and tapasvi, field of ayurved is diversified and multidimensional. According to the Sushrut, ayurved emanates from the god.

Iha khalavayurvedamupangamath
arvavedasyanutpadyauva prajah
Shlokashata sahastramadhayyasahatram cha kritavan svayambhuh I  Su. Su. 1/10

Discourse of Sushrut says that ayurved is the upang of the Atharvaved. Svayambhu has created it before the existence of animals.
According to Gopath Brahman, ‘Yeatharvanastad bheshajam I’ Gopath Bra. Pu. 3/4/. Those who are atharva are bheshaj. Opposition of opposite speed is called bheshaj. Maharshi Yask has also reflected similar meaning of atharva in his discourse in the Nirukt- “Tharvatishcharatikarma tatpratishedhah” Nirukt 11/19

Pratishedh, opposition and reaction are synonym words which are called bheshaj. It has been used in checking opposite speed. Atharva is nothing but bheshaj of undesirable reactions, disorders in the body, opposite speeds of outer world, seasonal oddness arisen out of temperate, rain, earth, water disorders, moon, sun and air, etc.

Like various types of chemicals, bhashma, medicines, etc, surgery is mentioned in ved mantra, Charak and Sushrut ayurvedic scriptures. For example, gold bhasm is called chemical, nectar, peaceful, graceful, vital energy, etc. It also checks various diseases. The Yajurveda describes it—

Aayusham, varchasyam, rayasposhamaudshidam I
Idam hiranyam varchchasvadajjaitaya vishatadu mam II Yaju. 34/5

It means that it gives youthfulness, peace, energy, etc. I may get this element to get rid of diseases. I may consume it for ever.

Suvarna has been described beautifully. It also proves that ayurved is as ancient as four ved. Not only Indian pharmacists but European scientists also praised the gold.

In his book ‘Precious stones for curative weor’, famous European scholar Dr W.T.Far. M.D has written about remedial uses of gold—“Gold is an admirable remedy for constitutions broken down by the combined influence of syphilis and mercury.”

It means that gold is highly effective in checking tuberculosis. Moreover, he writes—I advised many patients to consume gold to get rid of many diseases. Describing chemical study, Shri Hansraj Agrawal writes—Kajjali, mercury, iron, gold, etc were widely used as medicines. Hamari sabhyata aur vigyan first edition, page 115
Kings College Professor Royal says that he had great chemical expertise. “The land of the vedas tourist Alberuni says that she knows other study like Hindu chemistry. It is called chemical. Its theory is to make the patients disease free and young. Alberuni’s India’ Vol pp. 188

In the Atharvaved, sun ray therapy, water therapy, mritiki therapy, fire therapy, etc have been elaborately described. Water related mantra is worth readable —‘apsvantaramritamapsu bheshaj’ Atharva. 1/4/4. It means that water contains nectar, vital energy and bheshaj.

Surgery has been portrayed in the Atharvaved-
Ya te rudra ishumasyadangebhyo hridayaya cha I Idam tamadya vayam vishuchin vivrihamasi II Atharva. 6/90/1

Part of weapons inserted into the body must be removed through surgery. Because it makes adverse effect in the body, blood, muscle and bone. It intoxicates the entire body. Many western scholars have also showered praise on our surgery, bone study, etc.
Mr Weber writes—even today, many western scholars can learn from Indian surgery. They had learnt how to enjoin broken nose. (Weber’s Indian Literature” pp.26)

Mr Macdonald also supports it—the Britishers had learnt from the Indians in the last century how to operate nose and make artificial nose. (“History of Sanskrit Literature” pp. 247)

According to W Hunter, the Hindu had expertise in surgery of nose and ear and their artificial creation. European surgeons have adopted this from Indians. The ancient Indians used to conduct piercing and stop bleeding. They used to remove stone and treat hydrocele, fistula, badi bran, arsh, etc. they used to conduct micro surgery on the pregnant women and other women. (“Indian Gazetteer” India, pp. 220)

Dr Sil says that the dead bodies were used to teach students. Historian Elphinstone (Ojhajee written Medieval Indian Culture” page 102) says that Indian surgery is as great as its medicines.

Priest Peter Parsical says that the ancient books of the Hindu mention about 127 types of surgery. (“History of India” pp. 147)
Scholar Mening says that the weapons of ancient Arya were so sharp that even hair can be cut into two parts in length. (“The Land of the Vedas” pp.39)

Surgery has been elaborately described in the ‘Sushrut’. (“Ancient and Medieval India” Vol II pp. 346)

According to ‘Bhoj Prabandh’, king felt severe headache. He consulted many doctors for treatment but the effort went in vain. One day, two doctors conducted operation on his head. He also consumed sanjivani. (Ojhajee written “Medieval Indian Culture page 96)

Therefore, Godal based Thakur Sahab written “Manas Vigyan” says that Jivak was personal doctor of Mahatma Buddha. He had also conducted his cranical surgery. (Weekly “ Shri Venkateshwar Samachar” Mumbai “Deepama, Likank” Year 45, Friday 21st October, 1949, Number 25, page 71)

In the Mahabharata, the doctors who had conducted surgery on Duryodhana also treated Bhishma lying on the death bed. (Vahi, page 71 14 vahi, page 71)

According to Sushrut, there are 101 tools used in surgery. But according to Banabhatta its number is 115. He says that duty is uncertain, therefore number of tools are also uncertain. The doctors can make tools as per their need. Various scholars have different views over the number of tools. That scriptures also mention about tools in detail. Various types of tools were used in treating diseases like arsh, vaginal disorder, renal disorder, artav disorder, shukradosh, etc. Various types of tools like vranbasti, bastiyantram, shalaka tool, nakhakriti, etc were used in those days. Garbhshanku and sarpamukh were used for removing living baby from womb and stitching. Various types of patti have been mentioned in treating ulcerative and abdominal disorders. (Sushrut number 25/99)

Worm therapy

The patients are advised to undergo worm therapy to get rid of adverse effect of worms coming in contact with food items. The process is called worm therapy. On many occasions, worm attacks the human body. It has been widely mentioned in Atharvaved kand 5, sukta 23 and 29.

Treatment of infectious disease

The people will fall prey to infectious diseases if they come in contact with dirty people and patients suffering from leprosy, etc and indulge in sexual intercourse with such people. Its treatment has been mentioned in Atharvaved kand 7, sukta 65 (67).

Shyavadata kunakhina vandena yat samasimam I
Apamarga tvaya vyam sarva tadapamrijmahe II  (Atharva. 7/65/3)

It means that oh apamarg! We may get rid of diseases arisen out in case of coming in contact with the people having dirty teeth, decayed nail, physical disability, etc. The people can suffer from pyorrhea in case of coming in contact with the people having dirty teeth. Because we start inhaling dirty air. Apamarg medicines can cure such diseases. It has been said in the ved.

“Apamarga sarastikshnah…..” (Bhavprakash Ni) according to prabhuti ayurvedic Nighantu, aparmarg is used to treat itching, ringworm, leprosy and diseases caused by worm. It also works as intoxicant.

Leprosy treatment

In this disease, white patches, patches, white leprosy appear on flesh, blood and skin of the patients. Its treatment has been described in ‘Atharvaved kand 1, sukta 23.

‘Atharvaved kand 1, sukta 24 mentions about treatment of white leprosy. Similarly, ‘Atharvaved kand 2, sukta 27 describes about treatment of wounds caused due to weapons in the battle.

Veterinary treatment

‘Atharvaved kand 6, sukta 59 describes about treatment of entire animals. Historian Weber says—“in the vedic era, the people were well aware of anatomy of animals. They mention about names of every organ of the animals. (“Webers Indian Literature pp. 263-264)

Two ancient scholars also support this. According to Shri Hansraj Agrawal MA and Shri Manohar Lal Gaud MA, MOL Shashtri, Atharvaved mentions widely about effects of medicines on diseases, various names of medicines, names of diseases, etc. The Ringved also portrays it. In ayurved, the ancient scholars assume that this science emanates from the Atharvaved. (“Hamari sabhyata aur vigyankala” page 113)
Dr Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha D. Litt. ‘Sahityavachaspati’ had also said that – the Atharvaved mentions not only name of diseases and their symptoms but the number of bones of body of human being. (“Medieval Indian Culture” page 951). Due to devastation of tradition of vedic self study, someone may say that ‘particular’ treatment system is the result of new brains brought up in western countries. But at the same time, it’s ved which is the only center of knowledge and science and vedic ayurved is root of ‘scientific-treatment system’.

The Mahabharat, the Ramayana, the Purana, etc cite various examples mentioned in the ancient scriptures of the Atharvaved and ayurved. Vital medicine sanjivani used by Sumaidya Vaidya and brought by Hanuman to treat Lakshmana lying unconsciously in battlefield proves that this was the golden era of ayurved study. The deformed bodies of warriors in the Mahabharata battle were treated through this technique. 

It has been mentioned not only in ayurved but also in Maharshi Patanjali written yog ka gyan. Yam-niyam, aasan, pranayama and meditation, etc are the best way to get rid of physical, mental and intellectual disorders. In fact, Indian acharyas used to deliver discourse for welfare of the world by grasping every micro element of the subject. They aimed at making the human being disease free. India has conducted intensive research on the vital energy. Indian treatment system is nothing but getting complete health through joining five vital elements like fire, air, water, earth and sky and continuous contact with nature, trees, herbs, lata, bronze, silver and gold, parad, etc. Apart from yog, pranayama, nature, etc, yagya is also our heritage to get rid of diseases.

There was a golden era when we used to do yagya apart from yog daily in the morning and the evening. We used to live in the lap of nature and get new life through sun rays in the morning. We would consume aesthetic diets which purify body and mind. We used to get rid of violence, terrorism, jealousness, hatred, etc. We were world teacher. Smoking, consuming wine and non-vegetarian items were the habits of only demons. But Mahakavi Kalidas says—

Kasyatyantam sukhamupanatam dukhamekantato va I
Nechairgachchatyupari cha dasha chakranemikramena II

It means that happiness and grief are the parts of human life. As per the life cycle, condition of human life also goes up and down.

In the dark period of slavery, our knowledge, science, self pride, self respect, etc got diminished. World famous universities like Nalanda and Takshashila were the education hub of our medical science. The enemy of human being demolished such precious institutions. Later, we started looking forward to the western countries for every subject. Similar is the case with medical science.

When we have lakhs of years of old flawless, unique medical science then why do we fall prey to subjugation again. If we have to become world teacher again and make reliant India devoid of disease, hatred, poverty, etc, we will have to adopt knowledge-science, civilization-culture, life system, etc.

With an aim to realize this dream, Pujya Swami Ramdev Jee Maharaj and Shradheya Acharya Balkrishna Jee have been trying hard to make yog and ayurved popular with divine commitment and great effort. The people can get rid of disease, hatred, fear, poverty, etc through this. Statement of a policy maker validates dreams of both the great personalities—

Nindantu niti nipunah yadi va sttuvantu,
Lakshmih samavishatu gachchhatu va yatheshthm I
Adyaiva va maranamastu yugantare va, nyayyat patha pravichalanti padam na dhirah II

It means that whether people having policy expertise extol or condemn. Whether they earn or not. The great personalities having patience can’t deviate from their best path in their life.

This is a great moment. The global pandemic wreaked havoc in our life. In this odd situation, internal divine virtue gets reflected. ‘Satyameva Jayate’ is the eternal truth of the world. Truth will win, India will be winner in the world. People of abroad will apply soil of India on their forehead. Firm commitment with great effort and self pride are the need of the hour.