Evolution of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the traditional science of medical treatment in India and it traces its origin through the myths to the Vedas. According to the Puranas the Ayurveda tradition was transferred from Brahma to Prajapathi and AswiniKumaras and through them to Indra, the King of Devas. Sage Bharadwaja acquired the knowledge from Indra and taught Sage Aathreya. Through his disciples, this method of treatment was handed over to the Aryans.
The Vedic literature works like Mantra, Brahmnas, Aaranyaka, Upanishads (Gist of Hindu philosophy) have references to Ayurveda. The 'Atharvaveda' contains matters on medical treatment. These works suggests a treatment based on Mantras, Yagas (offering to Agni) and deep faith in the almighty. The RigVeda explains that the medicinal herbs can be used in more than 100 different ways.
In the later vedic period the theistic philosophies like Sankhyam, Yogam, Nyayam, Vaisheshikam, Poorvamimaamsa, Utharamimaamsa and atheistic philosophies namely Jainadarsan, Buddhadarsan, Charvaakadarsan paved the way for Ayurvedic principles. AgnivelSamhitha, BhelaSamhitha, HarithaSamhitha, SamshruthaSamhitha, KashyapaSamhitha are other books on Ayurveda written in this period.
Alexander's invasion and spread of Buddhism lend Ayurveda, acclaim abroad.
The Great Masters of Ayurveda
Dhanwanthari
Considered as the patron God of Ayurveda and is worshipped as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. One among the nine gems in Vikramaditya's court. It is said that he initiated surgery in India.His main works include ChikitsaKaumudi, ChikitsaSasaraSamgraham, ChikitsaDarsanam, Yoga Chinthamani, Sannipathakalika, DhathuKalpam, Ajeernamruthamanjari, Roganidaanam, VaidyaChinthamani, VaidyaPrakasam and Dhanwandhari Dictionary.
Susruthan
Ancient Ayurveda master. A disciple of Kasi King DivodasaDhanwandhari. He gave equal importance to scientific knowledge as well as practical knowledge while conducting surgery.
Nagarjunan
Considered as the master of Rasatantra treatment (using mercury). In history there are references to numerous persons by the same name Nagarjunan: a Buddhist monk who was a preceptor of Mahayana religion, another buddhist monk and the author of RasavaisheshikaSuthram, SidhaNagarjunan, the author of Kakshapudam, Rasaratnakaram and RasendraMangalam.
Charakan
Author of CharakaSamhitha. He is said to have traveled all over India. The physicians in Kanishka's court were designated as 'Charaka'. Kapilabalan, the court physician in Kanishka's kingdom is believed to have rewritten the AgnivesaSamhitha. He initiated the Kayachikitsa .
Vagbhadan
Master of Ayurveda and Sanskrit scholar who lived in the 12th century. His famous works include Ashtangasamgraham and Ashtangahridayam. The Dhanwandhari and Athreya system of treatment have been discussed in these works. A Jain follower also by the same name is said to have lived during the 15th century. The authorship of Vagbhadalankaram is still a topic of debate.
Kerala - The Fertile Land of Ayurveda
In the present times, Ayurveda is most developed and popular in Kerala the southern most state of India. Kerala with its greenary, fertile land and climate is ideal for growing medicinal herbs and is refered on tourist map as Gods own Country. Ayurveda became popular in Kerala with the Aryan invasion. Rich in herbs, Kerala opened new avenues for this medical treatment. Vagbhadan, the master of Ayurveda, came over to Kerala and started his own style of treatment and practice. He wrote two books on Ayurveda namely 'Ashtaangahridayam' and 'Ashtaangasamgraham' while he was in Kerala. His disciples from eight families who later came to be known as the Ashtavaidyans (Eight Doctors) propagated Ayurvedic treatment in the land. A few critics are of the opinion that Ashtavaidyans are those who are well-versed in Vaghbadan's works. Excluding Karandhol family that perished around 965 AD now there exists seven Ashtavaidya families.
THE ASHTA VAIDYAS
The disciples of Vagbhadan.They practiced Ashtanga Ayurveda and were proficient in various branches of Ayurveda like Kaya Chikitsa (General Medicine), BalaChikitsa (Paedeatrics), GrahaChikitsa (Remedies for adverse planetary positions),UrdhwangaChikitsa (ENT etc.),ShalyaThanthram (Surgery), DhamshtraChikitsa (Toxicology), JaraChikitsa (Treatment for rejuvanation),VrishaChikitsa (Treatment for infertility)
These eight families include AlathoorNampi, PulamantholMoossu, PazhanellippurathuThaikkattuMoossu, KuttancheriMoossu, ElayidathuThykkattuMoosu, VayaskaraMoossu, VelluduMoossu, and ChirattamanMoossu. Apart from these another important family connected to the Ashtavaidya tradition is 'Vaidyamadam.'
Ashtavaidyas sustained Ayurveda through their Gurukula system of education. P.S. Warrier, Thrikkovil and UluthraWarrier who made valuable contributions to Ayurveda in Kerala were the disciples of Ashtavaidyans. Sahasrayogam, VaidyaManorama, RogaratnaSamuchayam, AlathoorManipravalam, Yogamrutham, Chikithsamanjari are some of the well knownAyurvedic works by Ashtavaidyans.
AlathoorNambi
Nambi hails from Alathoor near Thiroor in Malappuram district. The eldest member of the family at present is ParameswaranNampi. The family profession is carried on by his brother Narayanan Nampi, a graduate in Aaryavaidya. Presently he is practicing at Thayankavu in Thrissur district.
PulamantholMoosu
Their ancestral home is in Pulamanthol near Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district. They were the royal physicians of Zamorins of Calicut. PulamantholMoosus were surgeons too. The famous Pulamanthol Aryan Moosu and his son SankaranMoosu run the RudradhanwandhariVaidyasala.
PazhanellippurathuThaikkattuMoosu
Their ancestral home is at Pazhanelli near Pattambi. They were ousted from Pazhanellippuram due to a conflict between the Zamorin of Calicut and King of Kochi. SakthanThampuran, the King of Kochi came to their rescue and provided them with the assets of ParappurMoosu who were deprived of successors
KuttancheriMoosu
They were the royal physicians of the Kochi royal family and their ancestral home was at Kumaranelloor near Vadakkancheri. They have rendered knowledge on medical science to many who have approached them. Today, a few possesses their dexterity in this field.
VayaskaraMoosu
Well-known physicians in the Ashtavaidya tradition. The most famous among them was VayaskaraAchanMoosu. N.S. Moosu, his successor and a scholar, is well known for his works 'DravyagunaVijnanam' and 'KeraliyaPanchakarmaChikitsa', Narayanan Moosu, brother of N.S. Moosu is now residing at their ancestral home. None of their successors have taken Ayurveda as a profession.
VelluduMoosu
In 1902 they shifted from Chalakkudy to Maruthorvattom near Cherthala. Though the family had many efficient physicians, at present, none of them are actively involved in the field of Ayurveda.
ChirattumanMoosu
Following an attack by Tipu Sultan ChirattamanMoossu arrived at Travancore. With the help of the then Maharaja he settled down at Maruthorvattom. Later due to a conflict with VelluduMoossu he shifted to Olassa at Kottayam. As a result they are also known as OlassaMoossu. The well-known NarayanaMoosu and his son NarayanaMoosu Junior carry on the Ashtavaidya tradition.
ElayidathuThykkattuMoosu
A family belonging to the Ashtavaidya tradition. Hails from Thaikkattu near Ollore in Thrissur district. They earned the title 'Ayurveda Acharyas' (Masters of Ayurveda) of Thrissur through their proficiency in treatment. The world famous VaidyarathnamAyurvedasala was founded by NeelakandaMoossu, a descendant of this family. A recipient of Padmasree, he is also the founder of Thaikkattusseri Ayurveda College. The Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Sala is now functioning under the guidance of his sons and well-known physicians, NeelakandhanMoossu and ParmeswaranMoossu.
Vaidyamadom
Apart from the eight 'Ashtavaidya' families, Vaidyamadom is also considered in the Ashtavaidya tradition. Their ancestral home is at Mezhathoor and traces their origin from the KaratholNambis. It is believed that the KaratholNambi was converted to Namboothiri and renamed Vaidyamadom. They followed a treatment method that of AlathiyoorNambi. VaidyamadomCheriya Narayanan Namboothiri is the most famous physician today in this family. Former Ayurveda Director BrahmadathanNamboothiri and District Medical Officer RishikumaranNamboothiri belong to this tradition.
The Traditional Path in the authentic way:-
Ayurveda Mana offers ayurveda unveiled in its most authentic form. The herbs used are pure and freshly picked, usually from the herb gardens maintained from its own fields and from neighboring forest . All food is prepared in a fully fledgedayurvedic kitchen, using pure spices and ingredients to create simple, yet delicious vegetarian meals that form an integral part of the treatments. And the therapies are in strict accord with the ancient texts of Ayurveda. Through a combination of massages, herbal treatments, medicines, diet and purifying baths, the Ayurvedamana experience promises you a chance to see the world afresh, to be twice born. Therapy and massage rooms offer a complete range of treatments. Expert masseuses and therapists work with you from head to toe, bringing new life to tired muscles, bones and tendons. The healing continues at our Yoga and meditation sessions, and even at the dining table. And of course, hovering protectively over your whole treatment is under our Trained Resident Doctors.
Yoga and Pranayama: -
Yoga is the ancient Indian mind-body-spirit discipline, said to have originated in the 'sutras' (philosophical verses) of sage Patanjali, millennia ago. The word is from the old Sanskrit, and means 'union'. While there are many different forms of Yoga, the purpose of all of them is the same - to achieve oneness with the cosmos. For the serious Yogi, the ultimate aim is to attain 'moksha', or liberation from the karmic cycle of birth and death. The form of yoga that's most widely known in the West is 'Hatha Yoga', a system of 'Asanas' (postures) meant to perfect and discipline the body, and its accompanying breath exercises, called 'Pranayama'.AtAyurvedamana, we use the Hatha Yoga, a gentle, yet powerful form that combines particularly well with other therapies. Afternoons in the Yoga Centre are reserved for 'Yoga Nidra', a special meditative technique that brings about deep relaxation in the individual. Like everything else here, yoga therapies too are personal and focused. You'll be guided through a routine that's designed for your age, ailments, body type and general condition.
