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The process of ''ayurvedavatarana'' (origin/emergence of [[Ayurveda]]) as described in this chapter should be viewed from this perspective, symbolic of this iterative process of creation of knowledge. It touches upon certain basic tenets of [[Ayurveda]] such as the four dimensional concept of ''ayu'' or life and its qualitative categorization into ''sukhayu'' (happy life), ''duhkhayu'' (unhappy life), ''hitayu'' (positive life in harmony with self and the surroundings), and ''ahitayu''(negative life, with negative state of mind and in disharmony with the surroundings), reflecting on the individual as well as the social aspects of one’s life. The chapter also deals with the doctrine of ''samanya'' (similar) and ''vishesha'' (dissimilar), ''dravya samgraha''(knowledge of physical material) attributes of physical and mental ''[[dosha]]s'', the basic causes of ill-health, the origin of ''rasa'' (taste) and its significance, the attributes of six tastes, the nature of the material world, and the whole range of ayurvedic materia medica. Overall, as one can expect from the very first chapter of any treatise, this chapter gives guidelines about important fundamental concepts of [[Ayurveda]] that are necessary to understand the whole text.
 
The process of ''ayurvedavatarana'' (origin/emergence of [[Ayurveda]]) as described in this chapter should be viewed from this perspective, symbolic of this iterative process of creation of knowledge. It touches upon certain basic tenets of [[Ayurveda]] such as the four dimensional concept of ''ayu'' or life and its qualitative categorization into ''sukhayu'' (happy life), ''duhkhayu'' (unhappy life), ''hitayu'' (positive life in harmony with self and the surroundings), and ''ahitayu''(negative life, with negative state of mind and in disharmony with the surroundings), reflecting on the individual as well as the social aspects of one’s life. The chapter also deals with the doctrine of ''samanya'' (similar) and ''vishesha'' (dissimilar), ''dravya samgraha''(knowledge of physical material) attributes of physical and mental ''[[dosha]]s'', the basic causes of ill-health, the origin of ''rasa'' (taste) and its significance, the attributes of six tastes, the nature of the material world, and the whole range of ayurvedic materia medica. Overall, as one can expect from the very first chapter of any treatise, this chapter gives guidelines about important fundamental concepts of [[Ayurveda]] that are necessary to understand the whole text.
  
It is very important for a physician to have the full knowledge of materials used in formulating ''Ayurvedic'' drugs. For this purpose, the chapter provides a detailed taxonomy of groups of medications (or recipes), including properties and actions of each ingredient within a group. To zero in from the generic to the specific, the entire “universe” of ingredients are classified into three groups: those that are useful for maintaining good health, those that are useful for treating disorders, and finally, those that are harmful to health. The first two categories, i.e., ingredients useful for health and for treating the diseases have been described by further dividing them into various ways with categorization by three general sources viz. animal-based, plant-based, and earth/mineral-based. Plant-based ingredients are further sub-classified according to their parts used viz. fruits, roots, latex and bark, with relevant examples that are further subdivided according to their applicability in therapeutics e.g. useful for ''vamana'' (therapeutic emesis), ''virechana'' (therapeutic purgation) or ''basti'' (therapeutic enema). The specific actions of the individual ingredients of such groups which may not find place in later chapters have been described herein e.g. five types of salts and eight types of urine.   
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It is very important for a physician to have the full knowledge of materials used in formulating ''Ayurvedic'' drugs. For this purpose, the chapter provides a detailed taxonomy of groups of medications (or recipes), including properties and actions of each ingredient within a group. To zero in from the generic to the specific, the entire “universe” of ingredients are classified into three groups: those that are useful for maintaining good health, those that are useful for treating disorders, and finally, those that are harmful to health. The first two categories, i.e., ingredients useful for health and for treating the diseases have been described by further dividing them into various ways with categorization by three general sources viz. animal-based, plant-based, and earth/mineral-based. Plant-based ingredients are further sub-classified according to their parts used viz. fruits, roots, latex and bark, with relevant examples that are further subdivided according to their applicability in therapeutics e.g. useful for [[vamana]] (therapeutic emesis), [[virechana]] (therapeutic purgation) or [[basti]] (therapeutic enema). The specific actions of the individual ingredients of such groups which may not find place in later chapters have been described herein e.g. five types of salts and eight types of urine.   
  
 
The chapter suggests that [[Ayurveda]] beginners may take the help of local people or communities living in or around forests and herders in identifying herbs. Quackery or practitioners with little or limited knowledge of plants are strongly denounced. The best physician is the one who has full knowledge of ayurvedic drugs, their pharmacology, mode of administration and their use according to the condition of the patient. Exploitation of a helpless patient by a physician is considered a sin in [[Ayurveda]].  
 
The chapter suggests that [[Ayurveda]] beginners may take the help of local people or communities living in or around forests and herders in identifying herbs. Quackery or practitioners with little or limited knowledge of plants are strongly denounced. The best physician is the one who has full knowledge of ayurvedic drugs, their pharmacology, mode of administration and their use according to the condition of the patient. Exploitation of a helpless patient by a physician is considered a sin in [[Ayurveda]].  

Revision as of 09:07, 7 November 2020



Sutra Sthana Chapter 1. Fundamental principles of Longevity

Abstract

Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya
Section/Chapter Sutra Sthana Chapter 1
Tetrad/Sub-section Bheshaja Chatushka
Preceding Chapter None
Succeeding Chapter Apamarga Tanduliya
Other Sections Nidana Sthana, Vimana Sthana, Sharira Sthana, Indriya Sthana, Chikitsa Sthana, Kalpa Sthana, Siddhi Sthana
Names of the authors of the chapter (Translator and commentator) Patwardhan Kishor, Upadhyaya Wasuki

The title of Charak Samhita’s very first chapter, Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya, literally means the chapter on longevity. This is symbolic, because it implies that Ayurveda is not merely the science of life, but also a science of longevity. This chapter deliberates on the purpose of long life and health as the means of achieving the four primary instincts of human beings - virtue, wealth, gratification and emancipation (purushartha chatushtaya) – by way of explaining some of the basic tenets of Ayurveda and defining its scope. The chapter introduces fundamental principles of Ayurveda, including its definition, objective, concept of three bodily (sharira) doshas and their qualities, and two mental (manasa) dosha and their treatment. The samanya(similarity) and vishesha(dissimilarity) theory, pharmaco-therapeutic aspects, classification of drugs, list of herbs and other animal products useful in purification and pacification therapies are highlighted. Through these deliberations, this chapter essentially lays the foundation for building the body of knowledge on life sciences and healthcare that Charak Samhita is known for.

Keywords: Longevity, Ayurveda, science of life, Dravya, material, Mahabhuta, Samanya, Vishesha, Guna, Karma, Rasa, Dosha, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Rajas, Tamas, Sattva, qualities of good and bad physicians.


Introduction

Sanskrit text, transliteration and english translation

Tattva Vimarsha / Fundamental Principles

Vidhi Vimarsha / Applied Inferences

The Glossary of Technical terms

References

abcd




List of 120 chapters in Charak Samhita

Section I Sutra Sthana
Section II Nidana Sthana
Section III Vimana Sthana
Section IV Sharira Sthana
Section V Indriya Sthana
Section VI Chikitsa Sthana
Section VII Kalpa Sthana
Section VIII Siddhi Sthana

Sections and 120 Chapters in Charak Samhita

Section I Sutra Sthana

Section II Nidana Sthana


Section III Vimana Sthana


Section IV Sharira Sthana

Section V Indriya Sthana

Section VI Chikitsa Sthana

Section VII Kalpa Sthana


Section VIII Siddhi Sthana