Introduction

Ayurveda (the science of life) is one of the branches of vedas. It is regarded as upaveda of rigveda or atharva-veda but,really speaking,it is a stream of the knowledge coming down from generation to generation since eternity parallel to the vedic literature that is why its emergence has been said to be from the creator (Brahma) himself prior to the creation. It is called eternal because nobody knows when it was not there. All this shows its long tradition and deep attachment to the Indian culture.

The word 'Ayurveda' comes from the word 'ayur' meaning 'life' and the word 'veda' meaning 'to know'. Ayurveda means 'the science of life', and is a medical system mostly practiced in India.

Ayurveda defines life as the intelligent coordination of our four parts, the soul,the mind, the senses, and the body, with the totality of nature and the cosmos. Health is not just a state of the body. We interact with the seasons, planetary changes of the earth, and moon, other planets, as well as orbiting relationships within our lives, our loved ones and friends, co-workers etc. We affect and are affected by every other animate and inanimate thing in existence. Bringing all of this into balance is the key to living healthy.

In Ayurveda the whole life’s journey is considered to be sacred.

Some Salient features of Ayurveda:

• Ayurveda is a complete medical system which recognizes that ultimately all intelligence and wisdom flows from one Absolute source (Paramatma).Health manifests by the grace of the Absolute, acting through the laws of Nature (Prakriti).Ayurveda assists Nature by promoting harmony between the individual and Nature by living a life of balance according to her laws.
• It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us,rather than focusing on individual symptoms
• Ayurveda seeks to heal the fragmentation and disorder of the mind-body complex and restore wholeness and harmony to all people.
• Ayurveda believes five basic elements Pancamahabhutas (space,air,fire,water and earth) manifest in the human body as three basic humours known as tridosas(Vata,Pitta and Kapha). These three govern creation,maintenance and destruction of bodily tissues as well as the assimilation and elimination.Each person is born with a unique combination of these dosas which decides their basic constitution called Prakruti.Understanding of each person's Prakruti for deciding their personal diet and exercise pattern, supplements and medicinal herbs,cleansing and rebuilding therapies that is right for them are among the chief methods, Ayurveda employs for the maintenance and restoration of health.