Ayurvedic and Siddha Medicine – Working with Body, Mind and Soul for Our Good Health
Ayurveda in Sanskrit means science of life. The definition clearly illustrates that the aim of this ancient system of medicine is rejuvenating the body unlike the cure-based modern medicine which targets diseases. Siddha Medicine is attributed to the teachings of the South Indian siddhar (enlightened one) lineage of ancient sages. Both disciplines spring from the same stream of the Vedas.
The world’s medical and scientific world generally refuses to accept Ayurveda and Siddha Medicine as authentic scientific disciplines being bound by the rigid rules and outdated conventions of its (modern science) fraternity. If only, they take the initiative to analyse and test the Ayurveda system first before rejecting it, they will be richer in knowledge of nature’s health resources.
Ayurveda is actually a combination of knowledge from the Vedas and its fine tuning via the personal experience and experiments of great sages including the siddhars who were actually the ancient scientists of India.
Much of this knowledge is contained in specific treatises on this science dating back to the 8th Century BC, the Charak Samhita, Sushurta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya and other scriptures such as the Thiru Manthiram of siddhar Thirumoolar and sage Agasthiar’s Agasthiar Samhita.
According to the scriptures three Doshas – Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth) are said to govern the body. When the Doshas are balanced they safeguard the body. When unbalanced they contribute to diseases.
Meditating silently as immobile observers in thick forests and remote caves in mountains – one with the natural process of the world and cosmos – the ancient sages could easily unravel the mysteries of all Creation. They had thus closely studied the world’s delicate balancing forces and their maintenance and rejuvenation based on the Vedic injunctions.
The sages relayed to the masses their findings not through scientific journals but through timeless lyrics and beautiful melodies. They appear to have relied on the most advanced delivery system of remedies to treat patients, wave technology.
Not only were the preparing of remedies for all conceivable disease and general well being referenced from the songs which were passed down to the present age chiefly through recitation and memory, the songs themselves sung with a feeling of devotion could act as sound wave remedy to cure patients.
Despite the growth of modern medicine fuelled by the pharmaceutical giants of the world, more and more people disenchanted by the excessive profiteering and inconsistency of modern medicines, are realising the virtues of Ayurvedic and Siddha Medicine and turning to it.
Sittamparam Ramachandran
