The document discusses the concept of health according to Ayurveda. It states that the goal of Ayurveda is to help maintain the health of healthy individuals and cure diseases of patients. Ayurveda views health as the equilibrium of doshas (bodily humors), metabolic fire, tissues, waste products, soul, senses, and mind. It identifies four types of life - happy, unhappy, useful, and harmful - based on these factors. Disease occurs due to imbalances in doshas and is classified in different ways by ancient Ayurvedic texts. Ayurveda prescribes keeping doshas balanced, a sattvic diet, following biological rhythms, healthy habits, and eight-lim

1. The Notion of Health in Ayurveda
J.S.R.A. Prasad
Dept. Of Sanskrit Studies,
School of Humanities,
University of Hyderabad
jsraprasad@gmail.com

2. ?

What is the goal of human life?

What causes to achieve the goal?

What obstructs us in achieving the goal?

What science tells us to remove the
obstruction?

3. Ayurveda

Goal of Ayurveda?
, (The utility of this science is to help maintain the health
of a healthy individual and cure diseases of a patient.)

It is a 'patient centric' medical science than a 'disease
centric' science.

The fundamental doctrine is called 'tridosha'

It has eight limbs.

4. Eight limbs of Ayurveda
1. (Internal Medicine)
2. (Surgery)
3. (ENT)
4. (Gynaecology&Paediatrics)
5. (Toxicology)
6. (Psychiatry)
7. (Rejuvenation)
8. (Aphrodisiacs)

5. Ayus

= The science which tells us about 'Ayus' is called
'Ayurveda.'

What is Ayus?
a)
b) ----

The conjunction of all the four is called 'life' and disjunction
is known as 'death.'

A causal relation is observed between the cognitive
process and union of all the above.

6. Types of Ayus
1.SukhAyus – Happy Life
2.DuhkhAyus – Unhappy Life
3.HitAyus – Useful Life
4.AhitAyus – Harmful Life

7. SukhAyus (Happy Life)

Is the one who is not afflicted with two types of
diseases

Is the one endowed with the following:

Youth, enthusiasm, strength, virility,
reputation, manliness, boldness, knowledge of
arts and sciences, senses, objects of senses,
ability of the sense organs, riches, various
luxurious articles for enjoyment, progressive in
all aspects

Such people lead a happy life

8. DuhkhAyus (Unhappy Life)
'Contrary to the above described.'

9. HitAyus (Useful Life)

HitAyus are:
Well-wishers of all creatures, who do not aspire for the wealth of others,
truthful, peace loving, who examine things before acting upon them,
vigilant, who enjoy the three important desires of life, who respect
superiors, who are endowed with the knowledge of arts, sciences and
tranquility, who serve the elders, who have full control over – passion,
anger, envy, pride and prestige, who are constantly given to charity,
meditation, acquisition of knowledge and quite life, who have full
knowledge of the spiritual power and are devoted to it, who makes
efforts both for existing as well as the next life, endowed with memory
and intelligence

10. AhitAyus (Harmful Life)
'Contrary to the above described.'

11. Definition of Health
Equilibrium of all doshas, metabolic fire, seven
tissues, three wastes, plesant state of the soul,
senses and mind is called 'healthy.'

12. Contd...
Who is excellently abide by normalcy or uniformity is
called 'healthy.'

13. Tripod of Life
Mind, soul and body these three are like a tripod.
The world is sustained by their combination.
They constitute the substratum of everything.

14. Disease
Diseases mainly occures because of imbalance in the
three doshas.
, and are the physcial s () and s and s are the
psychological 's.
'Duhkha' is the root cause of diseases.

15. Disease Types
caraka has enumerated two:
a) Nija and
b) Agantuka
Sushruta has enumerated four:
1. (diseases due to injuries)
2. (diseases due to vitiation in three humors)
3. (diseases due to three primary factors of
psyche)
4. (diseases due to old age etc.)

16. Prescription to Health

Keeping doshas in balance

Maintaining a sattvic diet

Maintaining the Vegas

Swasthavrtta

Eight fold Yoga

17. Thank you!