An Ayurvedic view of life

Abstract

Ayurveda, according to Caraka, is knowledge which seeks to weigh life in the scales of whole-someness and happiness against their opposites. Its main themes of health and disease, and re-covery of health from disease take the stage against an inspiring background of intuitive philosophy, lofty idealism, and vivid compassion, which are the hallmarks of India's cultural inheritance. After centuries of neglect and stagnation, Ayurveda has witnessed an unprecedentedresurgence from the twentieth century in India and abroad. Ayurveda viewed health as a state ofmany-sided equilibrium, and disease as its reversal. Ayurvedic practice of medicine aimed at therestoration of equilibrium and, in that process, represented more than the sum of dietary regimen,procedures and medications.