|
|
| AYURVEDA |
|
CHAPTER I |
| Books Available Ayurveda and Darsanaas Nyaya–Vaiseshika Saankhya – Yoga |
| Poorva and Uttara meemamsa Objetcs of Studying Darshanas |
BOOKS AVAILABLE
There are very few books in English on the Darsanas. A translation of Sarvadarsana Saara Sangraha by Maadhavaachaarya was published in Trubner’s Oriental Series, London. It contains review of the following 16 philosophical systems by Maadhavaachaarya, the brother of Saayanachaarya, who ascended the Sringeri Peetha in the year 1331 A.D. The original of the book was in Telugu character. The Darsanas reviewed are 1. The Chaarvaaka System 2. The Baudha System 3. The Arhata or Jaina System 4. The Raamaanuja System 5. The Poorna-prajna (Madhva) system, 6. The Nakulisa-Paasupata System, 7. The Saiva System, 8. The Pratyabhijna or Recognitive System, 9. The Rasesvara or Mercurial System, 10. The Vaiseshika or Aulukya System, 11. The Akshapaada or Nyaaya System, 12. The Jaiminiya System or Meemaamsaa, 13. The Paanineeya System, 14. Saankhya System, 15. The Paatanjala or Yoga System, 16. The Vedaanta or System of Samkaraachaarya.
Saankhya aphorisms of Kapila translated by James R. Ballantyne LL. D. (1885) and Sankhya Kaarikas of Eeswarakrishna, translated by John Davis (1894) were both published in the above series.
An English translation of the Sanskrit test of The Saankhya Tatva Koumudi of Vaachaspati Misra by Gangnath Jha M.A.F.T.S. was published for the Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund by Tukaaraam Taatya F.T.S. in 1896.
The Six Systems of Indian Philosophy by Max Muller, is a well-known publication. In Sanskrit and in the provincial languages, there are numerous books to which references have been made in our Telugu edition of Darsanas.
AAYURVEDA AND DARSANAAS
The Science of Aayurveda is based upon the fundamental sciences called “Darsanas”, Darsanas include all sciences, physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual. These Darsanas were studied in India as part of general education of every student. One has to be well – up in the Sanskrit language and then only he can study these sciences from original sources. The five compulsory subjects (Vidyaas) in all universities were 1. Sabda Vidyaa – grammar and literature, 2. Silpa Vidyaa – manual training in arts and crafts including mathematics. 3. Chikitsaa Vidyaa-The science of medicine, 4. Hetu Vidyaa- Logic and philosophy, 5. Aadhyaatma Vidyaa – Spiritual science. These formed the course of study of every student in Hindustan. Just as they should now have a certain proficiency of the English language and an elementary knowledge of natural sciences, before they can proceed, to the medical study, so also a knowledge of Sanskrit and of these fundamental sciences (Darsanas) is necessary for the understanding of the principles of Aayurveda. In fact, this premedical course was compulsory for every Vaidya in Susruta’s days –
Ekam saastramadheeyaano na vidyaachchaastra nischayam, tasmaat bahusrutah saastram vijaaneeyaat, chikitsakah (S. su. 4-7) i.e.,
By a study of a single Saastra a man can never catch the true import of this science of medicine. Therefore a physician should study as many allied branches of science or philosophy as possible. For explanations of truths and principles quotes from other branches of science and only incidentally discussed in the present work, the student is referred to the expositions made by the masters of those sciences, since it is impossible to deal with all branches of science in a single book and within so short a compass.
“Nahyekasmin Saastre sakyahsarva saastraanaam avarodhaah Kartum”. (Sus. Su. 4-5)
Darsanas are Saastras, where well-reasoned attitude of the human being towards the world is explained according to the Hindus. They are mainly six, consisting of 3 groups. They are partly sciences and partly philosophies according to our modern conception.
(1) NYAYA – VAISESHIKA
These deal mainly with physics, chemistry and other material sciences and include reasoning or logic. Metaphysical studies or search for knowledge of God, however, formed the ultimate aim of the study of these saastras also.
(2) SAANKHYA – YOGA
Saankhya – Yoga deals mainly with the mental sciences, as will be explained below. The material aspects of study were not neglected even here.
(3) POORVA AND UTTARAMEEMAAMSAA
There relate mainly to the exposition of the Brahman (Universal Spirit). The object of Purvameemaamsaa is right action (Karma kaanda) under the supreme authority of the Vedas. Uttarameemaamsaa- or Vedaanta is more directly based upon the Upanishads. Its main object is to explain that there is in reality only one Existence - Non-Dualism.
THE OBJECT OF STUDYING DARSANAS
The object of all philosophical studies in Hindustan has been the acquisition of the knowledge of the eternal theme of Indian spiritual thought, namely, to seek, know and realize, “the One in the many”.
The word Darsana is derived from the root Darsa which means “to see”. Darsana means seeing, looking or sight. It also means the eye, the mirror and knowledge- especially religious. Here, Darsana means a Saastra – Science – knowledge or philosophy. The Darsanas are primarily divided into 2. Classes – Aastika Darsanas, which accept the authority of the Vedas and Naastika Darsanas, which do not accept their authority. The Aastika Darsanas are generally counted as six and are called the Shat-Darsanas. They are (1) Nyaaya (2) Vaiseshika (3) Saankhya (4) Yoga (5) Meemaamsaa (6) Vedaanta. The Nastika Darsanas are chiefly, [1] Chaarvaaka Darsana, [2] Bauddha Darsana [3] Jaina Darsana. There are other Darsanas like Raseswara Darsana, Paasupata, Saiva and Saakta Darsanas which are also recognised systems of philosophy in Hindustan.
|
|
|
Previous Next
|
|
|