DIFFERENT ancient ayurvedic texts have countless such clear guidelines or directions about how to eat food and in what quantities and in what combinations. Delving deep into such references gives us a clear idea of the overall concept of wellness that Ayurved has nursed over countless thousands of years extensive and intensive research on what may be described as small matters by other health sciences. Ahaar (food), thus, forms one of the three very critical pillars of Ayurved -- the other two being Nidra (sleep), and Brahmacharya (morally correct living). In Sanskrit texts, these pillars are called Upastambhas. The ayurvedic science of human wellness insists that if the human individual takes care of these Upastambhas, he has the best chance of living a healthy life with all aspects of wellness properly cared for. The core thought of Ayurved has this thought deeply embedded. Before delving deeper into the dietary aspect of ayurvedic thought, however, it is appropriate to dedicate a little attention to the fact that Bheshajya -- medicine -- does not occupy the entire science. Much to the contrary, Bheshajya may be considered as a secondary aspect of treatment of human illness.

 

In other words, it is important to note that the emphasis of Ayurved is more on maintenance of human wellness than handling of human illness. In still other words, Ayurved is a science of lifestyle management first and later it becomes a science of management of human illness. Suffice it is at this point to refer to a mention in Lord Macaulay’s reporting on India of those days (around 1835). One of the points he talked of in his detailed consideration of the Indian society was that he did not find illness in big proportions in the Indian society. Scholars of Indology assign this observation to the reality that the Indian society enjoyed a better social-health level mainly because of the lifestyle approach of Ayurved to management of human health. Hence the three Upastambhas of Ahaar, Nidra, and Brahmacharya! In subsequent episodes, these Upastambhas will be brought up for consideration in a little more detail. But suffice it is to recall again what one of the earlier episodes of this series had referred to -- Lord Krishna’s advice in Bhagvad Geeta defining good human lifestyle: Uktahaar vihaarasya ukta cheshtasya karmasu/ (Proper food, proper movement, proper conduct) Uktaswapnaavbodhasya yogo bhavati dukkhaha// (Proper sleep ensure end of illness or physical grief among human beings).

 

Ayurved gives clear dietary guidelines (Ahaar Vidhi Vidhan) as per Charak Samhita: Kaale bhojan (timely intake of food); Saatmya Bhojan (food as per suitability); Hita bhojan (as per prakruti of the person -- Kaffa, Wata, Pitta); Shuchi bhojan (hygienic food); Snighdha bhojan (unctuous food); and Ushna bhojan (warm food). These dietary guidelines do not stop at this. They add much deeper consideration to the thought of food and the manner of its preparation and consumption. Ayurved also describes food as Maha Bheshajya -- super (or superior) medicine. Even a superficial reader of Ayurvedic texts feels simply amazed at the entire thought-process involving food not just as a nourisher of human body but also as a super medi cine if taken in appropriate manner as per Ahaar Vidhi Vidhan. Practitioners of modern medicine may not have the time and inclination to consider food as super medicine. And that may be so because the science they study and practise does not have such a intensive and extensive attention paid to food. In sharp contrast, Ayurved describes food -- ahaar -- as one of the three pillars of human wellness. Of course, some practitioners of modern medicine may contest this statement. To such persons, the only request is: ‘Please make an open and honest assessment of truth, before making any accusations.’ The purpose here is not to denigrate modern medicine at all. The purpose is to draw attention to the detailed manner in which Ayurved considers human wellness as the most critical goal of the science of health -- with a history of countless lakhs of years.