CHARAKA
The Charaka Samhita is the oldest of the three and was probably
f irst compi led around 1500 BC. I t is considered the pr ime work on the
basic concepts of Ayurveda. Charaka represents the Atreya School of
physicians. I t is a systemat ic work divided into eight Sthanas or sect ions,
which are further divided into 120 chapters.
SUSHRUTA
Sushruta represents the Dhanwantr i School of surgeons, and is
considered in Ayurveda to be the father of surgery. Even a great Amer ican
society of surgeons is named af ter Sushruta. In the Sushruta Samhita
there are sophist icated descr ipt ions of diseases and surgical inst ruments.
ASHANTANGA HRIDYA
The next important authority in Ayurveda af ter Charaka and Sushruta is
Vagbhat ta of Sindh, who f lour ished about the seventh century AD. His
treat ise called Ashtanga Hr idya.
THE EIGHT BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA
Kaya Chikitsa (General medicine)
Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
Shalakya Tantra (Diseases of Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat )
Kaumarbhritya (Children diseases, obstetr ics and Gynecology)
Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
Rasayana (Rejuvenat ion), and
Vajikarana (Aphrodisiac/sexology)
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDA
Ayurveda is the science of posit ive health and fulf illment in l ife. The aim
of Ayurveda is threefold:
To achieve posi t ive health for the individual
Protect ion of the masses
Ult imate l iberat ion
The last goal can be achieved by following regulat ions of daily conduct
and by fol lowing str ict seasonal regimens, so that one can be
constant ly healthy. Being cont inuously heal thy is comparable to
achieving ult imate liberat ion, as it involves the eradicat ion of the
factors that br ing about suf fering.