Philosophy, Texts & History

Philosophy, Texts & History

दर्शन

Where Ayurveda comes from — the philosophy that grounds it, the classical texts that carry it, and the long lineage of teachers who kept the science of life alive.

18 topics · full guides on the way
The roots of Ayurveda Explore the foundations →
Veda वेद

The “science of life” has its roots in the Vedas, especially the Atharva Veda.

Darshana दर्शन

Its philosophical ground — chiefly Samkhya — explains matter, mind, and the elements.

Purpose पुरुषार्थ

Its aim: a long, healthy life in service of life’s four great goals.

The Texts ग्रन्थ

The classical Samhitas that carry the whole tradition forward.

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Charaka Samhita चरक संहिता
the foundation of medicine

The great classical text of internal medicine.

Classical Text
Sushruta Samhita सुश्रुत संहिता
the root of surgery

The classical text of surgery and anatomy.

Classical TextSoon
Ashtanga Hridaya अष्टांग हृदय
the elegant synthesis

Vagbhata’s poetic distillation of the tradition.

Classical TextSoon
Bhavaprakasha भावप्रकाश
the materia medica classic

The later classic, famed for its nighantu.

Classical TextSoon
Madhava Nidana माधव निदान
the science of diagnosis

The classical text of diagnosis and pathology.

Classical TextSoon
Sharangadhara Samhita शार्ङ्गधर संहिता
the pharmacy classic

The classic of formulation and pharmacy.

Classical TextSoon
The Classical Canon बृहत्त्रयी · लघुत्रयी
the great & lesser three

How the Samhitas together form Ayurveda’s canon.

OverviewSoon
Samkhya Darshana सांख्य दर्शन
the philosophy beneath Ayurveda

Purusha, Prakriti, and the unfolding of creation.

PhilosophySoon
Purusha & Prakriti पुरुष · प्रकृति
spirit & nature

Consciousness and matter — the two roots of all.

PhilosophySoon
Loka-Purusha Samya लोक-पुरुष साम्य
as above, so below

The microcosm: you mirror the whole universe.

PhilosophySoon
The Six Darshanas षड्दर्शन
the six viewpoints

The six classical schools of Indian philosophy.

PhilosophySoon
The Aim of Ayurveda स्वास्थ्य
swastha · health defined

What ‘health’ truly means — and the goals of life.

PhilosophySoon
The Eight Branches अष्टांग
ashtanga ayurveda

The eight classical specialties of Ayurveda.

PhilosophySoon
Origins of Ayurveda
from the Vedas

How the ‘science of life’ descended from the Vedas.

HistorySoon
Dhanvantari धन्वन्तरि
the divine physician

The deity of Ayurveda and the origin of healing.

FigureSoon
The Lineage of Teachers परम्परा
guru-shishya parampara

How the knowledge passed from teacher to student.

HistorySoon
The Great Acharyas आचार्य
Charaka · Sushruta · Vagbhata

The masters who shaped the classical tradition.

FiguresSoon
Ayurveda Through History
antiquity to today

The journey of Ayurveda across the centuries.

HistorySoon

Behind every remedy stands a philosophy, a text, and a teacher. These guides trace the science of life back to its source. Full guides are on the way. Explore the foundations →