VOICE OF THE RISHIS - 24

[Guest guest]

Priya Bhagavat Banduvullara!

 

VOICE OF THE RISHIS – 24

 

AMALAKAM VAYASTHAAPANAANAAM

 

---Charaka Samhita

 

It is amazing how the seers of yore, centuries ago without the aid

of any scientific tools whatsoever, and only with keen perception

and observation by a highly developed sense of intuition found out

the good things of life. They penetrated deep into the branches of

botany, astronomy, human biology and several other faculties,

brought out the deep laid secrets of nature of permanent value and

handed them over to us as our rich heritage. And it is behoven to

us to treasure these observations and pass them on to our coming

generations.

..

Maharshis specializing in herbal medicine, like Charaka, Sushruta,

Vaaghabhatta are to be remembered in this context. The Divine power

of the herbal medicine, Dhanwantari, is said to be the founder of

Ayurveda.

 

This knowledge informing us about the various properties of the

plant life is significant for healing methods to the man fallen

sick. Charaka in his magnum opus known as " Charaka Samhita " begins

his book with the first words of disease and starts with the

proposition that everyone suffers from some disease or other genetic

or acquired etc. How sensible is this question " Ko Aruk " " Who's

there without disease? " How this saying humbles the arrogant man

 

And coming to our present text as given out by Charaka

Maharshi " Amalaki " ( " phyllanthus embilica " ), commonly known as goose

berry, helps in " vayas stapathananam " , -- fixing up the age. In

simple, the amalaki berry stops ageing " stapathananam " , it fixes up

the age at the point. It is full of vitamin C and is said to

develop a high degree of immunity, i.e., defense against the

onslaught of diseases. That is why it is said to be `Sivapreeti'

loved by Lord Siva and the tree is worshipped on the full moon day

of Kaartik masa (month). Almost every Ayurvedic medicine contains

this. This is also used as main ingredient in the commonly used

rejuvenative tonic " Chyavana Prasa Leyhyam " .