BASIC CONCEPTS OF AYURVEDA

The following are the basic concepts of Ayurveda:

1.panca mahAbhUtas -- Five great elements

AkASa --- Space
vAyu --- Air
teja --- Fire
jala --- Water
prithivI --- Earth

2. tridoshas --- Three biological imbalances

vAta --- Combination of Air and Space
pitta --- Fire
kapha --- Water and Earth

3. sapta dhAtus --- Seven Constituents

rasa --- Chyle
rakta --- Blood
MAmsa --- Muscle
majjA ---- Marrow
asthi ---- Bone
medhA ---- Brain and nervous system
Sukra ---- Sperm and ovum

4 malas --- Excretal products

5.triguNas --- Three qualities

satva --- Peace
rajas --- Passion
tamas --- Ignorance

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA?

There are eight main Branches of Ayurveda. These are as follows:

(1) KAyacikitsa (General Medicine)
(2) BAlacikitsa (Pediatrics)
(3) Grahacikitsa (Psychiatry)
(4) UrdhvAngacikitsa (Treatment of ENT and Cephalic diseases)
(5) Salyacikitsa (Surgery)
(6) Damshtracikitsa (Toxicology)
(7) Jaracikitsa (Geriatrics, Rejuvenation)
(8) Vrshacikitsa (Aphrodisiac Therapy)

MANTRA FOR WEARING KARADAIYAN NONBU SARADU BY MARRIED WOMEN

The following Mantra to be recited by married women while wearing the kAradaiyAn nonbu saradu (yellow thread) :

doram grihNAmi subhage mahAridram dharAmyaham !
Bhartuh Ayushya sidhyartham suprItA bhava sarvadA !!