A Journey to Ayurveda through Shalya Tantra

Ayurveda is an ancient science of life. It is descended from Lord Bramha, passed on to Daksha Prajapathi, then to Indra, next to twins Ashwinkumars. The doctrines of Ayurveda were brought to earth by Lord Dhanwantari, maharshi Bharadwaj. Then it was passed on to Acharya Charaka, Acharya Sushrutha and their collegues.

- Dr. Bharathi D. Anvekar Professor and Consultant Department of Shalya Tantra Dept of Prasuti Tantra & Stree-Roga S.D.M. Institute of Ayurveda & Hospital Anchepalya, Kumbalgodu Post, Bengaluru – 560074

तेषां सुखैषिणां रोगोपशमार्थमात्मनश्च प्राणयात्रार्थं प्रजाहितहेतोरायुर्वेदं

The aim of ayurveda is to attain sukha (self-active co-ordination & social active co-ordination). This is attained by achieving the 2 objectives as follows,

1. Protecting the health of human beings

2. Treating the diseases in order to regain the health.

Shalya tantra is one of the main 8 branches of ayurveda.

तत्र, मनःशरीराबाधकराणि शल्यानि शल्यमिति शल्याहरणप्रधानं तन्त्रं शल्यतन्त्रम्

Shalya means the object that decelerates & dissipates the activity of mind (thoughts, emotions) & the body. These shalyas can be classified as follows,

1. Physical - subdivision - 1. Internal 2. External

2. Mental,

3. Emotional.

Tantra (doctrine/ compose) means expansion of techniques to remove (aharana) shalya from the body & mind.

Physical shalya: Visible and invisible objects come under this category. This is again categorized into two.

External - from external environment, the objects enter the body during road traffic accident, or sports injury or due to wrong life style. Eg- thorn to iron rod - including fungus, virus & bacteria.