The knowledge of Ayurveda has been passed down to us in texts called the SUTRAS or small phrases and the wisdom they contain is there to be unlocked by the inquiring mind. These Sutras were written in the form of poetic verses more than 5000 years ago. The Sanskrit word sūtra literally means to suture with a thread. The words of a sūtra convey hidden subconscious messages to human consciousness. The metaphor of the sūtra is analogous to the thread passing through the eye of the needle. The eye of the needle though small allows the trail of the thread to pass through it... this trail is the great hidden wisdom that awaits the interpretation by the willing aspirant.

"Ayur-veda" translated as the "The Science of Life" is an Upa Veda or secondary Veda, to the four main Vedas - Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda and Rigveda - among the oldest bodies of knowledge in human culture. The knowledge contained within Ayurveda deals with the nature and purpose of life. It defines life as an expression of Cosmic Consciousness as exemplified by the entire sphere of creation. In other words the Purpose of Life is to know or realise the Creator (Cosmic Consciousness) and to express this divinity in one's daily life.

Ayurveda incorporates the six systems of Indian Philosophy - Nyāya, Vaisheshikha, Sānkhya, Yoga, Mimāmsa, and Vedanta. Sankhya Philosophy the system most basic to Ayurveda outlines a model of creation and evolution. The sages who disocvered the truth of Ayurveda through intensive meditation perceived how cosmic energy manifests in all living and non-living things. They also realised that the source of all existence is Universal consciousness, which manifests as male and female energy - Purusha and Prakruti respectively.

Sage Kapila, the founder of Sankhya philosophy, discerned 24 principles or elements in the manifestation of the universe. Purusha is male energy - formless, colourless, beyond attributes and takes no active part in creation. It is an energy of choicelessness and passive awareness. Prakruti is the female energy yeilding - form, colour, and attributes in the field of action. It is an energy of awareness with choice, Divine will, the One who desires to become many. The Universe therefore is the child born out of the womb of Prakruti, the Divine Mother.

Prakruti creates all forms in the universe, while Purusha is the witness to this creation.

Prakruti contains in itself the three gunas (universal qualities) - sattva (the pure essence), rājas (movement) and tamas (inertia). When the quilibrium of these three gunas is disturbed, it engenders the evolution of the universe.

Rājas is the active vital force in the body which moves both the organic and inorganic universal aspects to Sattva and Tamas, resp. So in other words, Sattva and Tamas are inactive, potential energies that require the active kinetic force of Rajas.

The three gunas are likened to the three forces of the Hindu Trinity. Sattva is the creative potential (Bramha); Rajas is kinetic protective force (Vișnu); and Tamas is the resistence to change or the potential destructive force (Mahesha).

Creation (Bramha), Preservation(Vișnu) and Change or Dissolution(Șiva or Mahesha) are the three manifestations of the first cosmic soundless sound AUM, which are constantly operating in the universe.

(.... to be contd.)

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with intent,

much love, light and laughter,

Asavari.