From the Back of the Book

Ayurveda is not merely a science of medicine, but it encompasses philosophy, Ethics, Metaphysics, Sociology etc. its teachings if properly understood and practiced, will mould the man into super human and Divine and convert this earth into Heaven. The Maharshis after studying Ayurveda under Bhagawan Baradwaja were blessed with gnana Devatas like Buddhi, Siddhi, Dhrti, Medha, Smrti, Dipti and so on. The moment they learned Ayurveda, the entire Nature blossomed with divine Beauty and fragrance. Gods from heaven showered pushpa Vrishti and proclaimed "Sadhu Sadhu" very good, Very good!

Dear readers this is the holiness and divineness of Ayurveda. Because of wide communication gap, there may be some lapses here and there, but fortunately the principles on which this science is built up, are eternal and universal.

Coming to the physiology in Ayurveda, there are some misunderstandings about tridoshas. Some books have just translated vata as wind or gas, pitta a bile juice and kapha as phlegm. This is absolutely wrong. These 3 words have got a wider meaning. Tridoshas are the shakthi rupa and sukshma dravyas- dynamic and subtle principles, which operate this living body. Let us not arrive at hasty conclusions in our over ambition to interpret them in modern terms. Some authors have translated vata as acetyl choline, pitta as catacholamines and kapha as serotonin. This also is not at all correct. Still have to dive further into this ocean of tridosha siddhanta.

Let us have immense faith and devotion in Ayurveda. If any apparently irrelevant things are found anywhere in any book, let us scrutinize them with utmost love, dedication and reverence on our Maharishi. After all we have missed the link for the past 1500 years. May Lord Dhanvantari Bless all of us.

Instruction to Readers

We were inclined to bring about certain changes in the interest of the student in bringing out the Second Edition. Several topics and elaborations added in this edition may cause a little confusion here and there. Hence students are requested to follow the following guide lines to understand the subject:

1. Slokas are given in English Script for English version and in Devanagari Script for Sanskrit version. Whenever the reader feels any difficulty in following one, he can as well refer the other.

2. Diagrams and figures are not given any explanation under the figures. The students can either read the concerned topic in this book or he can take the help of the teacher for explanation.

3. Certain topics are duplicated. This has happened because of adding more information to previous book.

4. Since the contents, quality, number of figures and cost of the paper and printing are increased and due to addition of Sanskrit Version, we are compelled to increase the price of the book. Inconvenience regretted in this regard.