Abstract

DEATH - AN AYURVEDA PERSPECTIVE

Dr. Shwetambari Joshi*, Dr. Rajendra Urade and Dr. Mamata Adhao

Abstract

Ayurveda includes a branch called as Agadtantra, Vyavahar Ayurveda and Vidhivaidyak which is correlated with the branch of Toxicology, Forensic Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence respectively of the Contemporary science. This branch explains all the aspects of death and other lots of topics. This branch works strictly under the control of Government and as nowadays Modern medical science is the primary healthcare service provided by the government, so this branch is totally governed by Modern healthcare system. (Except Agadtantra which is very well practised in South India) But our Ayurveda books like Kautilya Arthashashtra, Manusmruti etc. gives us the proof that this branch was very well established in Ancient India and lots of things mentioned thousand of years ago are even relevant to facts explained by Modern medical science in present scenario. So, here an attempt has been made to collect all the possible material, scattered in our ancient books, related only to death which includes its definition, types, process of death as per pachavayu and chakras, its diagnosis and predictions (Arishta lakshanas), post-mortem examination of dead body (Ashumrutak parikshan), Different prakruti people reaction towards death and finally the way of dying told by Ayurveda (Vanaprasthashram) and its corelation with modern science is explained where its possible. All these findings are very important as they tells us the depth of Ayurveda.

Keywords: Death, Panchavayu, Arishta lakshanas, Ashumrutak parikshan, Prakruti, Vanaprasthashram.