Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra- A journey from Physical to Consciousness

 Swaroop Verma

Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra, these three allied mountains of knowledge
reveal themselves at the same time, from the same stream of eternal
wisdom, Sanatan Dharma, through the same group of seers in the
same Himalayan region of India.

They all follow the four fold fundamentals of Sanatan Dharma, which
subscribes that there is an eternal problem of disease, decay and death.
Proper diagnosis of this fundamental problem is needed to find out the
real cause. When the cause has been diagnosed, then there is way
to cure it. Budha describe them as "The four noble truths."

Yoga and Ayurveda, both have the same complementary approach
towards Swastha (health) and Cikitsa (healing) on a very deep level.
According to Yoga, a Moodh- Kchipta(Disturbed state of mind)
or any negative internal or external stimuli (Klesha) creates
a Psycho-physiological disturbance (Vikchepa). This leads to
a state of miserable distress (Dukha-Daurmanasya) of the organism
and affects the flow of Prana (Swasa-Praswasa) which manifests
as Vyadhi (via-a dha-out of track).This phenomenal fact described
beautifully in the thirty-first sutra of first section of Yoga-Sutra of Patanjajali.
By practicing different steps of yoga a practitioner creates
a Nirudhi (Transcendental state of mind) which leads to Samadhi (Sama-a-dha-
to put together as one whole). Samadhi is the state of being,
integrated functioning homeostasis, a psycho-somatic balance,
where the person returns to his own original form (Swaroop),
only then is he really Swastha (healthy).

My grandfather Vaidhya Munnalal Verma a celebrated Yogi and
dedicated Ayurvedic Physician, successfully used these Yogic-Ayurvedic
approaches in his clinical practice for years and it has been
a fundamental source of my further understanding on the subject.

To bring real Samadhi and Swastha, I found a beautiful and profound in
tegrated Ayurvedic and yogic approach, consisting of four comprehensive
steps.

1.Understanding the human psyche on a deep level through
right knowledge (vidhya), in order to cultivate the correct psychological
attitudes. This Vedic knowledge reveals that we are not only a physical
machine of biochemical processes, nor only psychological victims of
socio-religious conditioning, but we are a conscious being which can
be aware, and rise from our narrow, egoistic,
limited personality, to that level where we can experience unlimited
vastness of our true being, which is beyond all suffering and pain.
To give a complete and comprehensive picture of the human
psyche and to take us out from the physicality of Maya.
This Vedic knowledge describes how every human being is made up
of seven different bodies, including our physical and mental body
and how these different bodies function together in order to
sustain the organism. When we can peel away all the covering
of different bodily layers from our soul, then we can realize that
Raga ( wrong attachment with Maya) is one of the main cause
of Roga ( disease) and can be dealt with by Abhyas (constant de-conditioning
practice) and Vairagya (Non attached, conscious living)

2.Reconditioning of the neuro-muscular and neuro-glandular system
through different practices of Yoga which enhances physical and
mental immunity.

It has now been established by the medical community,
that Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra, which come from the
great eastern sciences, are the first,  and the best
mind-body medicine ever known to mankind.
They described beautifully in Yoga, how  every mental
or emotional trauma accumulates as a complex node
on different vital organs, and within the Neuro-musculo
-skeletal system.
This greatly influences our posture and how we hold
our body, when posture is distorted then Prana cannot
move freely in the Nadi (Pranic Channel). This distortion
in posture can ecorrected through Asana and other
Yogic practices. 

3. Swastha-Vrata- Ayurvedic health regimen of a
healthy lifestyle; wholesome satvic diet, encouraging
the natural process of elimination and the
avoidance of the suppression of natural urges.
All this Ayurvedic healthy regimen and life style,
is understanding and  following one's natural
bio-rhythms, tailoring it to the cosmic- rhythms.
Because, ultimately our personality is made up
of four things; what and how we eat (Ahar),
how we spend our time (Vihar), what we think
(Vichar) and how we relate to each other (Achar).

4.  Special Yogic practices to regulate the Pancha Vayu,
(five kinds of main vital energy or Sub Vata Dosa).
All Yogic practices of asana, pranayama, bandha,
mudra, kriya, connect to one or two specific Pancha
Vayu and regulate the flow of Prana. According to
Ayurveda, any disease or discomfort is the result
of the flow of one or other Pancha Vayu going
out of track (Vyadhi).  Ayurveda is the detective
tool for tracing the imbalanced Vayu, and Yoga and
Tantra are excellent therapeutic means to balance it.

While I was living and studying at a well known
scientific and literary research institute of Yoga,
Kaivalyadhama, India, I realized this integrated
and very practical diagnostic and therapeutic
fact of Ayurveda and Yoga about Pancha-Vayu.
Ayurveda elegantly describes these Pancha
Vayu as Vata Sub Dosha's, and there is a detailed
description of how to diagnose their Dusti
(Disturbed state) but the treatment is mainly
on a physical and gross level.
On other hand in Yoga there is not that much
clear description about Diagnosis of these
Pancha-Vayu, but whole of Hatha Yoga
is the play of these five life energies on a very
deep and subtle level.
In fact, in Yoga any desired movement or
transformation, either kundilini awakening or
opening of Chakra or performing a simple
asana (posture), cannot be established without
involving the Pancha Vayu.
For example, disturbed Udan Vayu can create
coughing; vomiting,
reflex problem on a physical level and psychological
or emotional level it can create lack of
self-expression, lack of enthusiasm or arrogance,
throat and heart chakra related problems etc.
This disturbed Udana can be diagnosed by
Ayurvedic diagnostic methods and can be
managed by those Yogic practices where the
emphasis is given to Udan Vayu,
postures likeBhujangasana, bandha like
Uddiyana bandha, mudra like Viparit karani
and kriya likeKapalbhati etc.

These four steps are the essence of Yoga Therapy.
They not only deal with disease, but they are also
an comprehensive means to Sadhaka, a way to
understand Yoga and Tantra on very deep
level, and provide the right tools to experience
the ultimate aim of Yoga-“ Samadhi”, an ultimate 
balance.

Ayurveda is the detective tool for tracing the
imbalanced Prana;
Yoga and Tantra, being an excellent therapeutic
means for balancing it.

Yogic and Tantric practices require a healthy
and well-balanced body.
Ayurveda provides this necessary tool for
achieving the goal of Tantra and Yoga,
through right nutrition and wholesome lifestyle.

It is really hard to describe in words about Tantra
because it is a very practical experience.
It is like a Magic, hard to describe but easy
to experience. 
Thats why many explanation of Tantra confusing
people.
There are not much theory in Tantra but practical
exercises to transcendent the mind and emotion.

Our ancient Rishi's were trained in this trinity
of Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra to reveal  our
physical , mental and conscious being as a whole.

As this Patanjali Stotra explains-

योगेन चित्तस्य, पदेन वाचांमलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ।

योऽपाकरोत् तं प्रवरं मुनीनांपतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिर् आनतोऽस्मि ॥

yogena chittasya, padena vachanmalam sharirasya
cha vaidyakena |

yo'pakarot tam pravaram muninanpatanjalim pranjalir
anato'smi ||

I bow deeply, with hands folded in prayer to Patanjali,
the most excellent of sages, who removed Impurity of
consciousness through yoga;
Impurity of speech through word, (Shabd -Nada Tantra)
and Impurity of the body through medicine (Ayurveda).

Swaroop Verma

Ayurveda Expert and Yoga Therapist

ליצירת קשר.

טלפון: 054-4939967