How to find an appropriate Vaidya.
If you are a person, seeking Ayurveda as an
option to heal your body, mind and spirit, at times, you ought to get
perplexed, as whom to choose among this flood of people who claim to be Vedic
healers. Who is the right person you should levy your trust on? The answer has
been provided by Acharyas (Teachers)
in Ayurvedic Samhitas (classical
texts). This article is an attempt to share the answer with you. If you are a healer,
this is that part of Ayurveda, which you can look up to when exhausted by all
the hard work you put in to heal.
Science of Ayurveda is incomplete
without a Vaidya. He is the medium
through which classical Ayurveda texts connect with the real world for the
purpose of healing. As humans, we desire good health, for our self and for
those we love. The most ancient medical science of the world clearly indicates
that chikitsa or treatment primarily
depends on Chikitsa Chatushpada or
the four pillars. Every eminent text of ayurveda, like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita etc. mention in details about
these four pillars necessary for successful healing.
Chikitsa Chatushpada (Four pillars)
Vaidya/Bhishag (Physician)
Aushad/Dravya (Medicine)
Paricharak/Upasthata
(Medical attendant)
Rogi (Patient)
The importance of Vaidya is clearly indicated, as he has
been mentioned first. Acharya Charaka
explains with this example; creation of a perfect pot mainly depends on the
potter. We might have potter’s wheel, best mud, other equipments etc., if the
potter is not efficient, we do not get pots that can be put to use. Similarly a
disease cannot be healed if a Vaidya
is not proficient despite the availability of proper medication, nurse and
patient. Vaidya needs to give sufficient thought to drug selection and actions
leading to the cure of the disease.
Guna of Vaidya (Qualities of a physician)
According to Acharya
Charaka, an ideal physician should possess the following qualities:
Shrut: Having detailed knowledge about diseases and their
treatment.
Drushtakarma: Having extensive practical experience.
Daksha: Alert and dexterous.
Shuchi: Purity of
mind, body and soul, includes hygiene and cleanliness.
Acharya
Sushruta stresses the importance of
proper training and education for Vaidya.
He says just like a bird cannot fly with one wing similarly a Vaidya cannot heal if he ignores either
of the two aspects of learning: knowledge of texts and practical experience. He
adds that a Vaidya needs to be brave
so that he does not panic during critical situations. He should be well read
and should be a person of ready resources along with high standard of good
moral virtues.
Types of Physician
Raja Vaidya (Royal
Physician): The physician who has intellect, memory, analytical skills,
promptness and perseverance is fit to be a royal physician.
Pranabhisara Vaidya
(Excellent Physician): The physician who is noble, well read, practically
experienced, skillful, has all the equipments, educated, healthy and mindful,
is a life savior
.
Rogabhisara Vaidya
( Disease devoted Physician): The physician who moves from one place to another
in search of sick, boasts about his merits, finds faults with other physicians
already attending on the patient, tries to be over friendly by too pleasing
manners, giving gifts etc. is a Rogabhisara
Vaidya. He wants minimum remuneration. After he wins the heart of the
patient, he visits him frequently to cover up his minimal knowledge. If the
patient does not respond to treatment, he blames it on equipment, attendants, and
not enough self discipline by the patient. If the patient approaches death, he flees
to find another patient.
Chadamchar Bhishag
(Pseudo Physician): These are counterfeits without any true knowledge of
Ayurveda. They pretend to be physicians with their display of bottles, potions
and medical books.
Siddhisadhit Vaidya
(Pretend Physician): These include people who flaunt their association with
person accomplished in knowledge, wealth and success. They claim to be
physicians although they are not so.
Vaidyagunayukta Vaidya
(Legitimate Physician): A physician is
genuine if he knows the correct methods of administering the therapies and has
obtained success in bestowing happiness to the sufferers who approach him for
treatment.
Texts also mention that a Vaidya should be
sympathetic, kind and concerned about his patients. He should also have the
ability to detach with those suffering from incurable diseases and are destined
to death
In present times, the manual ‘Benchmarks for training in
Ayurveda’ by WHO, mentions that Bachelors in Ayurvedic medicine and surgery
(B.A.M.S.) is the undergraduate degree recognized by the Central Council of
Indian Medicine to be a Vaidya. It is a five and half year integrated degree
course conferred to those who study modern medicine, yoga and ayurveda. It
includes one year of internship. One can specialize in various divisions of
ayurveda later by doing three years post graduation to be MD (Ay) / MS (Ay). Manual
further states that Ayurveda for treatments involves different types of experts:
Practitioners and Dispensers. Then there is a subcategory of ayurveda
therapists and dietitians.
By virtue of his intellect, knowledge and
prescribing powers, Vaidya occupies the foremost position of all. The
medications are his tools. If the three limbs endowed with appropriate qualities
get conjugated with the fourth limb, the intelligent physician, together they
can cure any kind of disorders.
moninderrekhi@gmail.com
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