Varnas and Ayurveda

by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Master Charaka, in the chapter 30 of Sutra Sthana – Arthe Dasha Maha Mooliya Adhyaya, writes in a context, about the interrelationship between Ayurveda, Varnas – classes of society and Purusharthas – the goals or pursuits of life, while telling who is eligible to study and pursue Ayurveda. He also conveys these concepts in a beautiful way.

Reference – Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 30, Verse 29

Context – Eligible people for learning Ayurveda and their objectives

In this article, we will discuss a part of this context i.e. interrelationship between Varnas and Ayurveda. Before knowing this interrelationship, we will briefly try to know about the Varnas.

Varnas: The social caste system of ancient Bharath

Varnas are a social class system which existed as a part of Hinduism in ancient India. It exists now too. The four fold Varna System comprised four classes of people based mainly on their profession.

The Varna system divided people in the society into four categories. They are –

1.    Brahmanas / Brahmins – They are basically priests or teachers, the class of intellectuals or thinkers.
2.    Kshatriyas – They are basically soldiers, the army officials, police or administrators, the class of protectors, leaders or nobles.
3.    Vaishyas – They are basically businessmen or farmers and traders, the class of producers or commoners.
4.    Shudras – They are basically the labour class, artisans or domestic help, the class of servants or working class.

Interrelationship between Ayurveda and Varnas

स चाध्येतव्यो ब्राह्मणराजन्यवैश्यैः| तत्रानुग्रहार्थं प्राणिनां ब्राह्मणैः, आरक्षार्थं राजन्यैः, वृत्त्यर्थं वैश्यैः; सामान्यतो वा धर्मार्थकामपरिग्रहार्थं सर्वैः|

Ayurveda and Varnas

People belonging to which VARNA – class of society are eligible to learn Ayurveda and why?

Speaking about the eligibility for studying Ayurveda from the varna perspective, Master Charaka qualifies Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas to learn Ayurveda. He doesn’t mention Shudras since he thought probably it was not needed for the labour and working class to learn Ayurveda. The other reason was that they are working class by hierarchy and are economically poor people who cannot afford for medical education. But they can reach out to the other classes of people for medical help and aid in case they suffer from some diseases, whichever class is easily available to approach at a given point of time.

1. Brahmanas: The priest and teacher class

Brahmins should study and learn Ayurveda so that they can teach and preach the same to those desiring to learn. Brahmanas in ancient India were also teachers apart from being priests. Putting it the other way, most teachers and preachers were Brahmins or priests who were Brahmins. They also should learn Ayurveda so that they can provide solace to others by following and advocating the principles of living as taught in Ayurveda.

In the current day scenario, if the word (class) Brahmanas is taken in a broader sense, it includes the entire system of Ayurveda academics – the teachers, lecturer, associate professors and professors – immaterial of them being Brahmin are not considered. This is because they are all doing the duty of a Brahmin. All of them are physicians too. So, they educate the pupils and people and also treat the ailing.

2. Kshatriyas: The warrior and noble class

Kshatriyas – the soldiers, noblemen and kings should learn Ayurveda so that they can use the knowledge for protecting the subjects. In olden days there used to be plenty of wars. So, it was important that a group of experienced doctors move with the army or some soldiers or army officials be trained in Ayurveda. Master Sushruta also mentions physicians and surgeons going with the army into the battles so that they can nurse the injured ones. The king too should be well versed with medical science.

In the current day scenario – the doctors who are appointed in the army (defence) police departments, administration sector, political sectors etc and also the higher tiers like medical universities and health ministry fall under the umbrella of Kshatriyas, if the word Kshatriya is understood in broader sense.

3. Vaishyas: The trade and business class

businessmen or traders should study Ayurveda for earning their livelihood. These people cultivate, manufacture, sell or trade medicines, medicinal plants and health products.

In the current day scenario – the entire pharmaceutical industry, people who grow medical plants, medical research fields, belong to the class of Vaishyas, if the word Vaishya is understood in a broader sense.

Ayurveda for all

General statement by Master Charaka towards eligibility of studying Ayurveda

Finally, Master Charaka says that Ayurveda can be studied by everyone in general.

In the current day scenario we can see that there are plenty of Ayurveda enthusiasts as the awareness about Ayurveda is growing to sky heights day by day. The websites like our own ‘Easy Ayurveda’ which is a pioneer and global leader in Ayurveda Academics and offers wide array of Ayurveda and health related content catering to millions of Ayurveda Enthusiasts worldwide apart from being a ‘go to site’ for Ayurveda student community, researchers, doctors, teachers and practitioners and hence being a point of attraction and appreciation have become gamechangers towards educating people about preventive and curative aspects of health and promoting health awareness. Social media and microblogging sites are also playing an important role in catering Ayurveda related content to the Ayurveda Enthusiasts.

Why should everyone study Ayurveda?

Master Charaka says that the knowledge of Ayurveda is needed for and forms the foundation for attainment of Purusharthas, mainly – Dharma, Artha and Kama.

How can one attain Dharma, Artha and Kama by studying Ayurveda?

We will learn about this in the next article.

Related Article – ‘Purusharthas and Ayurveda’