History

Ayurveda literally translates to Ayur – life/living/longevity, and Veda – science/knowledge. Therefore, it is the “science of longevity”.

OmVeda translates to universal knowledge, and OmAyur Wellness to universal life wellness. As we expanded into lifestyle offerings, the OmAyur Wellness banner seemed the perfect home for OmVeda to grow.

Origins and Scope

The Vedas were handed down by sages some 5,000 years ago and include all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda is literally a way of life - it includes the way we think, act, feel, and interrelate to our environment to ideally avoid disease as a preventive form of wellness. Ayurveda teaches that health and wellness are not about eliminating one side, but rather about balancing opposite energies - hot and cold, heavy and light, mobile and stable.

That is not to say that Ayurveda is not seen as a form of medicine. Ayurvedic doctors hold the qualification BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery). For over 5,000 years, there have been successful surgical procedures recorded. Ayurveda also encompasses herbal medicine, nutrition, daily routines, meditation, beauty, yoga, colour therapy, astrology, sound healing and many other facets, making it one of the most comprehensive holistic methods of maintaining health and treating dis-ease. Good health was seen as harmony between the body, mind, spirit, and nature. While this remains true, the science behind treatments and pharmacology has been studied and found scientifically valid in more recent times. In 1947, Ayurvedic education in India was standardised.

Philosophy vs Religion

Traditionally, Ayurveda was closely tied to philosophy, Hindu mythology, and spirituality. This is not essential in today’s society — Ayurveda is a science rather than a religious practice — but the mythology remains relevant because stories and teachings preserved this knowledge throughout history.

Mythological Origins — Lord Dhanvantari

According to Hindu mythology, in the Samudra Manthan story, when the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) were churning the ocean of milk to obtain amrita (the nectar of immortality).

Lord Dhanvantari appeared from the waters carrying a pot of amrita (symbolising vitality, rejuvenation and immortality), a conch shell (representing the sacredness of vibration and sound), a leech (representing Ayurvedic bloodletting practices) and the Ayurveda scriptures in his hands. Dhanvantari is credited as being the god of Ayurveda, the divine physician and an incarnation of Vishnu, the

preserver of life

This story can be interpreted as a metaphor for life: the ocean represents our mind–body system, and the churning relates to the push and pull between health and disease, balance and imbalance, clarity and confusion.

From this process of struggling to find the correct balance, wisdom and healing emerge (symbolised by Lord Dhanvantari). Just as the ocean needed to be churned to bring forth the amrita, our inner ocean must be churned through discipline, meditation, and mindful living — bringing clarity, healing, and longevity.

Individualised Care

The basis of Ayurveda is treating each client according to their unique constitution (Prakriti) and their current state (Vikriti) at the time of consultation. This ensures an individualised system of care and holistic results.