Before one can begin the process of self-nourishment, it is helpful to understand the practices and basic concepts behind the methods. Shakha Vansiya Ayurveda, a unique lineage of knowledge, has a rich history, meaning, and purpose. But what does the name mean?
“Vansiya” is the lineage and “Shakha” is the name of that lineage. In addition, “Ayu”, means life and “veda” means eternal wisdom. Shakha Vansiya Ayurveda speaks to the idea of one lineage and its wisdom and knowledge about life. With a unique history, one that speaks of ancestors coming to India during Lord Krishna’s era, some 5,000 years ago, this line of Ayurveda provides a compelling, deep-rooted set of methodologies.
For millennia, the philosophy behind Shakha Vansiya Ayurveda has been focused on understanding and supporting the flow of energy, or prana, in our lives. Unlike mainstream Ayurveda, SV Ayurveda, has a more comprehensive way of understanding and describing ayu, one that is informed by the canonical texts but also by the experiences of the hundreds of vaidyas who have passed down their knowledge from father to son or daughter.
So what are the primary tenets of Shakha Vansiya Ayurveda?
According to this lineage, the circulation of energy or “prana” in the physical body is the essence of Ayu. SV Ayurveda looks to enhance, understand, and focus the perception, flow, and ultimate use of prana in the body. This vibrational energy, prana, creates and nurtures every visible and non-visible material in life as we know it, as well as in the rest of the cosmos.
This energy comes from all corners and all things around us – the water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and even the laughter and good relationships we have in life. For a healthy, nurtured life, one must retain the prana found in these things.
SV Ayurveda is centered around this very idea: maintaining and enhancing the prana inside and around us. It teaches one how to make food without losing prana; it teaches one to identify foods with either prana or anti-prana; it teaches one to get the most prana from anything in life, be it natural aromas or the gentle, loving touch of another.
It is a principle in SV Ayurveda to avoid that which lacks or blocks prana. This is most often synthetic, unnatural things one encounters in the world, such as the cars many find themselves stuck in or the unhealthy foods that are made of unnatural ingredients not meant for regular consumption.
Practicing SV Ayurveda means understanding these principles in a modern scientific context while continuing to follow and understand the ancient scripture and oral tradition from which it grew. As we begin to develop an understanding of the energy that makes up life and that flows through us just as in any living entity in nature, we grow healthier, wiser, and become better prepared to help and guide others.
