The Concept of Public

Health in Atharvaveda
Dr. J.S.R. Anjaneya Prasad
University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
jsraprasad@gmail.com

Health and Human Life

Goal of human life is to achieve the ultimate liberation. In order to achieve the
goal, a healthy body is the prerequisite. It is said thus


Good health stands at the very root of virtuous acts, acquirement of wealth,
gratification of desire and final emancipation. Diseases are destroyers of health,
well being, and life. This has manifested itself as a great obstacle in the way of
human life. (C.S.1.1.15, Tr. By R.K. Sharma& Bhagwan Dash )

hra and Vihra

hra and Vihra are the prominent factors in keeping one in good health.
Gita says Yoga becomes a destroyer of sorrow of one whose eating and
movements are regulated, whose effort in works is moderate, and whose sleep
and wakefulness are temperate. Hence, utmost attention is needed here.
Further, it is better to avoid 17 types of viruddhhra enunciated in Ayurveda.
Svasthavtta (life style management) is a beautiful medical/ethical concept
bestowed on us by maharis of Ayurveda. As Ayurveda is basically a preventive
medicine in nature, managing life style through Svasthavtta concepts, has a
greater relevance in current times.
The set of medical concepts embedded in Svasthavtta, are related to a modern
medical concept called public health. Indigenous medical science, Ayurevda, is
the treasure house all such concepts, is an upa Veda of Atharva Veda.

Vedo'khilo dharmamlam
It has been said in Yjavalkyasmti

Veda is the fountainhead of all stras, there is no stra other than Veda,
which is eternal
Amongst the four Vedas, Atharva Veda has copious references to health and
disease. Physicians owe their loyalty to Atharva Veda, as per the verse in Caraka
Samhita (1.1.20).

The Atharva Veda (A.V.)

The Atharvana hymns are curative,
what is curative makes for immortality;
what is immortal is Brahman (Gopatha Brahmana 3.4)

Some Topics in A.V.

Charms to Cure Diseases and Possession by Demons of Disease ()

Prayers for Long Life and Health ()

Imprecations Against Demons, Sorcerers, and Enemies ( and )

Charms Pertaining to Women ()

Charms Pertaining to Royalty ()

Charms to Secure Harmony, Influence in the Assembly, and the Like (, etc.)

Charms to Secure Prosperity in House, Field, Cattle, Business, Gambling, and Kindred Matters

Charms In Expiation of Sin and Defilement

Prayers and Imprecations in the Interest of the Brahmans

Cosmogonic and Theosophic Hymns

Source: Translation by M. Bloomfield (1897)

Concepts of Public Health

Kanda 1:
Immunity

from all diseases (9.8)

Jaundice

and related diseases (1.22)

Kshetriya

(hereditary disease) (2.8)

Mania

(6.111)

Prayer

to lightning, conceived as the cause of fever, headache, and cough

(1.12)
Securing
Takman
Worms

perfect health (2.32)

(fever) (5.20)

in children (2.31; 5.23)

An Important Concept


foods like raw/cooked rice, fruits, water, milk and clothes, vessels, living space
are liable to be contaminated due to their contact with three types of poisons. I
pray to thee how to remedy such problems. (A.V.8.2.19)

Three Types of Poisons

(S.S.7.2)
1.Sthvara

(herbo-mineral origin): related to plants and minerals

2.Jagama

(Animal Origin): related to insects, flies, mosquitoes, rats etc.

3.Ktrima

(Artificial): is created

Ayurveda discusses community health problems due to poisons (viajanyajanapadoddhvasajanya-roga). Health problems can be due to environmental,
water, soil or air poisoning.

Poisons Explained in Caraka

Phyto Poison

Roots:
Ayurveda says that it is nine in numbers, namely, Klitaka, Asmara, Gunja, Sugandha,
Gargaraka,and karaghata, Vidyachikha, Vijaya and Jaya.
Leaf:
Ayurveda opines that it is five in numbers, namely, Vishapatrika, lamba, Varadaru, Karambha and
mahakarambha.
Fruits:
This contains a total of twelve poisons. They are Kumudvati, Venuka, karambha,
mahakarambha,Karkota, Renuka, Khadyitaka, carmari, Ibhagandha, Sarpaghati, nandana and
Sarapaka.
Flower: This contains five poisons, namely, Vetra, Kadamba, Vallija, karambha and
Mahakarambha.
Bark, Pith & Gum: They are seven in total, namely, Antrapachaka, Kartari, Sauriyaka,
karaghata, Karambha, nandana, and natracaka.

Milk poison: This contains three poisons, namely, Kumudaghni, Snuhi and Jalakshiri
Metallic poison: This contains two poisons, namely, Pheneasma and Haratala
Bulbar poison: This contains 13 poisons, namely, Kalakuta, Vatsanabha, Sarsapa,
Palaka, Kardamaka,Vartaka, Mustaka, Srungi visha, Prapoundarika, Moolaka, Halahala,
Mahavisha, and Karkataka.
Animal

Poisons

Sight, breath, teeth, nail, urine, stool, semen, saliva, menstrual blood, stings,
belching air, anus, bones, bile, bristles and dead body of an animal have poisonous
properties.
(source: http://www.divinewellness.com/ayurveda/clinical-ayurveda/poisons.html)

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning happens by eating foods that contain germs like bad bacteria
or toxins, which are poisonous substances.

Incompatible food combinations are also one of the causes. Ex: milk vs
banana, ghee vs honey etc.

Genetic Engineering
Current Scenario:
The

gene of ancient rice varieties li and ka has been modified thousand

times by the agricultural scientists. Research studies show that genetically
modified (GM) foods have a great influence in the consumer market. But
unfortunately, the GM foods are not only dangerous to the health but also to the
environment.
Stella G.Ujogara (2000) argues that
Genetic

engineering is described as the science whereby the characteristics of

an organism are deliberately modified by the manipulation of the genetic
material, especially DNA, and transformation of certain genes to create new
variations of life. many food plants have been genetically modified (GM) for
various purposes.

The Cons of GM Foods

Some of the specific fears expressed by opponents of GM technology include:

alteration in nutritional quality of foods

potential toxicity

possible antibiotic resistance from GM crops

potential allergenicity and carcinogenicity from consuming GM foods

In addition, some more general concerns include:

environmental pollution

unintentional gene transfer to wild plants

possible creation of new viruses and toxins

limited access to seeds due to patenting of GM food plants

threat to crop genetic diversity

religious, cultural and ethical concerns, as well as fear of the unknown

Source: Stella G.Ujogara, The impact of genetic modification of human foods in the 21st
century: A review, Biotechnology Advances 18 (2000) 179206

Examples of GM Foods
The
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
considers 60 percent of
herbicides, 90 percent of
fungicides,
and
30
percent of insecticides to
be carcinogenic. All of
these
toxins
are
permitted
on
conventional farms, and
any number of them can
end up on your plate
when
you
purchase
conventionally-grown
fruits and vegetables.

Research has shown that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals are
neurotoxins and can cause disruptions to our neurological system and our
brain.

Subsequently, Alzheimer, Parkinson, Senile dementia and brain related

problems are increasing day by day.

Water contamination

The water that is supplied by civil authorities, contains lot of metallic contents
and other hazardous material.

Dangerous bacteria (such as e-coli and coliform) are still found in chlorinated tap
water on occasion. When this happens it is primarily due to problems related to
the treatment system itself or to the transport of the water to our homes.

Who said mineral water is safe?

TNN Apr 12, 2013, 03.19AM IST
KOCHI: Forget water supplied by tanker lorries, even mineral water produced by
major companies, including multinationals, is unsafe for drinking with some
containing E coli bacteria, reveal tests done by the food safety commissioner's
office.
"Both chemical and biological results of water samples collected from Kochi are not
satisfactory. The presence of E coli is a major cause of concern. As per the Food
Safety and Standard Act it should not be present in bottled drinking water. In the
samples there was a minimum of two organisms in 100 ml," said an official with
the food safety department in Thiruvananthapuram.
Link: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-0412/kochi/38490331_1_drinking-water-tanker-lorries-water-samples

Ayurveda Says
... (C.S.3.3.7)
Excessive

abnormality in smell, colour, taste and touch is considered to be

polluted.
Excessive

stikyness

Manifestation

of unpleasantness

Such contaminated water leads to epidemic diseases.

Milk Contamination

The results of a snap shot survey on milk by the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) shows that nearly 70 per cent of the milk samples
tested were adulterated and did not conform to the Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006. Packaged milk performed better than milk that was sold
loose. Samples collected from rural areas fared better with only 30 per cent
non-compliance as compared to urban centres.

Five states were found to be 100 per cent non conforming to the milk
standards set by the FSSAI and nearly 14 per cent of the samples were found
to have detergent in them. Detergent was found in samples collected from
Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha. 70 per cent of the milk samples
collected from the capital failed the FSSAI standards.

Its a known fact that detergent is used to make synthetic milk to increase the
thickness and viscosity of the milk. An earlier study done by the Indian Council of
Medical Research states that that detergents in milk caused food poisoning and
gastrointestinal complications.

Studies show that adulterants like salt, detergents and glucose add to the
thickness and viscosity of the milk, while starch prevents curdling of milk.

Neutralisers like Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Ammonia, Carbon

Trioxide (carbonate) and other alkalis are used to correct and optimise the pH
value of unfresh or badly preserved milk so that they appear to be fresh milk.
Hydrogen Peroxide, formaldehyde are used as preservatives but the former is an
unstable chemical and is not recommended.

These adulterants are hazardous and cause irreversible damage to the organs. The
Indian Council of Medical Research has stated that the other synthetic compounds
cause impairments, heart problems, cancer and even death. The immediate effect
of drinking adulterated milk with urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis
but the long term effects are known to be far more serious.

Pollution of Clothes
Probable reasons include:
oContact

with Chemical Agents

oHospitals
oPlaces

effected by epidemic diseases

oPesticide
oPollen
oWork

contact

etc.

environment

Vessel Pollution

Lead contamination of food is more common in third world countries that do

not have strong food standards. It has recently become an issue in countries
that have been importing food products from such countries. Food can
become contaminated where it is grown, or by cooking vessels or the
containers in which it is exported or stored.

A number of other drinking vessels containing lead or decorated with paint

containing lead have been recalled in the United States in recent years.
Similarly, in the United States in March 2009, a recall was issued of
approximately 2500 cordless kettles because they leached lead into boiling
water (http://www.lead.org.au/lanv10n1/lanv10n1-3.html)

Environmentalists alert on the health hazards of using PVC related material

Space Pollution

Air pollution, noise pollution etc. are among the different space borne
contaminations

A News report says Air Pollution and Noise Pollution Increase Cardiovascular Risk
May 20, 2013 Both fine-particle air pollution and noise pollution may increase a
person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to German
researchers who have conducted a large population study, in which both factors
were considered simultaneously.
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130520142745.htm)

Its official that 42 per cent of Bangalores air pollution is caused by vehicular
emissions and 34 per cent due to dust. A recent source apportionment study
sponsored by the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOEF) and conducted by
The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) ascribes only 14 per cent of the air
pollution to industries. (Deccan Herald Thursday 25 July 2013)

Ayurveda on Air Contamination

Air having the following characteristics is injurious to health:
Absence

of characteristic features in conformity with the season

Excessive

calmness or violent blow

Excessive

dryness, cold, heat, roughness, or humidity

Excessive

clashes among each other (wind blowing from one direction clashing
with the one coming from the other)
Excessively

cyclonic in nature

Association

with unwholesome smell, gases, sand, ashes and smoke (C.S. 3.3.7)

The Sanjivini?
Cows urine in Atharva Veda:
: |
||
O go arka, you are the destroyer of all germs and toxins. You wage war
against hereditary diseases. You are the giver of long life. (6.44.3)

Conclusion

As per the hymn from Atharvaveda, the factors discussed so far are vishadushitas (contaminated by poisons) which our experience attests too. It is
astonishing to note that our Vedic seers have a great concern for the individual
and public health without any bias to any ethnic group or culture.