अष्टाङ्गहृदयम्

Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam

The Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, composed by Vāgbhaṭa, distils the teachings of Caraka and Suśruta into elegant, memorable Sanskrit verse. Its title means "the heart of the eight-limbed science", and it brings together all eight branches of Āyurveda, from internal medicine and paediatrics to rejuvenation. Arranged in six sections, it opens with daily and seasonal routines before turning to anatomy, diagnosis and therapy. This course reads it as a classical text and a window into Āyurvedic thought, not as treatment advice.

What you will learn

• The eight branches (aṣṭāṅga) of Āyurveda and their scope
• Dinacaryā and ṛtucaryā as described by Vāgbhaṭa
• How the text synthesises Caraka and Suśruta

Lessons

1. 1Orientation: Vāgbhaṭa and his synthesis🔒 Unlocks after enrolment
2. 2The eight branches of Āyurveda🔒 Unlocks after enrolment
3. 3Sūtrasthāna: daily and seasonal routine🔒 Unlocks after enrolment
4. 4Śārīra and Nidāna: body and disease🔒 Unlocks after enrolment
5. 5Cikitsā and Kalpa-siddhi: an overview🔒 Unlocks after enrolment
6. 6Uttarasthāna and the text's legacy🔒 Unlocks after enrolment