Sadvritta with special reference to Charak Samhita

Abstract

Health, according to Ayurveda, is a balance of body, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Ayurveda is the Sanskrit word for "life science”. It is a guide to living an optimal and healthy life style for every human being in the universe, not only a therapeutic science. Ayurveda's major goal is to maintain health rather than treat sickness. According to Ayurveda, everyone can enjoy healthy life by following certain rules laid by the science. These various rules are divided into Dincharya (a daily regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal routine) and Sadvritta (code of good conduct for mental health and social behavior). These rules are very important in prevention of disease and promotion of ideal health. According to Ayurveda, to maintain healthy and disease free life everyone should follow these rules. In Charak Samhita, Acharya Charak has prescribed a list of good conduct which is very necessary to follow if we want to control the sense organ and to obtain perfect health. Sadvritta give the detail knowledge about “what to do?” What should not to?” and also “how to live?” Following the codes of right conduct described in Ayurveda is highly effective in reducing the life disorders and helps to live healthy life. Sadvritta is being studied since long by all Ayurvedists but very few conceptual works have been carried out an it. Therefore, in this article attempts are made to explain Sadvritta in details as maintained in Ayurvedic literature and its overall effect on human body.