Crafting an Ideal Human Character-A Comparative Study Between the Perspective of Ayurveda and the Bhagavad Gita

Abstract

Holistic development of the individual personality, integrating moral discipline, self-restraint, social responsibility, and spiritual awareness, has been the central object of all schools of Indian philosophy, especially the Vedanta philosophy, as reflected throughout the Vedic corpus. The Bhagavad Gita, being the central text of Vedanta and spirituality, has also given equal emphasis to the development of human character, through which anyone can attain liberation from all types of bondage. Ayurveda, the ancient system of Indian medicine as part of the whole Vedic corpus, also gave similar importance on development of an ideal human character along with the prevention and treatment of diseases. In Bhagavad Gita, lord Krishna described twenty-six attributes of an ideal human character under the title ‘Daivi Sampada’, which are similar to that of description of qualities of ‘Hitayu’ and ‘Apta’ mentioned in Charaka Samhita. A comparative analysis of these two aspects will help us to understand the fundamental approach of our great Vedic tradition in conceptualizing an ideal human character, which would be awakened internally and socially responsible externally. In this rapidly changing society with changing moral and ethical views of people such study will help the future generation of children to build their characters guided by moral and ethical values, truthfulness, righteous conduct, self-control, harmony, compassion and uprightness of individual self. Also, such study will throw light on the impact of Vedanta philosophy on Ayurveda.