Puri: Ayurveda is inextricably linked with Indian culture and tradition and we don’t have to go far to find out, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Wednesday.
“We can know this by studying Lord Jagannath’s Nitikanti. After Devasnan Purnima, three deities suffer from fever. Therefore, Ayurveda is used to treat diseases. Special methods are also used with the treatment,” he said addressing 75th foundation day function of the Gopabandhu Ayurveda College here.
He said everybody in the country knows the magic of Ayurveda from the epic Ramayana.
When Lakshmana was in a state of unconsciousness in the battle field, a Himalayan sage healed him through Ayurveda, he said and added that several such examples are mentioned in our holy scriptures.
“Ayurveda is a complete health science. It can cure diseases through balance diet and food. The human body is made up of the connection of the soul with the five basic elements namely sky, air, fire, water and earth. Ayurveda enhances the quality of life by maintaining harmony with nature and the body,” Majhi said while asserting that it is now accepted all over the world as a good treatment method.
“Our President is a shining example of how a healthy lifestyle can be achieved by making use of Ayurveda, Yoga, Spirituality. Her life’s struggle and success is an inspiration to us all,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that till 2014, this ancient Indian medical tradition was largely neglected. Only some fund was provisioned for it before it.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi specially created the Ministry of Ayush and gave a new direction to the Indian medical tradition,” he said and added that in the past few years, the Ayurveda doctor has been given many new responsibilities.
The Chief Minister said that to popularize Ayurveda, the central government has decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanwantari as ‘World Ayurveda Day’ since 2016 and on the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanthi this year, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for a 100-bed ‘Yoga and Naturopathy Research Institute’ at Jatni area.
“The Prime Minister continues his efforts to increase the popularity of our traditional health sciences — Yoga, Ayurveda and naturopathy. Due to his efforts, 21st June every year is celebrated as Yoga Day all over the world with great enthusiasm,” he said.
The Ministry of AYUSH through its research institute has launched a national program for control of diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease through Ayurveda, Majhi said and added that all these complex diseases can be cured easily.
There are currently three government Ayurveda colleges and one private Ayurveda college functioning in Odisha and currently, 520 Ayurveda clinics and 5 Ayurveda hospitals are providing patient care in our state, he said and said that more than 2 crore patients have been served till now through Ayurvedic treatment.
He lauded the Ayush doctors for their commendable job during the Covid pandemic.
“Our government has built 2 50-bed Ayush Hospitals in Dhenkanal and Ganjam. It will be commissioned soon and the public can get health care from these 2 institutions. Along with the construction of new hospitals, to increase the performance of various Ayurvedic hospitals providing services in the state. Steps are being taken,” he asserted.
Majhi said today the world looks up to Indian medical science that is contained in our scriptures, manuscripts and even Atharva veda which have not been fully explored or discovered.
“This requires further research. It is hoped that individuals and institutions related to the science of Ayurveda will take necessary steps in this direction.
Allopathy and Ayurveda are often portrayed as contradictory medical sciences, he said.