The Classical Texts of Ayurveda

Ayurveda rests on a documented literary tradition spanning more than two millennia. These are the primary sources every page of this site draws from:

Charaka Samhita — the physician's canon

The foundational text of Kayachikitsa (internal medicine), organised in eight sections (Sthanas) covering philosophy, physiology, diagnosis, treatment and pharmacology. Its famous triad — cause, symptom, medicine — still structures every Ayurvedic consultation. The National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage hosts a full searchable edition online (niimh.nic.in/ebooks/ecaraka).

Sushruta Samhita — the surgeon's manual

The world's most remarkable ancient surgical text: over 300 procedures, 120+ instruments, and the celebrated description of reconstructive rhinoplasty. Also the source of Kshara Sutra therapy still used for fistula and piles.

Ashtanga Hridaya (Vagbhata) — the elegant synthesis

Vagbhata condensed Charaka and Sushruta into memorable verse; it remains the first text most Ayurveda students memorise, and the source of the daily-routine (Dinacharya) and seasonal-routine (Ritucharya) chapters we cite.

Madhava Nidana — the diagnostician

The definitive text on Nidana (etiology and diagnosis), sequencing diseases with their causes, prodromes and signs — the pattern our guided consultation follows.

Sharangadhara Samhita — the pharmacist

The concise manual of pharmacy: doses, anupana (vehicles), and the classical formulation categories — churna, vati, arishta, taila — that our product catalog is organised around.

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — the materia medica

The 16th-century encyclopedia of herbs, foods and minerals with their properties (rasa, virya, vipaka) — the reference for every herb profile we publish.