Ayurveda is derived from two words, ayu and veda. Understanding the meaning of both words is necessary to fully grasp the philosophy of this discipline.“ Ayu is Union of the mind, body, senses and soul. It is energy and vitality, and is eternal.”  The English translation of ayu is “life.” In the Ayurvedic context the definition of life is broader than simple chronological lifespan. It does not mean the age of a person, the number of years lived on Earth measured from birth untill the present day. Ayu is much more than that, it is a combination of the:- Body (Sharira) , Senses (Indriyas) , Mind (Manas) ,Soul (Atma)

Together, these four factors are responsible for sustaining the life air or force in the body, and each must be present in order to produce Ayu. If any one of the above factor is absent, we cannot say there is life (Ayu). Everything on earth has a physical body and a soul, but whether it also has a mind and senses determine whether it is alive. The reason why a rock is not alive is that some of the factor mentioned above are absent (mind, senses). Prana can not be sustained in the absence of these factors.

Every species of animal has each of these four factors, so Prana can circulate and Ayu is present. The sense and minds of animals are different to that of humans but they still exist as living being. Insects and animal may perceive things differently (such as color, odor, sounds, temperature) and the mind may not be well developed as human beings, but the souls are alike. So Ayus is the basis of distinction between inert object and dynamic entities, or living beings.

Objective of Ayurveda:      

“The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of the healthy person and to cure the diseases of the sick.”

There are two complementary aims of this discipline. The first is to maintain the health of those who are well. This entails specific diet and nutrition, hygiene, living habits, exercise and relaxation techniques. Following these guidelines enables a healthy person to maintain health and increase their life span. The other is to cure disease of the sick. This aspect relates to various disease, their cause, diagnosis, remedies and therapies to cure and prevent relapse of illness.