Abstract

It gives me great pleasure in introducing a new section on the social history of Ayurveda via a maiden note that appears below. I am honored to be given this opportunity to share some of the well known and significant aspects of the medical heritage of Indian system of medicine. As one of the oldest medical traditions, Ayurveda signifies not only the ‘knowledge of life’ but also, and more meaningfully, a system of knowledge that has witnessed and withstood several foreign invasions and encounters over the years. Nevertheless, it has, and still continues, to cater to a
vast population in India as well as globally in a manner that speaks volumes of its rich heritage and cultural links.

Key words: Ayurveda, Sociology, Culture