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Swami Vivekananda’s Journey to Ayurveda: Breaking Stigma

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Swami Vivekananda has always taught us that with centuries passing, one thing has remained constant. 

Well, we are talking about the skepticism toward the ancient holistic approach of Ayurveda in terms of health issues.

It isn’t just modern times and its population dismissing ideologies. Since they were prevalent in medieval times, the problems faced by Ayurvedic experts have been carried on like a legacy. 

Surprisingly, Swami Vivekananda was also one of those skeptics, who didn’t believe in the Ayurvedic practices and their results. 

It wasn’t until the miraculous effects he experienced, that he became a bold advocate for Indian spirituality and ancient wisdom.

So through this blog, let us honor the visionary and philosophical leader of all time, Swami Vivekananda’s journey of acceptance of Ayurveda. 

The Maverick Monk Encounters Ayurveda

The Maverick Monk Vivekananda Encounters Ayurveda
The Maverick Monk Vivekananda Encounters Ayurveda

Despite following rigorous spiritual practices, the maverick monk Swami Vivekananda suffered from ill health due to diabetes and insomnia.  

Although there were several kinds of medicines like the conventional ones, they offered little to no relief.

This was when he turned to the ancient wisdom of the holistic medicine of Ayurveda for a final trial to get relief from his pain.

As the story has it, he believed that “it is better even to die under the treatment of a scientific doctor than expect recovery from the treatment of laymen who know nothing of modern science”. 

Thus when Swami Vivekananda started the treatment, he was in for a surprise! From his initial skepticism about Ayurveda being outdated and primitive, following the simple instructions given by his brother-disciple helped him. 

Swami Niranjanananda earnestly requested to consume Ayurvedic for a week without drinking water. Instead, Swami Vivekananda was instructed to appease his thirst with milk.

Despite the initial resistance and disregard, he was in for a surprise as he was beginning to improve!

Challenging the Stigma 

Challenging the Stigma
Swami Vivekananda and Challenging the Stigma

As Swami Vivekananda continued to approach his thirties with health concerns that only Ayurvedic practices could cure, he became an adamant advocate for the same.

This in particular caused a shift within him, and he wrote about it in his biography after just 2 months to document the entire process. 

Thus, this shows how society usually perceives Ayurvedic medicines due to the stigmas attached.

Often facing the skepticism and is sometimes relegated to the realm of “alternative” medicine. 

However, this is a grave injustice towards the ancient holistic practice that has nurtured the ancestral generations. 

The above narrative gives an in-depth insight into Swamiji’s journey toward embracing Ayurveda. 

Thus, these are the following things that we can learn in the modern times by challenging the stigma:

  • Embrace Holism (addressing the root cause of imbalances within the body-mind complex)
  • Encounter Conventional wisdom (we must be open to exploring different avenues of healing)
  • Respecting the spectrum of wisdom (recognize its value and integrate its principles into modern healthcare)

In this manner, just like Swami Vivekananda’s fearless and accepting nature we too can alter our future and vision by embracing Ayurveda.

Ayurveda in the Modern Era: Lessons from Vivekananda

 

Fast forward to today, Ayurveda has often been overlooked due to misperceptions about its efficacy, the lack of standardized practices, and the dominance of Western medicine. 

However, stories like Swami Vivekananda’s remind us of its enduring relevance and potential.

His journey with Ayurveda demonstrates a critical truth: personal experiences can transform public perceptions. 

Being open to Ayurveda helped Swami Vivekananda regain his health and also inspired countless others to look past their prejudices. 

Today, as we navigate a world increasingly drawn to holistic health solutions, his story serves as a beacon for embracing Ayurveda with an open mind.

With these factors in mind, we at Hempstreet aim to build upon this legacy by bridging the gap between traditional wisdom and modern science. 

By amalgamating Ayurvedic principles with rigorous research, we develop formulations addressing pressing health challenges. 

Our mission? Destigmatize Ayurveda and present it as a credible, science-backed alternative for holistic well-being with the goodness of medical cannabis.

Overall Reflections 

 

Swami Vivekananda’s encounter with Ayurveda is not just a story, it’s a call to action. 

It presents an opportunity for us to reconsider our preconceptions and acknowledge the significance of India’s traditional healing systems. 

With this vision we at Hempstreet, are proud to carry this torch forward, ensuring that Ayurveda receives the respect and recognition it deserves in the modern healthcare ecosystem. 

Let’s work together to honor and preserve this timeless science and medical cannabis for future generations.

 

Hempstreet is India's first and largest research to retail player in the medicinal cannabis space with a network of 60,000 ayurvedic practitioners across the country.

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