18-22.01.2006 Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, South India.

See the pictures from the Conference!(konferencja ajurwedyjska 2006)

Punarnava Ayurveda, the Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) based authentic ayurveda services and consulting organisation hosted the International Conference „Ayurveda – Where Science Meets Consciousness” where some of the greatest minds in the medical fraternity from across the globe came together to give Ayurveda enthusiasts an orientation into authentic Ayurveda and to share insights, knowledge and authentic Ayurveda concepts with the Indian community.

dr.Ram Kumar, organizer of the Conference

Ayurveda, the original holistic medical knowledge system, is flourishing today more than ever. Seeds sown by the ancient Ayurveda seers are bearing fertile fruit, nourished by sincere Ayurveda exponents everywhere. Ripe international interest has led to a truly universal application of Ayurveda and its capacity to alleviate suffering world-wide.

This timely Ayurveda conference aimed to reinforce the purity and potency of Ayurveda at a time when it is in danger of dilution and distortion. It was educating about global trends wherein the move from reductionism to holism is on the rise and thus motivate Ayurveda practitioners to aspire to study and apply Ayurveda in its authentic totality.

Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Robert Svoboda, Dr. Hari Sharma, Dr. Rama Prasad, P.R Krishnakumar and others enlivened the participants with their informative presentations, interactive sessions and enlightening experiences with Ayurveda, and spoke on the role of Science and Spirituality in Ayurveda, globalization of authentic Ayurveda and the need for holism in health care for creating a healthy world.

Highlights:

Mr. V. Varaprasad Rao, IAS, Commissioner of Tourism and Secretary to Government, Information and Tourism Department, and Ms. Sheela Rani Shunkath, IAS, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu inaugurated the conference which was held from 18^th January to 22^nd January, 2006 at Sterling Resorts, Mahabalipuram.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Varaprasad Rao highlighted the methods to be adopted to make Ayurveda more reliable and authentic. He said that the Government has planned to invest Rs.30 crore on the development of Ayurveda by setting up Ayurveda hospitals and facilities. He further added that Ayurveda was a medicinal system which induces less side- effects, and Ayurveda medicines are less expensive compared to other medicines.

Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration, Ms. Sheela Rani Shunkath said, „Ayurveda has stood the test of time and has benefited many lives for over 5000 years now. Ayurvedic treatments are more effective since they cure health problems from the root.”

Speaking on ‘Unlocking the hidden transformation in your life’, Dr. Deepak Chopra said, „Our mechanistic way of looking at the human body has made us superb technicians, but we know nothing about healing the human soul.” Speaking on the importance of holistic healing, he said that Ayurveda looks at the whole body as a pharmacy. „The first breakthrough in mind body medicine is: Your mind is not in your body, but your body is in your mind. This is a profound vedic thought that is gaining credibility the world over.”

Dr. Robert Svoboda, the first westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India, spoke on the relationship between science and consciousness. Ayurveda has the potential to take the lead in reorganizing and rejuvenating modern science, to ensure that it reflects adequately the mystery that is awareness. Students and teachers of Ayurveda must take the lead in facilitating this worldwide transformation. Though rooted in tradition, Ayurveda must be packaged and put forth in a way that will appeal to the contemporary audience of today.

The third day of the conference saw Dr. Hari Sharma highlighting the correlation of Ayurveda with modern science with instances of how scientific research has proved beyond doubt on the effectiveness of Ayurveda. „The understanding of the correlation of Vedic Science and modern science brings a better understanding of the science and spirituality in Ayurveda”, he said.

Morning Yoga

Dr Deepak Chopra' session

Ayurveda cooking class

Dinner time