Embassy of India

Hanoi, Vietnam

Symposium on Astrology and Ayurveda

An International Symposium on Astrology and Ayurveda was held in Hanoi on 22 August 2023 and attended by over 50 astrologers, Ayurveda experts, practitioners and scholars from India. During the symposium, the speakers acknowledged that the knowledge of Traditional medicine & Astrology, Yoga, Mathematics and Science is deep rooted in the Indian scripture and highlighted the need for joint research and study in order to understand traditional knowledge which are widely popular in Indian society and culture since millennia. 

It is estimated that Indian Vedic astrology or ‘Jyotisha’ dates back to about 5000 BCE. Jyotisha is Sanskrit word that means science of light and it includes the study of astronomy, astrology and the science of timekeeping using the movements of astronomical bodies. It is based on the belief that the stars and planets have a powerful influence on our lives and our Karmas mean deeds. Many believe that astrology assists people in adopting the right path in life and in taking decision related to money, health, marriage, career, finance and many more. Joytish not only addresses the causes of problem but also suggests measures to overcome from them. India's University Grants Commission and Ministry of Human Resource Development decided to introduce "Vedic astrology" as a discipline of study in Indian universities. 

Ayurveda is considered as oldest healing science that originated in India more than 5,000 years ago that Ayurveda means in Sanskrit “The Science of Life.” Ayurvedic which stems from Vedic scripture. It was taught and transmitted from accomplished masters to their disciples as an oral tradition. Ayurveda identifies three basic types of energy or functional principles that are present in everyone and everything. Ayurveda emphasizes on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs. Knowledge of Ayurveda enables one to understand how to create this balance of body, mind and consciousness according to individual’s own constitution and how to make lifestyle changes accordingly. According to Ayurveda, the entire cosmos is an interplay of the energies of the five great elements—Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Vata, pitta and kapha are combinations and permutations of these five elements that manifest as patterns present in all creation. In a physical body, vata is the subtle energy of movement, pitta the energy of digestion and metabolism, and kapha the energy that forms the body’s structure.

Indian Astrology and Ayurveda (Herbal Medicine) reached   a wide range of nations in South, East and Southeast including Vietnam. The wide uses and popularity of herbal-based medicine in India as well as Vietnam offers to develop synergy and cooperation in the field of traditional medicine and medicinal plants. Both countries are considering enhancing mutual knowledge, practices and experiences in the field of traditional medicine towards their greater role in the field of health sciences in both countries.