Ayurveda

The world’s oldest holistic medicine, and the source of every colour on a Mahola mat.

Ayurveda, the world’s oldest holistic medicine, is a treasure trove of ancient wisdom. Crafted by the sages of classical India, the Rishis, this tradition is believed to have its roots over 5,000 years ago. Derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Ayur’ (life) and ‘Veda’ (science, knowledge), Ayurveda translates as ‘knowledge of life or longevity’. This profound wisdom is deeply embedded in India’s sacred texts, the Vedas, which delve into the medical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of human life.

Ayurveda is a holistic, preventive system of medicine that has been preserved and passed down through the ages through an oral and written tradition.

A way of life

Ayurveda is not just a health system; it is a profound way of life. It is a journey of self-discovery, a path that leads to lasting fulfilment and harmony. It teaches us that good health is not only physical well-being but also mental and emotional balance: understanding our unique needs and adapting our lifestyle, diet and interactions accordingly.

Ayurveda focuses on the person rather than the disease. The practitioner seeks to understand the individual’s unique constitution and the reasons for their imbalance, aiming for lasting relief rather than the suppression of symptoms.

The five elements and the three doshas

Thousands of years ago, by observing nature, the Indian sages deduced that the infinitely small is governed by the same principles as the infinitely large, and that the five elements, ether, air, fire, earth and water, are present in every living being. In each of us they combine into three vital forces, the doshas: Vata, the wind, which governs movement; Pitta, the fire, which governs transformation; and Kapha, the earth and water, which give structure and stability. Each person is born with a unique balance of the three, and Ayurveda is the art of maintaining it.

Ayurveda in the cloth

Our dyers work with the plants of the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia: indigo, holy basil, madder, karungali, sappan wood, myrobolan, vembadam, annatto and three separate types of turmeric, alongside aloe vera, amla, pomegranate and neem. Whole plants, roots, seeds and bark are selected and processed on site rather than bought as powders. No synthetic chemical is used at any stage, which is why two mats of the same name, a season apart, will never match exactly: the dye lot, the water and the weather it dried in all show in the cloth.