Concept of Anuvanshiki Siddhanta: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Heredity and Genetics

Anuvanshiki Siddhanta is the Ayurvedic concept explaining heredity and transmission of traits from one generation to another. Ancient Ayurvedic Acharyas described the principles of inheritance centuries before the emergence of modern genetics. Concepts such as Beeja, Beejabhaga and Beejabhagavayava resemble the modern understanding of gametes, chromosomes and genes respectively. Ayurvedic classics also describe hereditary disorders, congenital anomalies, infertility and developmental deformities resulting from defects in these hereditary units. The present review critically evaluates the concept of Anuvanshiki Siddhanta and correlates it with modern genetic principles. The review highlights the contribution of Ayurveda in understanding embryological development, inheritance and prevention of hereditary disorders.