Abstract

Intellects of Ayurveda have used various literary tools in the Samhita to make it easier for the readers to comprehend a new idea. One such tool is Upama, which is used to link unfamiliar idea with common and familiar objects. Upama are the common entities that help in understanding the concept by deep analysis.
Review of Upama as Pramana, Vadamarga, Tantrayukti, and Alankara is done using relevant classical and contemporary sources, to explicate the concept of Upama for cognizing the fundamentals of Ayurveda. Upama from Brihatrayee are taken to analyze and interpret various concepts.
The similes vary in different contexts such as identification of clinical picture of diseases, delineating pathology, prognosis and treatment. The contexts are compared to reasonable examples which share a quality in common.
Upama helps in conveying the ideas in a more effective way. Analyzing those similes enlightens the view, aids in proper remembrance and helps in intellectual and analytical proficiency.

Key words: Upama; Upamana; Aupamya; Nidarshana; Sadrushya