

Pulse reading is an essential part of the practice of Ayurveda medical science. In Ayurveda it is directed that Pulse reading / pulse examination provides a lead to Ayurvedic vaidya for correct diagnosis of the Dosha, which tends to correct selection of remedy for a sick individual. Besides these, the pulse examination tends to physician to know about the prakruti and deviated dosha, which are basically three in numbers.
Early description of Pulse reading or pulse examination is not mentioned in the classical works of Charak samhita or Sushrut samhita. The first mention of the Pulse reading is seen in the classical work of Bhav Mishra , who have written the book “Bhav Prakash”. In this book , a very short description of the pulse reading and pulse examination is given. It is not in detail, only few lines in Sansakrit Language is given, mentioning the methods of examination in very short.
It is presumed that Bhav Prakash is composed and written by Bhav Mishra , round about 700 to 800 years back in between 1200 to 1300 century, that means Pulse reading was a part of Ayurvedic practice , developed slowly and gradually round about 1000 years back.
Prior to Bhav Prakash, no other writer or composer of Ayurveda Text have mentioned Pulse reading, therefore it shows that Pulse reading should not be said that it is as old as Ayurveda. In my opinion , it should be maximum 1200 years old and should not be more than that.
As I guess and thus conceive the idea of PULSE READING , that How Ayurvedicians of that time perceived the idea of pulse reading ? The answer could be in this way that in olden time , Ayurvedicians were related to Astrology and practicing Ayurveda both.

Process of Ayurvedic style of Radial Pulse Examination, First finger denotes to VATA, second finger to PITTA and Third finger to KAPHA Dosha
A special group of studious persons were involved in the preacing, teaching and healing areas. It is believed that the group transferes their knowledge by shruti (listening) and smrati (memorizing) and by repeatition of shlokas methods. Later when script becomes in existence, then the knowledge transferred to written words.
The practitioner of Ayurveda were involved in Astrological works besides the healing job. In Astrology, it is mentioned in Horoscope of a person that which NADI he is belonging. The NADI in Astrology is mentioned AADI, MADHYA & ANTA. The Three Nadi is matched by the Astrologer at the time of marriage. The male nadi or female nadi should not be same. If male nadi and female nadi is same / similar / equal, then this is called NADI DOSHA. Astrologers believe that same NADI DOSHA couples may not be able to conceive and thus can not born any baby or child. Due to this reason, NADI DOSHA have an important features in the marriages.
In my opinion, this concept of NADI DOSHA might be correlated to AYURVEDA TRIDOSHA and PRAKRUTI.
It is presumed that Radial Pulse examination was the easy way to confirm about the life or death of a person. Even today, every person cheks the radial pulse for confirmation of life or death, instead of respiration. We see every day , when we ask a person, whether he have fever or not. The person will immediately check his radial pulse by keeping palm/grip of fingers/ tying radial arm around by hand or by one or two or three or four fingers to acknowledge the throbbiung of the pulse.
It seems that NADI DOSHA concept of Astrology convrted into NADI TRIDOSA. The practitioners of Ayurveda tried to grasp the TRIDOSHA findings in this simple way by matching the similarity of persons constitution, prakruti etc because description of DOSHAS was already given in the classical works of Ayurveda.
After long term experimenting, exercising , matching with the theory of Ayurveda Fundamentals TRIDOSHA, Ayurvedicians established their observations in regards to pulse reading and its rhythum, speed and motion. The correlation of pulse rhythum with the motion and walk of the certain creatures and animals are given to the open observation to learn pulse reading more easy to understand.
Latest INVENTION for determination of AYURVEDIC FUNDAMENTALS ;
Recognition of Ayurvedic fundamentals is very essential for Ayurvedic treatment purposes. It is not very easy to establish the Prakruti and Tridosha of a sick individual by PULSE Examination for an Ayurvedician. The Latest invention is ELECTRO TRIDOSHA GRAPHY ; ETG AyurvedaScan, which provides data of AYURVEDIC FUNDAMENTALS in data sheet and report form, including the features of NARI PARIKSHAN.

