The origin of Ayurveda

The Vedas

Vedas are the wisdom texts giving knowledge of almost everything existing in the universe. The divine knowledge is believed to come out of the breath of the creator, Lord Bharma. Lord made the knowledge sprung in the form spiritual experiences of Rishis who were gifted with direct intuitive vision. The fundamentals of the universe from which the concepts of every religion and every philosophy was derived were the revelations of the God to ancient Indian Rishis. The experiences converted into texts and became the four Vedas- the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda.

Atharva-Veda (Athatvanas- the procedures for everyday life and Veda- the knowledge of) is majorly concerned about addressing everyday issues through but not limited to religious rites and nature – derived medicines. The concepts of Atharvaveda on medicine was demonstrated in Upaveda (the applied knowledge) – The Ayurveda. So, Ayurveda (Ayu-life and Veda- the knowledge) is a part of Atharva-veda.

Lord Dhanvantari- the divine father of Ayurveda

Of vital importance, while getting familiarized to Ayurveda, is to know Lord Dhanvantari, the divine father of Ayurveda. According to Bhagwat Purana Lord Dhanvantari was the 13^th incarnation of the 26 lilavataras of MahaVishnu. Long ago due to constant wars between Devas and Asuras the two cousin groups, threatened Devas went to Lord Vishnu for the solution. Lord Vishnu suggested them to churn the ocean of milk, which could give them Amrita the nectar of immortality. The solution was formidable, the churning of Ocean needed a lot of force. Devas made peace with Asuras for the task with the deal to share the prize. The Challenging mission brought together all the great powers and raised up different forms of Mahavishnu and Mahashiva. The strenuous churning at first stirred up Kalakuta poison which was entirely consumed by Shiva to save others. Further, the ocean yielded wonderful gifts in succession like Kamadhenu the wish-giving cow, the Parijata, the Moon, Mahalakshmi, and finally Dhanvantari who came out of the ocean bearing a bowl of the Amrita.

Lord Dhanvantari was pronounced with luminous body emerging out from dark blue water with his waist and thighs embraced by bright yellow clothes and brightly polished earrings made of pearls. The tips of the hair were reflecting coated with oil. His sturdy four hands carrying Shanka (Conch), Chakra(disc), Jaluka(leech) and Amrit Kalasha (Amrit pot) and his broad chest was proclaiming his strength. Who by mere remembrance of his name, releases from all the diseases. After emerging from the ocean he bowed down to Vishnu. The Lord Vishnu named his avatar as “Abja”- Born from water. He then asked Lord vishnu for his special status and share in sacrificial acts. In reply, Vishnu said that portions of sacrifices have already been allotted. He cannot be considered as a celestial as he was born after them. So, Vishnu apportioned Abja to born in the world of human beings. Since his conception, he will bear occult power. He will compose work on Ayurveda which will be well known in all parts of the world. The auspicious occasion of his birth Lord Dhanvantari is celebrated in India as Dhantryodhasi or Dhanteras, two days before Diwali.

Dhanvantari in Dwapar Yuga

Literature gives account of different Dhanvantaris:

King Dhirgatma in the Pururava dynasty did not have any children. He performed austerities and propitiated Abja. Pleased by the king, Abja was born to him and he was named Dhanvantari. He was also known as Adi- Dhanvantari. Dhanvantari learned life science from sage Bharadwaja. Sage Bharadwaja is known as human father of ayurvedic medicine. He volunteered to go to heaven to receive the knowledge of Ayurveda from Indra so, he was the first human to receive the knowledge of Ayurveda.

The son of Dhanvantari was ketuman and his son was Bhimratha. The son of Bhimratha i.e. the great grandson of Adi-Dhanvantari was Divodasa, who is also identified as Dhanvantari or Divodasa Dhanvantari. Divodasa taught Susruta and made enormous contributions to Ayurveda. His teachings can be observed through surustra-samhita. 

Another legend about Dhanvantari's birth is given by a work Ambasthachara Chandrika. According to the work, sage Galava once went to the forest to collect darbha grass and firewood. During his walk, he felt extremely thirsty and hungry. A vaisya girl named Virabhadra quenched his thirst. The sage blessed her to have a noble son. But the girl was unmarried. So, to fulfill his blessing he made a figure of a male with dharbha grass and gave her a child from that. Then the vaisya mother and a bharmin father (person made from dhabra by a bhramin) gave birth to a beautiful child who was Dhanvantari. He was also known as Amritacharya and Ambastha. Ambasta refers to the offspring of a vaisya mother and a bhramin father. In India, Ambastha is a caste or a sub-caste or a community of Hindus, whose traditional occupation was to practice medicine. Dhanvantari or Amritacharya practiced medicine and later emerged as an eminent medical scientist.