Origin &/or Mythology of Ayurveda

• Brahma
According to the Ayurvedavatarana (the "Descent of Ayurveda"), the origin of Ayurveda is
stated to be a divine revelation of the meditations of the Indian creator god Lord Brahma
as he awoke to recreate the universe

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• Daksha Prajapati
This knowledge was passed directly to Daksha Prajapati
in the form of shloka (verse) sung by Lord Brahma
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• Ashvini Kumaras
Ashwini Kumaras (Twin brother gods) were given divine status to be able to learn the knowledge
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• Indra
This knowledge was passed down through a successive chain of deities to Lord Indra,
  King of the Gods, the protector of dharma (teachings). Indra taught Ayurveda to many Rishis (saint puplis)

      School of Medicine    School of Surgery

 
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Medieval Age
Samhita Kala (Period of Classical Texts) 
 

 Samgraha Kala (Period of Compilations)

• Charaka 400 BCE
Charaka Samhita is considered the most authoritative on Ayurveda. This text’s main focus is on Kaya Chikitsa (Internal Medicine). Charaka was a noted Ayurveda practitioner who wrote that physician who fails to enter the body of a patient with the lamp of knowledge and understanding can never treat diseases.

He put more emphasis on prevention rather than cure. He made these remarks in his famous treatise Charaka Samahita which are held in great reverence even today. The other notable fields were physiology, etiology and embryology.
He also wrote extensively on digestion, metabolism and immune system. He wrote that body functions as it contains three dosha- bile, phlegm and wind. These are produced when dhatus - blood, flesh and marrow act on food consumed. The body becomes sick when there is imbalance between three doshas. He prescribed drugs to restore this balance. Charaka also wrote about genetics like the factors responsible for sex of a child.

The Charaka Samhita together with the Sushrut Samhita, served as the textual material within the ancient Universities of Takshashila and Nalanda. These texts are believed to have been written before the Common Era, and are based on a holistic approach rooted in the philosophy of the Vedas and Vedic culture.

• Sushruta 400 BCE
The Susruta Samhita is renowned for its anatomical detail. This text focuses on Shalya Chikitsa (Surgery) & it is the oldest treaty to do. Sushruta studied human anatomy with an aid of a dead body. He had described in great detail surgery in eight parts & he excelled in plastic surgery and ophthalmology (removing cataracts).

The restoration of mutilated nose or rhinoplasty was one of the greatest contributions of Shushruta. The success rate was very high attracting people from all the country and outside. He meticulously carried out the operation almost similar to the steps followed by modern day plastic surgeons.

• Vaghbata 700 ACE
Astanga Samgraha (8 Branch Compilation) is a collection of the essence from all other works. It explains doubtful contradictory points, is devoid of repetitions, textual blemishes & irrelevant statements

This text is thus far more concise than the previous 2 texts, while still covering all Astanga (Eight branches) of Ayurveda. 700 ACE is also ascribed to the treatise Ashtanga Hridya Samhita by Vaghbata.

• Agnivesa 700 ACE
Agnivesa is another famous physician wrote an encyclopedic treatise in the eighth century ACE. Ayurveda as an art of healing was treated with respect in the ancient period. The knowledge was systemized being considered at par with Vedas.

This body of knowledge was spread among sages, hermits and other religious men who moved from one place to another. Those who solely practiced this were known as Vaidyas belonging to Brahmin caste.
The treatises of Ayurveda were passed from generations to generations.

• Sage Bharadwaja

According to this account, the first human exponent of Ayurveda was Bharadwaja, who learned it directly from Indra. Bharadwaja in turn taught Ayurveda to a group of assembled sages, who then passed down different aspects of this knowledge to their students.

According to other accounts, some believe that originally the Vedas were dictated to the first man, Manu, by the Sun-God.

• Dhanvantri, King of Kashi

Ayurvedic medical tradition goes back to Vedic period when Dhanvantri was worshipped as the incarnation of Dhanwantari, God of medicine.

This ascetic king is known as the Father of Surgery. In the Sushruta Samhita, the teachings and surgical techniques of Dhanvantri are compiled and complemented with additional findings and observations of Sushruta regarding topics ranging from obstetrics and orthopedics to ophthalmology.

• Devarshi Atri

Divine son of Bramha.
Atri Rishi was the Acharya (teacher) of Ayurveda as stated in Kashyapa Samhita. 

• Atreya Punarvasu

The son of Devarshi Atri.
The word Atreya can have different meanings like son of Atri or successor of Atri or Shishya (student) of Atri. But as in Charaka Samhita at different places, it is clearly understood that the relation is father-son only.
Atreya was the Guru (teacher) of Agnivesha.

 • Agnivesa

According to tradition, Ayurveda was first described in text form by Agnivesha , in his book the Agnivesh Tantra . The book was later redacted by Charaka , and became known as the Charaka Samhita .