Changes

==== Knowledge transfer from Indra to Bharadwaja ====

==== Knowledge transfer from Indra to Bharadwaja ====

कः सहस्राक्षभवनं गच्छेत् प्रष्टुं शचीपतिम्||१८||

<blockquote>तस्मै प्रोवाच भगवानायुर्वेदं शतक्रतुः| पदैरल्पैर्मतिं बुद्ध्वा विपुलां परमर्षये||२३||</blockquote>Meaning: Having sensed the intelligence of the great sage, Indra then transferred the knowledge of Ayurveda to him in few words.

भरद्वाजोऽब्रवीत्तस्मादृषिभिः स नियोजितः||१९||

 

दीर्घं जीवितमन्विच्छन्भरद्वाज उपागमत्|

 

इन्द्रमुग्रतपा बुद्ध्वा शरण्यममरेश्वरम्||३||

 

 

 

ब्रह्मणा हि यथाप्रोक्तमायुर्वेदं प्रजापतिः|

स शक्रभवनं गत्वा सुरर्षिगणमध्यगम् |

जग्राह निखिलेनादावश्विनौ तु पुनस्ततः||४||

ददर्श बलहन्तारं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्||२०||

अश्विभ्यां भगवाञ्छक्रः प्रतिपेदे ह केवलम्|

सोऽभिगम्य जयाशीर्भिरभिनन्द्य सुरेश्वरम्|

ऋषिप्रोक्तो भरद्वाजस्तस्माच्छक्रमुपागमत्||५||

व्याधयो हि समुत्पन्नाः सर्वप्राणिभयङ्कराः|

References to diseases, medicines, herbs and healthcare discussed in Ayurveda can be found in Vedic literature. Specifically [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]], [[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]] and [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] have multiple references about these. Among Vedas, Atharvaveda is found to have maximum and in depth description about diseases and treatment aspect. Therefore, Ayurveda is widely considered to be the Upaveda of Atharvaveda. Some also believe it to be the [[Upavedas (उपवेदाः)|Upaveda]] of Rigveda. The tradition of medical knowledge is further carried during the period of the [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|puranas]] as well.  Epics like [[Ramayana (रामायणम्)|Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]] also include references to drugs, diseases and healthcare. It appears that the knowledge of Ayurveda was so much developed in the times of these epics that, there were expert physicians and surgeons who attended on the kings and they were capable of performing some complex tasks like preserving of dead bodies as well as carrying out surgeries and well versed in wound care in battlefield. <ref name=":0">Narayanaswamy, V. (1981). Origin and development of ayurveda (a brief history). Ancient science of life. 1. 1-7. </ref>

 

 

Who should go to the abode of Indra to inquire about the correct means of amelioration of disease? On this, volunteered Bharadwaja, “I may be deputed for this work” and so he was deputed by the sages. Having gone to Indra’s abode, he saw Indra- the slayer of ''Bala'' (a demon), sitting in the midst of the groups of godly sages and glittering like fire. He approached him with felicitating words of praises and blessings and the intelligent one submitted to him the message of the sages humbly and in the best possible way- “Diseases causing fear in all living beings have appeared so, O Lord of the Gods! Tell me the proper measure for their amelioration!”. Then Lord Indra, having sensed the wide intelligence of the great sage, delivered to him Ayurveda in a few words. [18-23]

Usage of single drug medicines

=== Hierarchy of transfer of knowledge of Ayurveda ===

 

 

 

There is also the description of anatomical structures of the Human body as well as animals.

 

 

 

Veda contains at least 20 khand which is the knowledge of Atharva and Angirasa rishi.12,300 verses. Ayurveda is found in Shaunaka branch(among shaunaka and pippalada)

 

Ayurveda is considered a Upanga of Atharva Veda since it contains the majority of the detailed explanation about Ayurveda. Also, certain Verses present in Rigveda have their detailed description or clarification in Atharva Veda.

 

systematic and comprehensive treatment of medicine is to be found only in the Atharva  Veda.  The Atharva Veda is considered to have originated later than the Rig Veda, and contains a description of diseases and the cure of them.<ref name=":0" />

Bharadwaja [[2]], a great scholar, went to the King of Gods and the saviour Indra[[3]], in quest of longevity. [3]

Description of certain Dravyas/drugs like Agaru, amla, Amra etc.

Ayurveda in its entirety as recited by Brahma[[4]] was received by Prajapati [[5]] at first. Then the Ashwins (received) the knowledge. From Ashwins, lord Indra received it fully. That is why Bharadwaja, as beseeched by the sages, came to Indra.[4-5]

Various herbs like Kutaja, Nimba, Ashoka and etc have been described in different places.

== Medicine in the Vedas and Puranas ==

Vaidya Sushena treated Lakshamana with herbs brought from the Himalayas by Lord hanuman.

References to medi<span class="_ _1"></span>cine are found in the earliest texts including the Vedas. The legendary version of the origin of the  Ayurvedic system is that Brahma reminded it to Prajapati, who handed it down to Atreya Punarvasu etc.  In the Rig Veda there are reference to the first  divine physician Rudra and of how the Aswini Kumaras cured Chyavana of senility. There are number of Riks addressed to Marut,  vayu etc, in which the reference to medicine is unmistakable.  Although such references are found in the Rig Veda, as systematic and comprehensive treatment of medicine is to be found only in the Atharva  Veda.  The Atharva Veda is considered to have originated later than the Rig Veda, and contains a description of diseases and the cure of them.<ref name=":0">Narayanaswamy, V. (1981). Origin and development of ayurveda (a brief history). Ancient science of life. 1. 1-7. </ref>

The tradition of medical knowledge is further carried during the period of the puranas.  References to drugs, diseases and health care are to be found in the epics. Thus we see in the Ramayana, that expert physicians attended on kings and they were capable of preserving dead bodies.  In the Mahabharatha there are references to surgeons attending on the wounded and the disabled with all the appliances and equipments in the battle field. <ref name=":0" />

Usage of poisonous substances

== Beginnings of Systematic Development ==

== Beginnings of Systematic Development ==

<span class="_ _1"></span>We shall next consider the period whensystematic development can be said to have taken place.  This era is associated with a few illustrious names, the first of whom is Agnivesa.  The Samhita written by him which is classic which has survived to this day has been made available to the world by  Caraka, a redactor.  Historically it would appear that during Caraka’s time the Agnivesa Samhita has fallen into discuse or partly perished, and Caraka undertook  the great task of restoring the work, filing up the gaps and re-writing the parts of the work, which had become obscure.  This will be evident from the subscription to each chapter in which the author states that he has redone the chapter (Pratisamakrita). The work has undergone a further revision by one Dridabala: at least the last 17 chapters devoted to Cikitsa and the whole Kalpa and  Siddhi stanas have been re-written by Dridabala as stated in the colophon of each chapter.<ref name=":0" />

We shall next consider the period when systematic development can be said to have taken place.  This era is associated with a few illustrious names, the first of whom is Agnivesa.  The Samhita written by him which is classic which has survived to this day has been made available to the world by  Caraka, a redactor.  Historically it would appear that during Caraka’s time the Agnivesa Samhita has fallen into discuse or partly perished, and Charaka undertook  the great task of restoring the work, filing up the gaps and re-writing the parts of the work, which had become obscure.  This will be evident from the subscription to each chapter in which the author states that he has redone the chapter (Pratisamakrita). The work has undergone a further revision by one Dridabala: at least the last 17 chapters devoted to Cikitsa and the whole Kalpa and  Siddhi stanas have been re-written by Dridabala as stated in the colophon of each chapter.<ref name=":0" />

Story of origin of Ayurveda as per Charaka Samhita sutrasthanam 1

Story of origin of Ayurveda as per Charaka Samhita sutrasthanam 1