Aswini Kumaras in Vedic Period To take up into account the famous physicians of the Vedic age one must mention the names of "Aswini Kumaras". In the Rig Veda and other Puranas, the Aswini Kumar twins have been deified by equating them with Indra, Agni and Soma. At many places in Rig Veda the skill of Aswini Kumaras has been described claiming that they could treat and cure most of the human ailments, even brain tumours. In the Veda Purana one of them is called ‘Aswini’ and the other ‘Rebanta’. It is said that once Lord Indra denigrated them because of their profession as in the case of denigration of the surgeons in Europe during the Middle Ages. Some later learned analysts of the Vedas claimed that Aswini Kumaras were human beings. Because of their exceptional skill all doctors and the people were enamoured and treated them like God. One of the Aswini Kumaras used to treat with the help of chemicals or rasa and the other one used to treat with help of rays or rashmis. Dhanwantwari in Vedic Period The second famous physician was "Dhanwantari". He was also described in the Rig Veda as a ‘Deva Vaidya’ as he treated the gods. His mythical birth happened during the churning of the ocean at the command of Lord Vishnu. He was also called ‘Abja’ as he was born out of water. In a later birth he was born to preach ‘Astanga Ayurveda Shastra’ on the earth. The great grandson of Dhanwantwari was named as ‘Divodasa’ who was a later king of Kashi. It is stated that Sushruta studied Astanga Ayurveda Shastra under Divodasa. Brihaspati in Vedic Period "Brihaspati" is regarded as a famous Devata in Rig Veda. He was very intelligent and an exceptionally skilled physician. His son ‘Varadwaja’ was also a great physician who was a teacher of ‘Atreya’. Atreya taught medicine to Agnibesha and ‘Agnibesha’ was the preceptor of ‘Charaka’. Sushruta in Vedic Period Sushruta was the greatest surgeon of the Vedic ages whose skill in surgery and the delicate instruments constructed by him for surgical operations are still wondrously regarded. He developed the system of ‘Plastic Surgery’. His name has also been mentioned in "Mahabharata". Kasyapa in Vedic Period "Kasyapa" was the author of the famous "Kasyapa Samhita". It is said that he was a great toxicologist, who could save the lives of men bitten by poisonous snakes and from various other poisons. Related Articles Primitive Medicinal Practices in India Ancient History of India Ancient Literature of Ayurveda Vedic Civilisation in India Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Dhanur Veda Gandharva Veda Significance of Veda Classification of Vedas Sushruta Sushruta Samhita Charaka Samhita Traditional Indian Medicines Vedangas Ayurveda Origin of Ayurveda History of Ayurveda Ayurveda Medication Branches of Ayurveda Concepts of Ayurveda Elements of Ayurveda Treatment in Ayurveda Development of Ayurveda Ayurveda in Later Vedic Period |