The Vedas, ancient scriptures around 5000 years old, are the roots of the modern medical medicines. Atreya, Kashyapa, Dhanwantari and Bhela were the authors of these ancient scriptures who stressed on the spiritual philosophy and medical ethics as part of mainstream healing practices.
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.
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Vedas
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Sama Veda
Yajur Veda
Atharva Veda
Dhanur Veda
Gandharva Veda
Significance of Veda
Classification of Vedas
Sushruta
Sushruta Samhita
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Traditional Indian Medicines
Vedangas
Ayurveda
Origin of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda
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Branches of Ayurveda
Concepts of Ayurveda
Elements of Ayurveda
Treatment in Ayurveda
Development of Ayurveda
Ayurveda in Later Vedic Period
