According to modern Ayurvedic sources, the origins of Ayurveda have been traced to around 5,000 BC. Some of the concepts of Ayurveda have existed since the times of Indus Valley Civilization. The first recorded forms of Ayurveda as medical texts evolved from the Vedas. Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda in Vedic tradition. There are various legendary accounts of the origin of Ayurveda, e.g. that it was received by Dhanvantari (or Divodasa) from Brahma.
It is said that the Hindu god Brahma, created Ayurveda. He then transmitted this knowledge to his son, Daksha Prajapati. Daksha passed it down to the twin Vedic gods Ashwini Kumaras. The twin gods became the physicians of the gods, and the Devas of Ayurveda. The twin gods presented Ayurveda to Indra, the king of gods. Indra had three physicians as his disciples, namely Acharya Bharadwaj, Acharya Kashyapa and Aacharya Divodas Dhanvantari. From Bharadwaj’s teaching, his student Agnivesha developed the fundamental Ayurvedic text of internal medicine. Agnivesha’s disciple, Acharya Charak then revised this body of work. This started the tradition of passing down the knowledge of Ayurveda from gods to sages.
It was way back in the 6th century BC, Buddhist monks introduced ayurvda to China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia and Sri Lanka.
The main source of knowledge is the Vedas, (the divine books of knowledge). Veda comprises:
- Rig Veda
- Sama Veda
- Yajur Veda
- Atharva Veda
Ayurveda is an extension of Atharva Veda which throws light on the detailed methods of maintaining good health, using herbs and minerals for a perfect lifestyle. It is latest book to be added to the four Vedas, was compiled in approximately 900 BC. It is in this body of knowledge that India’s ancient medical practice is comprehensively and systematically outlined.
The Vedas are the world’s oldest form of literature. They are written in Sanskrit, India’s ancient language. They hold Hinduism’s sacred scriptures, which are said to be records of revelations discovered by ancient seers and sages. There are four different bodies of the Veda. These are the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. These books detail practices in rituals, worship, hymns, mantras, and ways of life.
Ayurveda established its own identity as a distinct science after the Vedic period. The Ayurvedic texts are composed of two halves, the Great Three Classics of Ayurveda and the Lesser Three Classics of Ayurveda.
The Great Three Classics of Ayurveda consist of Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridayam Sangraha.
- Charak Samhita, which dates back to approximately 500 BC, is a major compendium of Ayurvedic medical theory. Presented as poetry, Samhita contains more than 8,400 verses in its 120 chapters. Modern Ayurvedic physicians still use Samhita in their medical training, and the text has been widely translated.
- Sushruta Samhita, this surgical text, which dates back to approximately 500 BC, contains seminal content such as the Ayurvedic definition of health, information on blood, and the marma points. This volume also includes pioneering techniques in skin grafting and reconstructive surgery
- Ashtanga Sangraha and Ashtanga Hridayam, dating back to approximately 4th century, were written by an Ayurvedic physician from the Sindh region of India. The Sangraha is primarily written in poetry, while The Hridayam is presented as prose.
The Lesser Three Classics of Ayurveda consist of the Sharngadhara Samhita, Bhava Prakasha, and Madhava Nidanam.
- Sharangadhar Samhita, was written in the 13th century, and is valued for its explanation of the Ayurvedic concept of materia medica, as well as for its pharmacological formulations. It is also considered the foremost text on Nadi pariksha (pulse diagnosis).
- Bhav Prakash Nighantu, contains approximately 10,278 verses of varying meters and focuses on herbal descriptions, food, the therapeutic use of trace metals, and rejuvenation therapies. Information on sexually transmitted diseases, particularly syphilis, is also included.
- Madhav Nidan was written between 7th century and 11th century, and is valued for its precise classification of diseases and disease etiology. It is considered as Bible for Ayurvedic clinical diagnosis.