Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Dhanvantari (Ayurveda scholar)’ found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.
Dhanvantari (Āyurveda scholar)
Dhanvantari—Dhanu or Dhanva means surgery, Anta means the end (or expert) of surgical Knowledge. Dhanvantari is the god of Āyurveda. He is the incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu who took birth while churning milk ocean, along with Lakṣmī, Candra, Amṛta etc.
He was the physician of the Gods in heaven. He appeared in this world as Divodāsas, the king of Kāśi. Dhanvantari himself declared that he is Ādideva who cured the jarāyuja of immortals and has taken birth on earth to teach Śalya tantra. Every year Aswayuja bahula trayadaśī is celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayantī. Divodāsa Dhanvantari was the master of surgery. He trained Suśruta etc. Seven disciples established the surgery school of Āyurveda.
There are three Dhanvantari and there are different books like–First Dhanvantari, Second Dhanvantari and Third Dhanvantari. In Suśruta Saṃhitā we find the description of third Dhanvantari. Among the disciples like Dhanvantari's Suśruta etc., the names of five disciples are taken. Suśruta learned from Divodāsa Dhanvantari, the science of Āyurveda from Indra. As per Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, Mahābhārata, Harivilāsa it is said that Dhanvantari learned the science of Āyurveda from Bharadvāja. Formulations attributed to Dhanvantari–Dhanvantari ghṛta, Paśupata rasa, Mṛtyuñjaya Loha, Rasarājendra, Aśvagandhādi taila, Saptaviṃśati Guggulu etc. Works of Dhanvantari are as follows–Cikitsātattva Vigñāna, Cikitsā Darśana Cikitsā Kaumudī, Ajīrnāmṛta Mañjarī, Roga Nidāna, Vaidya Cintāmaṇi, Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu, Vaidyaka Bhāskarodaya, Cikitsāsāra Saṃgraha.