Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Parashara (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.
Parāśara (Āyurveda scholar)
Parāśara–According to the Tāṇḍya Brāhmaṇa and Jaiminīya texts, Parāśara's son was Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana Veda Vyāsa, the pioneer of the Mahābhārata. Parāśara was one of the disciples of Punarvasu Ātreya and was contemporary of Agniveśa. He wrote Parāśara Saṃhitā but it is not available. His period maybe 1000 BC. In the treatise of HastiĀyurveda, it is stated that the sages were invited by Romapāda to learn Hasti-Āyurveda under Parāśara. The treatise takra Kalpa also attributed to him. Vāgbhaṭṭa, Ḍalhaṇa, Cakrapāṇi, Hemādri etc., quoted his name in their works. Suśruta while describing the process of development of foetus quoted the according to Parāśara umbilicus was the first organ formed in the foetus. The opinion of Parāśara was quoted regarding the quantity of vasti products and saṃkhyā. While describing Bipāka, Vāgbhaṭṭa quoted the opinion of Parāśara. Cakrapāṇi also quoted the opinion of Parāśara regarding the transformation of tissues. All we know about Parāśara only by the cross-references of other sages[1].