Formation of Ayurveda
 

Brahman, remembering Ayurveda (the science of life) taught it to Prajãpati, he (Prajapati) in turn taught it to Mvin twins, they taught it to Sahasrãka (Iidra), he taught it to Atri’s son (Atreya Punarvasti or Kria Atreya) and other sages, they taught it to Agnivea and others and they (agnivea and other desciples) composed treatiscs, each one separately.

Notes :—-The above is a brief narration of origin of Ayurvcda according to Caraka eathhitã, a ul1 account of it is furnished herein:
“Lord Brabman, recalling to his mind the science of life, taught it to Daksa (Prajãoati) he taught it to Avin twins, who in their turn taught to India-the king of th. gods. When diseases began to ti ouble the human beings, the grrat sages of the world, assembled in the slopes of the Himalaya mountains, and resolved to learn the science of Ayurveda from Indra and bring it to the world for the benefit of living beings. But who would undertake this difficult task of going to heaven and learn the science from Indra? Sage Bharadvaja, one of the participants of the assembly, volun. teered for the task which was very gladly accepted. Bharadvãja went to Indral abode, learnt the science fiom him, came back to earth and propounded it to the assenbly. Ksia Atreya also known as Punarvasu treya, son of sage Arti, taught this science to six of his disciples, Agnivea, Bhela, Jatukari a, ParAara, Hãrlta and Ksarapäii.Each one of them wrote a treatise and placed them before their teacher Krssiatreya and the assembly of the sages. The treatise of Agnivea was adjudged as the best and was praised even by the gods. It became popular in the world.” (Caraka sathhjtã, Sütrasthafla. Cbapter—l.)

The teachings of Kra Atreya deals mainly with Kãyacikitsä (inner nieclicine) which is one among the eight branches of Ayurveda, this school is popularly known as Atreya sarnpraddya or Kãyacikitsa. The treatise written by Agnivea is avalable today not in its original foim but in jtg revised version.known as Caraka Samhitã because it was redacted (re-edited) by Caraka muni for the first time. It underwent a second redaction from the pen of DrhabaIa. Modern scholars assign Krsiiätrcya and Agnivea to 6th-5th cent. B. C.; Caraka muni to 2nd cent. A. D. and Dr4habala to 4th cent, A. D.