Ayurveda is the world's oldest holistic medical system, originating in ancient India over 3,000 years ago. Two great sages are most associated with its founding — each is considered the 'father' in a specific domain.
Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of Ayurveda, is traditionally considered the divine originator of Ayurvedic medicine. National Ayurveda Day is celebrated every year on Dhanvantari Trayodashi (Dhanteras).
Maharishi Charaka is widely regarded as the Father of Ayurveda and ancient Indian medicine. He was a royal physician in the court of King Kanishka (around 2nd century CE). His landmark work, the Charaka Samhita, is one of the most important foundational texts of Ayurveda. It covers:
Charaka Samhita has been translated into Arabic, Latin, and several modern languages.
Maharishi Sushruta is revered as the Father of Surgery (not just in India, but worldwide). His treatise, the Sushruta Samhita, describes over 300 surgical procedures and 120 surgical instruments. Remarkably, he described plastic surgery techniques (rhinoplasty — reconstructing a severed nose using skin from the forehead) over 2,500 years ago!
The Charaka Samhita is the foundational text of Ayurveda written by Charaka. It is an encyclopedic work on medicine, covering everything from human anatomy and disease classification to diet, lifestyle, and ethics of a physician.
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