Topic 2.5.1 Literary references to Ayurveda

Atharva Veda, one of the four most ancient books of Indian knowledge, wisdom and culture, contains 114 hymns or formulations for the treatment of diseases. Ayurveda originated and developed from these hymns. In this sense, Ayurveda is considered to have a divine origin, representing one of the oldest, organised systems of medicine for positive health, together with the cure of human sickness.

Making use of systematic, careful observation and documenting detailed experiences over the past several thousand years, Ayurveda has grown into a very comprehensive health care system with two major schools and eight specialisations. It has a school of medicine and a school of surgery referred to in literature as Atreya Sampradaya and Dhanvantri Sampradaya respectively.

The Samhitas are simply a compilation of the various conferences held to discuss various compli­cated topics of Ayurveda. Compendia on these subjects like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita etc. were documented by the ancient Ayurvedic scholars about 1000 years B.C. They were used for the teaching of Ayurveda in the ancient universities of Takshashila and Nalanda.