Important Ayurvedic Teachers and Specialization of Ayurveda

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During this legendary time in Vedic history, circa 6000 BC to about 1500 BC, Ayurveda was not yet very specialized or systematic. Between 1500 BC and 700 BC, the system of Ayurveda (along with other trends in Indian philosophy) began to differentiate into eight specialties and two schools; Atreya, the school of physicians and Dhanvantari, the school of surgeons.

Simultaneously, Ayurveda underwent a revolution in scientific thinking, and the ancient teachings came under intense scrutiny, each concept and prescription subject to thorough tests of efficacy. The various, widely scattered teachings were also compiled at that time into Samhitas (writing collections), of which three confirmed authentic works exist today: The Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and the Astanga Hridaya. These and other collections were later translated into languages, such as Arabic, and disseminated widely. Starting in the eleventh century, battered by repeated incursion by Muslims, Ayurveda began to decline, and today, it is only just emerging from its medieval period and practiced well in Ayurveda Kerala. Now, it is fully supported by the Indian government and is gaining an ever increasing popularity in America and Europe.

The Ayurvedic tradition has numerous innovators and teachers. Three of the most significant are:

• Dhanvantari of Benares (c. 1500 BC)
• Nagarjuna (c. 500 AD)
• Vagbhatta of Sind (c. 342 BC)

Dhanvantari of Benares is considered to be the reincarnation of Vishnu and considered to be the guiding sage of Ayurveda. He established Ayurveda as a specific healing art and is the spiritual founder of the Dhanvantari School of surgeons. Nagarjuna, a famous Mahayana Buddhist sage, authored a commentary on the Sushruta Samhita. Vagbhatta of Sind is the author of the Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita, a commentary on the Charaka Sushruta Samhitas with a synthesis of other works by other prominent Ayurvedic authors. He is responsible for introducing a number of new herbs and surgical techniques into the previously orthodox Ayurvedic schools.