Lord Divodas Dhanvantari - The Father of Science and Life

DHANVANTARI is the name of the physician of the Gods. Ayurveda is the name which the ancient Indians gave to the science of life. Ayuh means life and Veda means to know. As such, Ayurveda means the science by the knowledge of which life can be prolonged or its nature can be understood. There are four sacred books of India, e.g. Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, These Vedas are believed to be not composed by man but they were taught by the Gods to sages or they were revealed to the sages. Ayurveda is a subsection or Upanga of Atharvaveda.

The origin of Ayurveda was revealed by lord Divodasa Dhanvantari to Susruta, Pauskalavata, Aurabha, Vaitarana and others. In Susruta-Samhita Lord Dhanvantari is referred to as the master of Salya Tantra or major surgery. Lord Dhanvantari claims to have received the knowledge of Ayurveda from Indra, the King of Gods. It is noted down in the sacred books of Ancient Indian Medicine that Brahma first expounded the Ayurveda to Prajapati. Prajapati taught it to two Aswini Kumars. From these twin brothers, Indra studied the subject of Ayurveda and later on from Indra, The Lord Dhanvantari obtained the knowledge.

In Susruta-Samhita the origin of medical science is described as follows: Dhanvantari, the King of Banarese or Kasi, was sitting in his hermitage, encircled by sacrified sages. Susruta addressed Lord Dhanvantari and said, "We are sorry to see men afflicted by diseases. We wish to learn Ayurveda from you to cure diseases of these pleasure-seeking men, to protect our own bodies, and for the general good of mankind. Please do thou teach us this Science of Life."

Lord Dhanvantari replied, "You are qualified and fit to receive the instructions in Ayurveda."

Brahma composed Ayurveda in one hundred thousand slokas and a thousand chapters. But after considering the short span of life and the limited intelligent quotient of normal human beings, Lord Dhanvantari divided Ayurveda into eight volumes, e.g. Kaya, cikista (Medicine); Kumarabhrtya (Pediatrics); Rasayana tantra (Geriatrics); Salya (Surgery); Salakya (Diseases of mouth, eye, ear, nose, throat, or ophthalmology, ENT, surgery); Agada tantra (Forensic Medicine); Bhutavidya & Vajikarana tantra (Science related to sex). The science of medicine as well as the surgery was taught to Susruta by Lord Dhanvantari. It largely contains facts, knowledge, theories and analogy. Of all the branches of medicine, the science of surgery is the most useful. This is because by its help we can gain our objects soon and it treats of the practical uses of surgical instruments.

Lord Divodasa Dhanvantari revealed the art of healing to well educated, qualified but enthusiastic students. Even today, we always divide the art of healing into subsections like Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, etc. In the art of healing, the marvelous thoughts were unfolded by Lord Dhanvantari in a very lucid and lavish language. But they are supported with appropriate similies associated with accurate description. As such the different eight sections marshalled and carved our by Lord Dhanvantari about 600 B.C. still remain up even to day to a large extent unparalleled, unequivocal and unchallenged.

Even today, in India, Diwali Festival inaugurates with rememberance of Lord Dhanvantari. For such, during dusk time, a lamp pointing toward North by North-East is lit at the entrance of the door step. Such is the welcome to Lord Dhanvantari to bestow on all for the health and the happiness in ensuing life.