Acharyas of Ayurveda (Dvitiya)

Charaka

Acharya Charaka also referred to as Kapisthala Charaka, was the offspring of Vishuddha and a dedicated student of Vaishampayana Rishi. Charaka served as a raja vaidya, or royal physician, under the reign of King Kanishka, a ruler belonging to the Kushan Dynasty. Charaka belonged to the Yayavara category of Rishis, who were known for their extensive travels in search of knowledge throughout the world. In contrast, the Shalina category consisted of Rishis who established ashrams to gather disciples after prolonged periods of tapas (austerities). Charaka originated from the village of 'Kapisthala,' located in the state of Panchanada. This village was nestled between the rivers Iravati and Chandrabhaga. In contemporary times, the rivers Iravati and Chandrabhaga are recognized as Ravi and Chenab respectively. Therefore, it can be deduced that the state of Panchanada corresponds to the present-day region of Punjab.

Drudhabala

Acharya Drudhabala, the offspring of Kapilabali, is recognized as a compiler or editor of the Charaka Samhita. According to Vagbhata's Astanga Sangraha, Acharya Drudhabala is believed to have lived during the Gupta Dynasty in India, which corresponds to the 4th-5th century AD. The aforementioned information can also be inferred from the literary style found in certain sections. Acharya Drudhabala was responsible for the editing and composition of the 41 lost chapters of the Charaka Samhita. Among these chapters, 17 are included within the Chikitsa Sthana itself, while He authored the Kalpa and Siddhi Sthanas in their entirety. Acharya Dridhabala's significant contributions to the Charaka Samhita have elevated it to the status of one of the "brihattrayees" (major three texts) in Ayurveda. He introduces himself in the 30th chapter of Chikitsa Sthana and the 12th chapter of Siddhi Sthana, declaring his devotion to the Hindu deity Mahadeva (Lord Shiva).

Sushrutha

Acharya Sushrutha was born to Rishi Vishwamitra and studied under the guidance of Divodasa Dhanvantari as his disciple. He hailed from the ancient city of Kashi (Varanasi) in India and is often referred to as the "Father of Surgery." Some of his notable contributions include the use of surgical instruments like forceps, scalpels, and needles, as well as the classification of surgical procedures into various categories. He also emphasized the importance of ethics and patient care in medicine and surgery. Sushruta's teachings and techniques have had a profound influence on the practice of medicine, especially surgery, in ancient India and beyond. His legacy continues to be revered in the field of medicine, and he remains an important figure in the history of healthcare and surgery. It is worth noting that Sushrutha was the initial redactor of the Sushrutha Samhita, and Nagarjuna took on the role of the second redactor.

Some lesser-known Figures of Ayurveda

In the Charaka Samhita, there is an assembly of numerous rishis who gathered to discuss Ayurveda. It is said that the following individuals were present at this gathering:

Kashyapa, Atreya, Bhikshu Atreya, and Bharadwaja were among the distinguished attendees at the gathering. While several rishis are renowned for their significant contributions to various fields, limited information is available about many others, resulting in their names being mentioned without detailed descriptions. Among the aforementioned rishis, some were described as:

• Rishi Kankayana - Unani Vaidya from Bahlika Desha

• Rishi Paingi - Chinese Vaidya

• Rishi Hiranyaksha - European Vaidya

• Rishi Agastya - South Indian Vaidya

• Rishi Pulastya - An ancestor of Demon King Ravana of the epic Ramayana Fame, an expert in Nadi Vijnana or the study of pulse which he passed down to Ravana

Rishi Badarayana Vedavyasa - Author of Agnipurana and Garudapurana.

Ayurveda through Generations

Ayurveda was transmitted from Lord Indra to numerous rishis on Earth, and the sequence or the names of the rishis involved in this lineage varies across different texts.

Name of the text	Rishi Who learnt Ayurveda from Indra	Rest of them
Charaka Samhitha	Bhardwaja	Atreya
Sushrutha Samhita	Divodasa Dhanvantari	7 disciples
Astanga Hridaya	Atreya	Agnivesha
Astanga Sangraha	Bharadwaja, Divodasa, Nimi, Kashyapa	-
Kashyapa Samhita	Kashyapa, Vasistha, Atri, Bhrigu	-
Bhavaprakasha Samhita	Atreya	Agnivesha
Bhaskara Sampradaya	Bhaskara ( Learnt directly from Daksha)	16 disciples

We are already familiar with the seven disciples of Divodasa Dhanvantari, and now let's take a look at the sixteen disciples of Bhasakara, along with the texts they authored:

• Dhanvantari -Chikitsa Tatva Vijanana

• Divodasa- Chikitsa Darpana

• Kashiraja- Chikitsa Koumudi

• Ashwini Kumara - Chikitsa Sara Tantra

• Nakula - Vaidyaka Sarvasva

• Sahadeva - Vyadhi Sindhu Vimardana

• Yama - Jnanarvana

• Chyavana - Jivadana

• Janaka - Vaidyasandeha Bhanjana

• Budha - Sarvasara

• Jabala - Tantrasara

• Janjali - Vedangasara

• Paila - Nidana

• Kavatha - Sarvadhara

• Agastya - Vaidya Nirnaya

• Dastra - Bhramaghna

Even though some texts may not be accessible, we can discover the essence of the aforementioned knowledge in the available texts.

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