| Historical
Chronology of Ayurveda |
| Vedic
Period |
10,000 BCE |
Close to end
of the last Ice Age Beginning of the great Himalayan and Indus Valley culture |
| 6,000 BCE |
Some stanzas
in the Rig-Veda refer to events of this time |
| 3,000 BCE |
Bharadvaja
of the seven legendary rishis of the Vedas compiles Rig-Veda from the great cosmic
intelligence. In it the primary forces of Ayurveda Prana(Vata), Agni (Pitta) and Soma
(Kapha) are described. The Rig-Veda also mentions organ transplants and the famous medical
preparations known as somas with miraculous curative powers. The second and third
Vedas: Sama Veda and Yajur Veda are authored. |
| 2,000 BCE |
The Atharva
Veda, considered to be an Upaveda (supplementary Veda) is authored. Where anatomy,
physiology, herbal treatments, the disease process, treatment of specific diseases and the
use of mantras, gems and amulets for curing diseases are refereed. |
| 1,500 BCE |
Dhanvantari
of Benares is considered as the reincarnation of Vishnu and the guiding sage of Ayurveda.
He establishes Ayurveda as a distinct healing art and is the spiritual founder of the
Dhanvantari school of surgeons. |
| 1,000 BCE |
Ayurveda
(and other offshoots of Vedic Doctrine) become more specialized and forms into two schools
(Dhanvantari: the school of surgeons and Atreya: the school of physicians) and eight
branches. The Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita are authored.
Ayurveda spreads to other regions such as southeast Asia. |
| 323 BCE (?) |
Nagarjuna,
the great saint of Mahayana Buddhism and an Ayurvedic doctor, writes a review on the
Sushruta Samhita. |
| Classical
Period |
500 AD |
Ashtanga
Hridaya Samhita written by Vagbhatta of Sind. Various Ayurvedic works spread to other
parts of world after being translated into Arabic. |
| Mediaeval
Period |
1,000 AD |
Serious
Muslim incursions begin into India resulting in decline in Ayurveda as a science. |
| 1,100 AD |
Madhava
(Madhavacharya) writes many books embracing Various sources of Hindu wisdom. Madhava
Nidana, one of his Medical books describes the diagnosis of diseases.
Major emphasis on chemical preparations called rasakriya during this period.
Chakrapani and Vrinda write systematic works on rasakriya.
Narhari Pandit and Madanpala write two books on medicinal herbs known
as Raja Nighantu and Madanpala Nighantu. |
| 1,300 Ad |
Sharangdhara
Samhita, Madhava Nidana and Bhava Prakasha the Laghu Triya (Junior Triad) written by
Sharangdhara the son of Damodar. |
| 1,500 AD |
Bhava
prakash written by Bhavamishra which mentions a syphilitic disease called Firanga Roga
(Foreigner’s Disease) prevalent among the Portuguese who came to trade with India
recently. |
| 1,833 AD |
British,
remove state patronage to Ayurveda. The East India Company closes schools of Ayurvedic
medicine and starts its own medical Collage in Calcutta. Ayurveda
remains popular In spite of state suppression and lack of patronage. |
| 1,920 AD |
National
awakening in India promotes a revival in Ayurveda. |
| 1946 AD |
Sir R. N.
Chopra is made chair of a government committee which makes recommendations for Ayurvedic
teaching, research and education |
| 1947 AD |
India gains
Independence After independence, the Government of India focuses
Attention on Ayurveda. More than 50 Indian universities now have
faculties in Ayurveda and over 100 Ayurvedic colleges are affiliated with these
universities.
Government of India allows the establishment of private Ayurvedic institutes on a
non-grant basis. Now new Ayurvedic schools arise throughout the country. |
