Information on Ayurveda - Classical Ayurvedic Texts and Ayurvedic teachings

Classical Ayurvedic Texts

The three main Ayurvedic texts are the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and the Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita.

The Charaka Samhita, is considered to be the seminal work on Ayurveda and was compiled circa 1500 BCE and is the oldest of the three texts. Some of the topics it describes are; human physical structures, disease-causing agents and methodology for their diagnosis and treatment.

The Sushruta Samhita focuses on surgery and describes surgical instruments, categorizing and treatment of burns, fractures and wounds and speaks on different topics as plastic surgery and anatomy which are currently thought to be quite modern. The Ashtanga Hridaya, written by Vagbhatta of Sind circa 500 AD, serves as a framework for current Tibetan medicine.

Important Ayurvedic Teachers

The Ayurvedic tradition has numerous innovators and teachers. Three of the most important are Dhanvantari of Benares (c. 1500 BCE), Nagarjuna (c. 500 AD), Vagbhatta of Sind (c. 342 BCE).

Dhanvantari of Benares is considered to be the reincarnation of Vishnu and the guiding sage of Ayurveda. He established Ayurveda as a specific healing art and is the spiritual originator of the Dhanvantari School of surgeons.

Nagarjuna, a famous Mahayana Buddhist sage, wrote a commentary on the Sushruta Samhita.

Vagbhatta of Sind wrote the Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita, a commentary on the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas with a combination of works by other prominent Ayurvedic authors. He is responsible for introduction of new Herbs and surgical techniques into the previous orthodox Ayurvedic schools.

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