Ayurveda and the Puranas are both eternal expressions of the Vedas — timeless and divine. As Acharya Charaka stated,
“Brahma Himself first imparted the knowledge of Ayurveda to Prajapati.”
Thus, both the Puranas and Ayurveda, composed in the sacred words of Brahma, are heard (Shruti) and not merely remembered (Smriti). They are divine revelations — not human creations.
From Lord Brahma, we received the Vedas and also two monumental texts, each consisting of one hundred thousand verses — the Purana and Ayurveda. While both are eternal, there is a distinction: the Vedas are Apaurusheya (not of human origin), having no creator, no author, and no limitation. Hence, they are considered one with Brahman itself — the supreme cosmic consciousness. Ayurveda, being an extension of the Vedas, is therefore a manifestation of Lord Vishnu Himself.
The Divine Emergence of the Nectar of Life
After several primordial ages (Manvantaras), during the Chakshusha Manvantara, a great divine event occurred.
At that time, due to the curse of Sage Durvasa, Lord Indra and the Devas (gods) lost their strength, wealth, and splendor. Defeated by the Asuras (demons), they wandered powerless and sorrowful.
The distressed Devas approached Lord Brahma seeking help. Seeing their plight, Brahma meditated upon Lord Vishnu for guidance.
Moved by their devotion, Lord Vishnu revealed Himself to Brahma and Lord Shiva, instructing them that the Devas should form an alliance with the Asuras to churn the ocean of milk (Ksheer Sagar).
From this churning, said Vishnu, would emerge the divine elixir — the Amrita, a medicine so powerful that it would restore vitality, immortality, and cosmic harmony.
The (Samudra Manthan)
The Devas and Asuras gathered countless sacred herbs and cast them into the Ocean of Milk.
Mount Mandara was used as the churning rod, and the serpent Vasuki served as the rope. Yet the effort alone was not enough.
Lord Vishnu Himself took the Kurma (Tortoise) Avatar, supporting Mount Mandara upon His back to stabilize the churning.
Seeing that even this was insufficient to extract the Amrita, Lord Vishnu manifested again —
as Lord Dhanvantari, the Divine Physician, descending into the ocean in an unseen form.
There, He meticulously blended the essence of all the herbs in perfect proportion, concentrating their healing power into the form of Amrita — the nectar of life.
When He finally emerged from the ocean, holding five golden pots of divine nectar, His five mouths were chanting the names of Lord Vishnu and the sacred herbs that cure all diseases.
Such was His state of perfect devotion and absorption in divine purpose.
The Struggle for the Nectar
The Asuras, driven by greed, seized the nectar from Lord Dhanvantari.
The Devas, filled with despair, prayed again to Lord Vishnu.
Then, through His divine illusion (Maya), Vishnu appeared as the enchanting Mohini and tricked the Asuras, ensuring that the nectar was distributed among the gods.
Once the Devas regained their strength and vitality, the entire cosmos returned to balance —
the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars resumed their orderly paths,
and life on Earth flourished once again.
The Descent of Lord Dhanvantari on Earth
The knowledge of medicinal use passed to the Ashwini Kumaras, the celestial healers.
But when disease once again began to afflict humanity, Lord Vishnu reincarnated as Dhanvantari,
born to King Dhanva through divine grace, as a result of the king’s deep penance.
Even while in the womb, the divine child possessed great yogic powers.
Upon birth, Lord Dhanvantari divided Ayurveda into eight branches, known as the Ashtanga Ayurveda:
1️⃣ Kaya Chikitsa – Internal Medicine
2️⃣ Bala Chikitsa – Pediatrics
3️⃣ Graha Chikitsa – Psychiatry
4️⃣ Urdhvanga Chikitsa – ENT & Ophthalmology
5️⃣ Shalya Chikitsa – Surgery
6️⃣ Damshta Chikitsa – Toxicology
7️⃣ Jara Chikitsa – Geriatrics
8️⃣ Vrisha Chikitsa – Rejuvenation & Fertility
Through these branches, He restored divine knowledge of healing to humanity —
transforming Ayurveda into a sacred path to longevity, balance, and enlightenment.
Thus, Ayurveda is not merely a system of medicine — it is a divine revelation,
a spiritual science rooted in the eternal Vedas and manifest through the compassion of Lord Vishnu as Dhanvantari.
Let us remember this divine origin on Ayurveda Day, Dhanteras, and Diwali,
and offer our prayers to Lord Dhanvantari with sacred herbs, pure intent, and a heart full of gratitude.
Spirituality is beyond science 