Agnivesha (Sanskrit: अग्निवेश, romanized: Agniveśa) is a legendary rishi (sage) in Hinduism, reputedly one of the earliest authors on Ayurveda (Indian alternative medicine).[1][2] He is described to have codified the knowledge of his preceptor, Atreya, and arranged it in the form of a treatise, named the Charaka Samhita.[3]

Legend

Agnivesha is described to be the chief pupil of Punarvasu Atreya. The Agnivesha Samhita, dated back to 1500 BCE,[4] is based on Atreya's teachings, and is a lost text on Ayurveda. The Agniveśatantra, consisting of 12,000 verses,[5] is stated to be the foundational text of the Agnivesha school, one of the six schools of early Ayurveda (others being Parashara, Harita, Bhela, Jatukarna, and Ksharpani).[6]

The text is mentioned in the Charaka Samhita: "the tantra (Agnivesha) as written by Agnivesha is compiled, edited and modified by Charaka" (agniveśakṛte tantre carakapratisaṃskṛte)[7] [8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dowson, John (1984) [1879]. A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, and Religion, Geography, History. Calcutta: Rupa & Co. p. 8.
  2. ^ Lingham, Durgadas (Rodney) (3 November 2013). Exploring Mantric Ayurveda: Secrets and Insights of Mantra-Yoga and Healing. Lulu.com. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-304-59409-9.
  3. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (13 May 2021). "The Story of Agnivesha [Chapter 5]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  4. ^ Mangathayaru, K. (2013). Pharmacognosy: An Indian perspective. Pearson Education India. p. 36. ISBN 978-93-325-2026-4.
  5. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (13 May 2021). "Agniveshatantra, Agniveśatantra, Agnivesha-tantra: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  6. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (13 May 2021). "The Pupils of Atreya [Chapter 10]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  7. ^ Charaka Samhita Online wiki edition available from http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Deerghanjiviteeya_Adhyaya Archived 25 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Ram Karan Sharma and Vaidya Bhagran Dash, Agnivesa's Caraka Samhita, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Studies XCIV (2006). Vol. I: ISBN 81-7080-012-9; Vol. II: ISBN 81-7080-013-7; Vol. III: ISBN 978-81-7080-014-9; Vol. IV: ISBN 81-7080-015-3; Vol. V: ISBN 81-7080-024-2; Vol. VI: ISBN 81-7080-051-X, Vol. VII: ISBN 81-7080-071-4


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