Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurvedic medicine and incarnation of Vishnu, emerged from the cosmic ocean during the Samutramanthan (churning of the cosmic ocean). The Devas and the Asuras decided to band together to churn the cosmic ocean in order get to the Amrit, the divine nectar of immortality, that was at the bottom. According to PubMed article PMID: 12572586:
“The original conception of Ayurveda in its entirety is essentially linked to Dhanwantari who is considered as God of Hindu Medicine. Dhanwantari is considered a mythical deity born with ambrosia in one hand and Ayurveda on the other at the end of the churning of milk ocean. He reincarnated himself in the Chandra dynasty. He was born to King Dhanwa, learnt Ayurveda from Bharadwaja. His great grandson Divodasa was also known as Dhanwantari, but was specialized only in surgical branch of Ayurveda. Sushruta, is said to have learnt the art of science of surgery from Divodasa Dhanwantara.”
Much of what is practiced across the globe as modern medicine, owes its roots to Ayurveda, mostly to Vaidya Sushruta, who was the first to perfect surgery. Sushruta the “Father of plastic surgery and brain surgery” was skilled in plastic surgery and is credited for developing the procedures which later became surgery. This legacy was documented in The Sushruta Samhita and became part of the medical trilogy Brihat Trayi, which is also includes the Charaka Samhita and Ashtangha Hridayam. (more to come on these subjects in future episodes of the podcast & blog)
I give some more insights into Lord Dhanvantari on the Tishya Ayurveda podcast. Link below!
Lunar Mysticism Vidhya 
Leave a comment