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.[5] The Agniveśatantra, consisting of 12,000 verses,[6] 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).[7]
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)[8][9]
References
^Dowson, John (1984) [1879]. A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, and Religion, Geography, History. Calcutta: Rupa & Co. p. 8.