There is a mythological story about the origin of Ayurveda. According to that story Brahma was the first incarnation, and it was he who first discovered Ayurveda. Then his disciple Daksha discovered further Ayurvedic truths. Then came the two Aswini Kumars to learn from Daksha and developed the science. Indra learned of it from them, and after Indra there were many rishis, such as Atri, Varadwaj, Charak, Dhannantari, and Susruta to continue the research and progress. These ancient rishis of India were seldom diseased themselves, but they were anxious to cure others who had become diseased by passing their lives in an unguarded manor  deviating from truth. For such purpose all the prominent seers of the country congregated once on the foot-hills of the Himalayas. At that conference Bhrigu, Angira, Garga, and others were present. Varadwaj presided. The conference resolved that Varadwaj, as the fittest man, should go to Indra for instruction in Ayurveda. According to legend, Varadwaj learned the science perfectly, cured himself, and enjoyed long life. He passed on these benefits to the other rishis too. We believe that this medical science is thus of divine origin and eternally true. We think that the scripture containing it will reveal new truths day after day to those who will culture it with devotion, faith, and research. Original truths in it can be realized through practice.

According to Charak’s delightful story, the ancient wise men of India one day assembled at the foot of the Himalayas with the purpose of ridding men of disease. They decided to send one Bharadwaj to heaven to learn medicine from the god Indra. According to another account by Susruta, one Dhanwantari, the house physician in heaven, learned the science from Indra and took birth in this world with the sole object of imparting his knowledge to eight chosen men of good will. According to other scriptures, when Narayan came to Earth as Visnu Incarnate, He taught knowledge of Ayurved to one Anantadeb. In the Purans we get the Dhanwantari story in a slightly different form. Here angels and demons combinedly churned the seas to get the ambrosia of immortality. Then Dhanwantari came out of the sea and taught Ayurved to men of the Earth. From these accounts we can understand that Ayurved even in olden times was regarded as ancient and superior. Men have a natural tendency to believe in the divine origin of what is old and good. The Greeks thought their medicine came from Apollo; the Egyptians, theirs from Thyoth; the Hindus, Ayurved from Indra and Narayan.