Agnivesha
{{Short description|Ayurvedic author in Hinduism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
Agnivesha ({{langx|sa|अग्निवेश|translit=Agniveśa}}) is a legendary rishi (sage) in Hinduism, reputedly one of the earliest authors on Ayurveda (Indian alternative medicine).{{cite book|last=Dowson|first=John|title=A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, and Religion, Geography, History|publisher=Rupa & Co.|page=8|location=Calcutta|orig-year=1879|year=1984}}{{Cite book |last=Lingham |first=Durgadas (Rodney) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SO0LBgAAQBAJ&dq=agnivesha+ayurveda&pg=PA59 |title=Exploring Mantric Ayurveda: Secrets and Insights of Mantra-Yoga and Healing |date=2013-11-03 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-304-59409-9 |pages=49 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2021-05-13 |title=The Story of Agnivesha [Chapter 5] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/history-of-indian-medicine-and-ayurveda/d/doc627431.html |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}
Legend
Agnivesha is described to be the chief pupil of Punarvasu Atreya. The Agnivesha Samhita, dated back to 1500 BCE,{{Cite book |last=Mangathayaru |first=K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2UQ8BAAAQBAJ&dq=agniveshasamhita&pg=PA36 |title=Pharmacognosy: An Indian perspective |date=2013 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-93-325-2026-4 |pages=36 |language=en}} is based on Atreya's teachings, and is a lost text on Ayurveda.{{Cite book |last=Mittal |first=J. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&dq=Agnivesha&pg=PA471 |title=History of Ancient India (A New Version) |date=2006 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0616-1 |language=en}} The Agniveśatantra, consisting of 12,000 verses,{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2021-05-13 |title=Agniveshatantra, Agniveśatantra, Agnivesha-tantra: 1 definition |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/agniveshatantra#ayurveda |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}} 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).{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2021-05-13 |title=The Pupils of Atreya [Chapter 10] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/history-of-indian-medicine-and-ayurveda/d/doc627436.html |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}
The text is mentioned in the Charaka Samhita: "the tantra (Agnivesha) as written by Agnivesha is compiled, edited and modified by Charaka" ({{Transliteration|sa|agniveśakṛte tantre carakapratisaṃskṛte}})Charaka Samhita Online wiki edition available from http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Deerghanjiviteeya_Adhyaya {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020548/http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Deerghanjiviteeya_Adhyaya |date=25 January 2019 }}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}}
References
{{reflist}}{{Ayurveda}}{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
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