The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.142

c7.s2.142

But in the absence of all historical data capable of settling the question, these two last hypotheses can be judged only according to their intrinsic probability and which is rather weak. Given the important rôle played by the naturalism both in the Avesta and in the Veda, it would be difficult to suppose that this naturalism did not correspond to the very basis of the Indo-Iranian ideas. It will be still more difficult to conceive that in a largely natural mythology, the wind did not directly have its recognised place. Although one may admit that due to the date of its definitive redaction, the recent Avesta could have borrowed certain data from Brahmanic India, it is probable that the importance accorded to the wind in this Avesta goes back to the Indo-Iranian period as it is similar to the importance given to it in the ancient Veda.