The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.27

c7.s2.27

The origin of plants and probably of the surgical knife is indicated by the *Videvdāt*. Zarathustra asks Ahura Mazda as to who had been the first doctor. Ahura replies that his name was Thrita who obtained from Ksathra Vairya the means to counter various diseases. Ksathra Vairya is the Aməsa spənta who presides over metals, also it is thought that Thrita received the knife from him (*Vid.*, XX. 2-3).³ At the same time Ahura Mazda has given innumerable medicinal plants which encircle the mythical tree Gaokərəna (ib., 4). These plants are associated with waters and with the liquid of immortality, the haoma. This haoma has a terrestrial form of golden yellow which is made use of in liturgy, but the Gaokərəna grows in the waters of the lake Vourukasa and produces a white haoma which, one day, will give the good persons immortality whereas a sea of molten metal will submerge the evil-doers. Besides, the waters and the plants are related to the Aməsa spənta, Hauravatāt and Amərətat, the arch-angels of health and immortality.¹