A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c24.3

v1.c24.3

Chapter one (āyuṣkānīya)² begins with the transmission of āyurveda: Brahmā gave the science to Prajāpati, who gave it to the Aśvins; the Aśvins transmitted it to Sahasrākṣa (= Indra), who taught it to the son of Atri and other sages; these sages instructed Agniveśa and others, who composed treatises on the subject (1.3–4ab).³ The Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya is said to be based on the essence of these treatises (1.4cd–5ab).