Hindu Medicine c7.125

c7.125

But Dhanvantari is also reckoned as a disciple of Śiva, the conqueror of King Death, the “Tamer” (Yamāntaka), and lord of destructive forces, who is antagonistic to Viṣṇu, the maintainer. Through this twofold discipleship, Dhanvantari combines, as it were, the two main elements of Hindu medicine: the wisdom which increases lifestrength and maintains life-length to its full extent (āyurveda), and the wisdom of cures and remedies (bhaiṣajya) for diseases and demons.