According to Hindu mythology, Ayurveda is believed to have originated as a ray of enlightenment in the cosmic consciousness of Brahma – the creator of the Universe. The self-existent creator composed Ayurveda’s eight branches in a hundred thousand verses in a thousand chapters.

Brahma is believed to have imparted the knowledge of health and life, viz. Ayurveda to Daksha Prajapati, who passed it on to the Aswins – the twin Gods. The Aswins in turn conferred it on Indra, the king of Gods.

While all this happened in the heavens, the humanity continued to be plagued by pains and illnesses. Great seers meditated upon remedies for the numerous human maladies but in vain. It was then three eminent sages Dhanwantari, Bharadwaja and Kashyapa were deputed to go to Indra for learning the divine service of healing. Ayurveda thus descended from the skies to alleviate suffering on the mortal plane.