Ah, that’s a great question you’ve got there! Ayurveda is indeed a rich tapestry of wisdom that’s been woven over thousands of years. When it comes to the “founder” of Ayurveda, it’s a bit tricky. Ayurveda is more like a collective wisdom passed down through generations rather than the brainchild of a single individual.
Historically, it’s believed that Ayurveda was divinely revealed to the sages by Dhanvantari, the Hindu god of medicine, during the Vedic period. This itself suggests it wasn’t just from one source. Sages like Charaka and Sushruta were major contributors, but they’re not exactly the founders. They were more like the great scholars who furthered the science and documented it in a systematic way.
Charaka Samhita is a key text penned by Charaka, focusing largely on internal medicine and the philosophy of life itself. Sushruta Samhita, by Sushruta, is another classical text that lays down the principles of surgery and is actually one of the earliest surgical manuscripts. They didn’t invent Ayurveda but documented their extensive experience and knowledge.
As for the concept of doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) - yes, they’re pretty ancient. These ideas have roots in the early Vedic texts themselves and were elaborated by various scholars over time. So, while Charaka and Sushruta certainly describe doshas, they weren’t necessarily creating this concept from scratch.
Concerning modern Ayurveda, there have been changes, naturally, just like anything else over millennia. However, the core principles remain. While today’s practices incorporate contemporary understandings and technology, true practitioners always keep the ancient texts in focus for guidelines.
Knowledge preservation was a bit different back then. Oral traditions played a massive role, with teachings memorized and passed down through generations before being committed to writing in these epitomes like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Fascinatingly enough, even today, those texts remain deeply influential.
Honestly, the communal and iterative nature of Ayurveda’s development is part of why it’s so holistic and adaptable. It’s a system that respects and incorporates changes while holding onto those foundational principles. Hope this helps you in your journey with Ayurveda!
