Ayurveda

Learning from nature had been the core of Vedas (ancient Indian Culture) and Ayurveda is also not an exception to this. In Vedas, treatments are divided into two - Bheshajam and Aushadham. Bheshajam is prayers, meditation, chanting manthram, homam (sacrifices in fire pit) etc. by which peace of mind, calmness and hope. Aushadham is use of medicines. (The term aushadhi itself means herbal - things available from plants and trees). Hence, there were prayers to Gods and Goddesses for curing illness and general well being along with the use of medicines. Here comes the importance of Lord Dhanwanthari, the God of Ayurveda.

The mythological story goes like this: To get Amruth (nectar - the medicine for immortality) Devas (heavenly bodies) and Asuras (demons) started crushing Palazhi (milky ocean). From the ocean many things came out - kama dhenu (the holy cow which gives whatever you ask for), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), airavatham (the white elephant with 2 pairs of tuskers) and Amruth. Lord Dhanwanthari (a partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu) came out with a pot full of Amruth (nectar).