Dhanvantri

Lord Dhanvantari, the Divine Founder of Ayurveda

Dhanvantari is the inventor of Ayurveda and physician of gods. He was born with a cup of Amrit (life-giving sweet elixir available only to the elites in the gods). He had also a Jalook (leech used for blood letting by Ayurveda physicians), a Srichakra (wheel) and a Sank (conch). Some believe Dhanvantari is the incarnation of Vishnu. The more credible possibility is that he was a born-Ayurveda Physician as a king of Benares. Most of the Ayurvedic practitioners worship Dhanvantari for the success of their profession.

Dhanvantari is also a renowned Ayurvedic Surgeon. It was he who taught the surgery to Susrutha, the stalwart of Ayurvedic surgery.

Read more : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanvantari