Ayurveda is a discipline of the Upaveda or “auxiliary knowledge” in  Vedic tradition. The origins of Ayurveda are also found in Atharvaveda, which contains 114 hymns and incantations described as magical cures for disease. There are various legendary accounts of the origin of Ayurveda, e.g. that it was received by Dhanavantri (or Divodasa) from Bramha. Tradition also holds that the writings of Ayurveda were influenced by a lost text by the sage Agnivesa.  

There are three principal early texts on Ayurveda, the Charaka Samhita, the  Sushruta Samhita, and the Bhela Samhita.