During the post-Vedic period (800 BC to 1000 AD) that ancient Indian medicine began to develop. Ancient Indian medical traditions and its legendary physicians are known for many contributions to traditional as well as modern medicine. There are many famous ancient medical practitioners and writers of medical treatises like Jivaka, Patanjali, Charaka and Nagarjuna.

Jivaka, Medical Practitioner of the Post-Vedic Age
Jivaka was one of the principal disciples of Lord Buddha and a great physician. He was a very intelligent physician and could diagnose diseases at the very first sight of the patient. Once Lord Buddha was seriously ill and declined to take medicine. Jivaka sent a white lotus to the Lord; Buddha took a smell of the lotus and became well.

At the behest of Bimbisara he took his medical training in Taxila University and was appointed as the personal physician of the King. He held the rank of a "Minister". His preceptor in medical studies was "Atreya". Because of his exceptional skill in profession and his attachment to Lord Buddha, Bimbisara"s son Ajatashatru also retained him in his ministry.

The Buddhist texts are full of praises about Jivaka. He treated Buddha on two occasions and saved him from severe illness. People from far away places used to come to him for medical treatment. In later life he wrote a book entitled "Briddha-Jivaka Tantra", which was an exceptionally remarkable book on Paediatric medicine. His book helped many later Indian research workers and it was said that his book was the path-finder of Indian Paediatric science.

Patanjali, Medical Practitioner of the Post-Vedic Age
Patanjali was another great and talented physician of the post-Vedic ages. He was born two centuries before the birth of Christ and was a contemporary of Pushyamitra of the Sunga dynasty.

Patanjali was a scientist and philosopher of great fame. It is not yet known wherefrom he received his medical education. For the treatment of psychological illnesses, he wrote a book entitled "Patanjali Darshan" and for proper speaking facilities he wrote a book called "Panini Mahabhasya". The best scientific book written by Patanjali was "Lauha Shastra" which was the first ever book on metallurgy during that period. Before his book was published the metallurgical processes were verbally transmitted during the Vedic ages.

Charaka, Medical Practitioner of the Post-Vedic Age
The history of Maharishi Charaka is very much unclear. In the writings of Panini, his name has been mentioned at various places with reference to "Katha-Charaklluka". In the "Tripitaka" of Buddhism, the name of one Charaka has been mentioned wherefrom also we learn that he was the chief physician of Kanishka.

Charaka is famous as a great physician and the writer of "Charaka Samhita". It is said that he learned medicine from Brahma, Prajapati, Aswini Kumaras, Indra, Bharadwaj, Atreya and Agnibesha who taught him laws, anatomy, special senses, therapy, pathology, aerology, alternate therapy and prognostication. After learning from those 8 faculties he composed "Charaka Samhita".

Nagarjuna, Medical Practitioner of the Post-Vedic Age
Nagarjuna was a wondrous person of the 2nd century AD. He is the creator of "Mahayana Buddhism". His fame spread through Tibet into China. He was born in Vidarbha in the family of Brahmins. Even though he was educated in the Brahminical way, he was attracted to Buddhism in early youth when he left his family and became a Buddhist monk.

Nagarjuna is said to be a great physician also. He introduced many mineral medicines. He found out the medicinal combinations of mercury. He knew distillation, sublimation, precipitation and fermentation.

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