According to a later writer, the system of medicine called Āyurveda was received by a certain Dhanvantari from Brahma, and Dhanvantari was deified as the god of medicine. In later times his status was gradually reduced, until he was credited with having been an earthly king who died of snakebite. — Underwood & Rhodes (2008) ↑ Dwivedi & Dwivedi (2007) 1 2 Ancient Chinese Astronomy 1 2 Inventions (Pocket Guides). ↑ Joseph Needham, p.