Just as Asclepius was associated with Apollo, so was Imhotep associated with Thoth. Imhotep was an actual personage who lived in Egypt. He came from lowly origins to become a priest of Ptah and also the adviser to Pharoah. He was the architect that built the Step Pyramid. He was a scribe and physician. After his death, he was deified and became the god of healing. The Greeks identified him with Asclepius and he was considered to be a god of healing and medicine. He is considered to have been very wise and there is evidence to indicate that some of the proverbs in the Bible are actually sayings that came from Imhotep, since they can be found in Egyptian texts as well. It is assumed that the wisdom of Imhotep was absorbed by the Israelites during their captivity in Egypt. Libations of water were poured to Imhotep, when asking for his help in healing. Imhotep was also a physician as well as architect and scribe. Although no symbolism of staff and serpent can be found in regard to Imhotep, we include him here, since the Greeks identified him closely with Asclepius.
The Buddha, in his great compassion for all sentient beings, and their sufferings is often approached for help with healing in his role as the Medicine Buddha. This aspect of the Buddha is supposed to have taught the art of healing and medicine to alleviate the suffering of mankind. This just proves the necessity in every religious system for addressing one of the compelling problems facing humans. After all, if you have health, you have everything. If you don't have health, you really have nothing.
Vayu is the Hindu god of the wind. He is closely associated with the god of fire, Agni. He is considered to be the god of health in the Hindu religious system. He is considered to be all-pervasive, the breath of life. He is the father of the monkey god Hanuman. He is pictured here riding an antelope. Many times he is pictured with a bow and arrow. Could there be a conncection here with our Inle, who also used a bow and arrow?
