Charak Samhita All information

Charaka Samhita is a ancient text focused on the healthcare system Ayurveda being practiced in India. Charaka Samhita epitomizes one of the finest examples of classical Vedicteacher-student (Guru-Shishya Parampara) interactions ever recorded, either in ancient or modern times. Though literally meaning the “Compendium of Charaka”, it was actually authored by Agnivesha, an ancient physician of renown. Charaka redacted the text called the Agnivesha Tantra, believed to have been written circa 1000 BCE by Agnivesha, a disciple of the legendary Vedic sage, Punarvasu Atreya. There are no chronological records marking the evolution of the body of knowledge that is Ayurveda, but it is speculated that Charaka lived sometime in the 8th century, BCE. A scholar named Dridhabala (300 CE) redacted and also worked on to restore some lost portions of the text.

In the last two thousand years, the popularity of Charaka Samhita spread beyond the frontiers of the Indian subcontinent, when it was translated into Arabic (8th century CE) and Persian (10th century CE). With the spread of Buddhism, it got translated into Tibetan and subsequently, Mongolian languages. Approximately 43 commentaries in Sanskrit were written through centuries – of which, Chakrapanidutta’s Ayurveda Deepika is considered the most authoritative.

Formation of the Charaka Samhita has been in four stages

Acharya Atreya Punarvasu (the narrator)-

Atreya Punarvasu also famous by the name Chadrabhagi or Chadrabhaga, because his mother name is Chadrabhaga. He is the son and disciple of Maharshi Atri. The available Charaka Samhita was narrated to the Acharya Agnivesha by Acharya Atreya. Thus the Acharya Atreya laid down the foundation of the greatest text of Ayurveda known as Charaka Samhita. His period is believed to be around 1000 B.C. i.e. 3000 years back.

Acharya Agnivesha (primary author)-

The disciple of the teacher Atreya and having a sharp intellect form accredited for the creation of the first text of the Ayurveda in a very concise form as the Tantra. Thus the narrator Atreya and the disciple Agnivesha share the same page in the history. The deliberations on the four limbs of treatment i.e. Chikitsa Chatushapada in the lines of the Upanishasa and the concept of wishes or desires is an indication of his might in the Ayurveda knowledge.

Acharya Charaka (2nd century B.C.- secondary author or the redactor)-

Original name of Charaka is Kapishthala Charaka, son of Vishuddha, student of Vaishampayana. Charaka is Raja Vaidya of Raja Kanishka. The place of Charaka was Kapisthala Grama which is near to bank of river Chadrabhaga (Iravati). Charaka is one of the most well known names associated with Ayurveda. One of the stalwarts of Ayurveda who has redacted the Agnivesha Tantra and made in to the Samhita form known as Charaka Samhita. Charaka is considered to be an incarnation of the lord of the serpents, Adi Shesha. Also he is considered to be the community which was the branch of Krishna Yajurveda. He is also believed of the six categories epistemology of the school of Nyaya and the inclusion of the disciplinary known as Swasthavritta in Ayurveda parlance.

Acharya Dridhbala (4th century B.C.) –

Dridhabala is son of Kapilabali. The final strata of the completion of the Charaka Samhita is the addition of the chapter missing from the erstwhile or previous text redacted by the Acharya Charaka. Thus, the missing 41 chapters (17 of the Chikitsa Sthana, 12 of the Kalpa Sthana and 12 of the Siddhi Sthana). The methodology used by the Dridhbala is the selective and collective methodology called the Unchha and Shila Vritti respectively.

Classification of Charaka Samhita –

The Charaka Samhita is divided into eight Sthana or section namely the Sutra, Nidana, Vimana, Sharira, Chikitsa, Kalpa and Siddhi Sthana respectively. As per Shivadasa Sena there was presence of Uttara Tantra in Charaka Samhita. Further information regarding Uttara Tantra is not available. The sequence of these sections is of great significance as it is in tandem with aims and objectives of the Ayurveda (indigenous system of medicine). The first and foremost target is the maintenance of health by following the Ayurveda system of life. The methodology of Ayurveda living and the basic doctrine of Ayurveda which is its foundation are vividly explained in the first section or the Sutra Sthana known as the brain of the Charaka Samhita. The essence of the knowledge of the whole text is extracted in its Sutra Sthana. The whole treatise is directed by the Sutra Sthana. The predominance of the Sutra Sthana can be ganged by its analogy to the nectar. The Sutra Sthana is the nectar of knowledge and is the collection of all the basics of Ayurveda medicine. All the three major treaties namely the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and the Astanga Hrudyam accord the highest importance to this first section called as the Sutra Sthana.

Total 1950 Aushadhi Yoga mentioned in that 1600 Yoga explained in Chikitsa Sthana. The original Charaka Samhita is of one volume, but the currently available Charaka Samhita (commentary of various authors) is in two parts like Purvardha and Uttarardha. Purvardha contains 5 sections Sutra Sthana, Nidana sthana, Vimana Sthana, Sharira Sthana, Indriya Sthana and Uttarardha contains 3 sections Chikitsa, Kalpa Sthana and Siddhi Sthana. These available in two parts are Hindhi commentary of Charaka Samhita, as different commentaries in different languages like English, Guajarati, Arabic, Persian etc. are also available which are written by different Acharayas and learned Vaidyas. In Charaka Samhita there are total 68 Acharyas names and 14 Desha (places) were mentioned. Charaka Samhita is explained on the base of four Sutra they are Guru Sutra, Shishya Sutra, Pratisamskarta Sutra and Ekiya Sutra.

1. Sutra Sthana

Deals with fundamental principles of Ayurveda covered in 30 chapters Sutra Sthana is sub-divided into Sapta Chatushkas (7 quadrates), having 4 chapters each.

• Bheshaja Chatushka – quadrate on drugs
• Swasta Chatushka – quadrate on regimen for the maintenance of health
• Nirdesha Chatushka – quadrate on various instructions
• Kalpana Chatushka – quadrate on description of therapeutic procedures
• Roga Chatushka – quadrate on description of diseases
• Yojana Chatushka – quadrate on administration of various therapies
• Annapana Chatushka – quadrate on description of diet and drinks
• Sangraha adhyaya – 2 chapters at the end of Sutra Sthana are known by the name Sangraha Adhyaya, the concluding chapters.

2. Vimana Sthana

Deals with the principles governing the bodily factors that cause diseases – drugs and medicaments covered in 8 chapters.

1. In Rasa Vimana chapter, sweet, sour etc tastes, qualities, functions, effect on Dosha, oils, ghee, honey etc, their effect on health and asta vidha vishesha Ayatana are explained.

2. In Trividha Kuksheeya Vimana, GI tract, quantity of food to be taken, what happens if the food is taken excessively or in low quantities, Visuchika, Alasaka etc digestive tract disorders are mentioned.

3. In Janapadodhvamsaneeya chapter – communicable disorders, endemic diseases, reasons, preventive measures are mentioned.

4. In Trividha Roga Vishesha Vijnaneeya chapter, Pratyaksha – direct observation, Anumana, Aptaopadesha – means of knowledge, etc are explained.

5. In Sroto Vimana chapter, all the body channels, causes, symptoms and treatment of vitiation of body channels are mentioned.

6. In Roganeeka Vimana – types of diseases – mental, physical, types of Agni, Prakriti – body types etc are mentioned.

7. In Vyadhita Rupeeya Vimana – Guru, Laghu etc patient features, Krumi causes and treatment are mentioned.

8. In Roga Bhishag Jiteeya chapter, causes for diseases, Sambhasha – discussion, 10 types of patient examination etc are explained.

3. Nidana Sthana

Deals with aetiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of diseases covered in 8 chapters. For each disease, causative factors, prodromal symptoms, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, prognosis are explained in detail. Jwara, Rakthapitha, Gulma, Prameha, Kushta etc diseases are explained in detail.

4. Sharira Sthana

Deals with embryology, anatomy and physiology covered in 8 chapters. This section gives detail description about Human Anatomy and its application in treatment, panchamahabhutha (Basic 5 elements of earth), conception, embryology, signs of pregnancy, month wise fetal development, manas prakruti (constitution of mind), determination of prakruti in the fetus, procedure of labour, diseases of children, bala samskara (Agewise ceremony), child nutrition and treatment of child disease.

5. Indriya Sthana

Deals with prognostic signs and symptoms covered in 12 chapters In this section signs and symptoms of bad prognosis, inauspicious symptoms pertaining to skin complexion, voice, odour, taste, touch, sight, sound, mind, tongue, nose, fire, hygiene, behavioural activities, memory, tolerance capacity of patient, strength, structure of body. dryness, unctuousness, heaviness, digestion of food etc

Importance of inauspicious symptoms in the origin of disease, pain, advice, shadow, dreams, to see inauspicious signs on the road, auspicious and inauspicious signs related to sense organs and its perceived senses, curable and incurable signs of disease and patients life span are mentioned.

5. Chikitsa Sthana

Deals with treatment of various diseases covered in 30 chapters. This section explains in detail under Rasayana chapters – Rasayana medicines, intake procedure of rasayana, types of rasayana, rasayana properties of hareethaki and amalaki, procedure of its preparation, intake and its doses. It also deals with acharya rasayana.

Vajikarana chapters deals with causes, types and treatment of infertility, use of vajikaran medicines, its method of preparation and intake.

Causes, signs and symptoms, types and treatment of various disease beginning from jwara, Rakthapitta, Gulma, Prameha, Doshagatha diseases, mental disorders, alcoholism, poisoning etc are mentioned here.

6. Kalpa Sthana

Deals with formulations for vamana (emesis), virechana (purgation) etc covered