Charaka contribution to science

Charaka researched the anatomy of several organs and the human body as a whole. He stated that the entire number of bones in the human body, including teeth, is 360. He was correct to believe that the heart is a governing centre. He asserted that there are 13 major channels via which the heart communicates with the entire body. 

About Charaka

Acharya Charak was an important figure in the development of the ancient art and science, medicine, and lifestyle philosophy known as Ayurveda in Ancient India. He was born around 300 BC. Between 150 and 200 BC and 150–200 AD, Charaka lived. He is well recognised for being the editor of the Brhat-Charaka Trayi's Samhita, one of the fundamental texts of traditional Indian medicine and Ayurveda.

Health and illness are not predetermined, and human effort and attention to lifestyle choices can lengthen life, in accordance with Charaka's theories. According to Indian tradition and the Ayurvedic system, prevention of all illnesses is more important than their treatment. This includes altering one's lifestyle to fit with the cycle of the seasons and the natural rhythm. 

Despite the fact that Charaka was well-versed in all branches of medicine, including the logic and philosophy that underlie the Indian medical system, he concentrated on the diagnosis of illnesses and saw Ayurveda as a complete system of medicine that addressed both preventative and curative aspects. He also went into detail about issues like foetal production and development, human physiology, and body function and malfunction. Three doshas, or principles, according to Charaka, are responsible for a body's functionality: movement (Vata), transformation (Pitta), and lubrication and stability (Kapha). These doshas are equivalent to how humour, wind, bile, and phlegm are classified in Western culture. They develop when food is consumed and dhatus (blood, flesh, and marrow) interact. However, one body produces more energy from the same amount of food that is ingested. 

Now we will discuss about Charak Samhita which was written by charaka.

Charak Samhita

An Ayurvedic (Indian traditional medicine) treatise called the Charaka Samhita was authored in Sanskrit. One of the two foundational manuscripts of Ayurveda is the Charaka Samhita, the other being the Sushruta Samhita. For two thousand years, it was a standard text on the subject and was translated into several languages, including Arabic and Latin. According to legend, the Charaka-Samhita evolved in the first century CE into its current form.

The Agnivesha Samhita, an exhaustive medical compendium, was created in the seventh century BCE under the guidance of the ancient physician Atreya. However, the work received very little attention because the material lacked depth of understanding and was out of date in terms of quality. The Agnivesha Samhita was later revised by Charaka, who gave it the name Charaka Samhita. The treatise was divided into eight portions by Charaka, known as ashtanga sthanas:

1. Sutra
2. Nidana
3. Vimana
4. Sarira
5. Endriya
6. Chikitsa
7. Kalpa
8. Siddha

There were several chapters in each segment.

The Charaka Samhita later gained seventeen further chapters from author Dhabala. The book identifies four essential elements of medical practise:

1. The Patient
2. The Physician
3. The Nurse
4. The Medications

All four are deemed important by the Bible for healing and restoration. Like the majority of ancient Hindu literature, the Charaka Samhita honours and acknowledges Hindu Gods as the authentic source of its wisdom. 

Acharaya Charaka is honoured as the "Father of Indian Medicine"

Every year, Charaka Jayanti is observed to honour Acharaya Charaka's contributions to medical science on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the sacred month of Shravana. The date of Charaka Jayanti this year is August 13. As the "Father of Indian Medicine," Acharya Charaka is revered today. Acharya Charaka is responsible for the science of Ayurveda's development, acceptability, and fame. 

His impact on the Ayurvedic community is unparalleled. Hippocrates, who lived from 460 to 377 BC, is revered as the founder of medicine by people all over the world, but few are aware of Acharya Charaka, who lived on the Indian subcontinent much earlier and made great contributions to medicine. Because he wrote the Charaka Samhita, one of the oldest, most reliable, and well-known medical treatises, Acharya Charaka is revered to the highest degree. The Charaka Samhita is a comprehensive reference work on Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a full manual for leading a healthy and fruitful life even though it is not a branch of medicine. 

Charaka Jayanti

There are numerous tales about Acharya Charaka's birth and life, despite the fact that no precise timeframe for his birth can be determined. During the Vedic era, Charaka was another name for a branch of the Krishna Yajurveda. According to the Samyukta Ratna Pithaka Sutra, a Buddhist text translated into Chinese, Charaka served as King Kanishka's court physician. The word "Charaka" implies another connotation. "Charaka" was the name given to the doctors who travelled from location to location providing medical care to the populace. This truth can be confirmed by examining the names of various locations where Acharya Charaka once taught and practised Ayurveda and which exist in the Charaka Samhita. 

According to another Ayurvedic Compendium, Bhavaprakasha, "Charaka" is a sage who was born as the serpent king "Shesha Naga," the servant of Lord Vishnu. Because of this, several regions of India also observe Naga Panchami in conjunction with Charaka Jayanti.

After carefully examining historical data and cross-references, it has been determined that Acharya Charaka lived between the seventh and second centuries B.C. Acharya Charaka's precise information, including his parents' names and birthplace, is unknown. He is thought to be a Kashmir native. The Charaka Samhita makes mention of the Chanderbhaga (or Chinab) river, which further demonstrates Acarya Charaka's proximity to that region. 

Acharya Charaka is rendered the highest reverence and tributes because he thoroughly refined the text ‘Agnivesha Tantra’ written by Sage Agnivesha. His hard work and dedication resulted in the shape of world-famous compendium of ‘Charaka Samhita’. His literary work and annotations were so spectacular that very soon his book gained popularity. The original text ‘Agnivesha Tantra’ now began to be known as ‘Charaka Samhita’ The popularity of Charaka Samhita continued to swell and attracted many scholars. Charaka Samhita was equally popular in medical as well as in non-medical circle. Original text of Charaka Samhita is written in Sanskrit. It has been translated in many international and national languages due to its popularity. Even in modern times it attracted notice of western scholars. A Club namely ‘Charaka Club’ was established in New York in 1898 by a group of four doctors to perpetuate the memory of Acharya Charaka. 

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