Medicine (Ayurveda – Charaka, Sushruta)
Art & Culture › Science & Technology in Ancient India · Topic 10.4
Ayurveda, the science of life, is the traditional medical system of India, with roots in the Atharvaveda and its classical form in two Samhitas. The Charaka Samhita, attributed to Charaka and linked with the Kushana age, is the main work on internal medicine. The Sushruta Samhita, attributed to Sushruta of Kashi, is the main work on surgery, with about 300 operations, 120 instruments and early nasal reconstruction. Ayurveda explains health through three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. Vagbhata later wrote the Ashtanga Hridaya, and the Ministry of AYUSH, formed in 2014, now promotes the system.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Science & Technology in Ancient India
At a Glance
- Medicine text Charaka Samhita
- Surgery text Sushruta Samhita
- Later text Ashtanga Hridaya by Vagbhata
- Core theory Tridosha: vata, pitta, kapha
- Modern body Ministry of AYUSH, 2014
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Science & Technology in Ancient India
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows astronomy in the macro on science in ancient India. It treats the body as the previous topics treated the sky, as an area where observation and theory were joined in Sanskrit texts. Previous topic: varahamihira-observatories/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Oldest text Vedanga Jyotisha Aryabhata Aryabhatiya, 499 CE; rotating Earth Varahamihira Pancha Siddhantika, Brihat Samhita Observatories Jantar Mantar, Sawai…">Astronomy (Aryabhatiya, Varahamihira, Observatories). Next topic: Metallurgical and Chemical Knowledge (Rasashastra).
Who Were Charaka and Sushruta, and What Did They Write?
| Feature | Charaka Samhita | Sushruta Samhita |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Charaka, revising the work of Agnivesha, with later additions by Dridhabala | Sushruta of Kashi, a pupil in the tradition of Dhanvantari |
| Field | Internal medicine (Kayachikitsa) | Surgery (Shalya Tantra) |
| Period | Linked with the Kushana age, around the first and second centuries CE, with older roots | Compiled in the early centuries CE, with older material |
| Structure | 120 chapters in eight sections (sthanas) | 184 chapters in six sections |
| Famous content | Diagnosis, diet, causes of disease, medical ethics and the physician oath | Operations, surgical instruments, plastic surgery, cataract and stone removal |
| Foreign spread | Translated into Arabic and Persian in early medieval times | Translated into Arabic as Kitab-i-Susrud |
What Are the Main Ideas and Branches of Ayurveda?
- Tridosha: health is the balance of vata (air), pitta (fire and bile) and kapha (water and phlegm)
- Dhatus and malas: seven body tissues and waste products are also part of the theory
- Eight branches: Ashtanga Ayurveda has eight branches, namely internal medicine, surgery, head and neck, paediatrics, toxicology, psychiatry, rejuvenation and aphrodisiacs
- Diagnosis: physicians used examination of pulse, tongue, urine and the patient history
- Treatment: methods include diet, herbal drugs, massage and Panchakarma cleansing
- Medical ethics: Charaka describes duties of the physician and the student, which is often compared to the Hippocratic oath
- Drugs: Indian texts list hundreds of plants and mineral drugs, such as turmeric, neem, ashwagandha and tulsi
- Dhanvantari: the divine physician of Hindu tradition, whose birth day is observed as National Ayurveda Day around Dhanteras
- Link to Yoga: Ayurveda and Yoga share the idea of balance of body and mind
What Else Should You Remember?
- Sushruta on surgery: he describes about 300 operations and 120 surgical instruments, with training on models such as gourds and animal skins
- Plastic surgery: the Sushruta Samhita describes repair of the nose by a flap of skin from the cheek, a method later studied in Europe
- Cataract and stones: techniques for couching a cataract and removal of bladder stones are described
- Vagbhata: he wrote the Ashtanga Sangraha and the Ashtanga Hridaya in the 7th century CE, combining Charaka and Sushruta
- Madhava Nidana: a work of about the 8th century on diagnosis of diseases
- Jivaka: a physician at the court of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, and a doctor of the Buddha, linked with Rajagriha and Takshashila
- Takshashila: a leading centre of medical learning in ancient times, as in Ancient Universities/Centres of Learning (Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila, Vallabhi)
- Buddhist medicine: monasteries ran hospitals, and Ashoka’s edicts mention medical care for humans and animals
- Veterinary science: texts such as the Hastyayurveda and the Ashvayurveda deal with elephants and horses
- Ministry of AYUSH: created in November 2014, with systems of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy
- TKDL: the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library is a database of traditional formulations used to stop wrongful foreign patents, as in the cases of turmeric and neem
- WHO centre: the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was set up at Jamnagar in Gujarat, with a foundation stone laid in April 2022
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Author and field: Charaka for medicine and Sushruta for surgery are asked in almost every set
- Later authors: Vagbhata and the Ashtanga Hridaya
- Concepts: three doshas and the eight branches
- Policy links: Ministry of AYUSH, TKDL and the Jamnagar WHO centre
- Common error: swapping the two Samhitas, or calling Sushruta the father of medicine
As an analytical point, Ayurveda combines careful clinical observation with a theory that modern science does not accept in full. A sound policy keeps evidence-based testing of herbal drugs, protects traditional knowledge from piracy, and avoids unproven claims.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Texts Charaka and Sushruta
- Concepts Doshas and branches
- Policy AYUSH and TKDL
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the chemical and alchemical side of Indian science, called Rasashastra. Next topic: Metallurgical and Chemical Knowledge (Rasashastra).
Key People and Terms
- Ayurveda Science of life
- Dosha Body humour
- Shalya Surgery
- Panchakarma Five cleansing therapies
- Samhita Compendium
- TKDL Digital library against biopiracy
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Medicine: Charaka; surgery: Sushruta.
- Later synthesis: Vagbhata, Ashtanga Hridaya.
- Doshas: vata, pitta, kapha.
- Plastic surgery: nose repair in Sushruta.
- Ministry of AYUSH: 2014.
Do Not Confuse With
- Charaka and Sushruta Internal medicine versus surgery
- Ayurveda and Siddha Pan-Indian Sanskrit system versus Tamil tradition
- Vagbhata and Dhanvantari Historical author versus divine physician
Memory Hook
Charaka cures, Sushruta cuts, Vagbhata joins the two.
Mains Angle
Questions ask how traditional medicine can be placed in modern health policy. These points give a frame.
- Heritage value Texts, herbs, local healers
- Policy AYUSH integration, quality control
- Rights TKDL and benefit sharing
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the contribution of Charaka and Sushruta to ancient medicine and examine how traditional knowledge can be protected and integrated into public health.”
How to Answer
- Texts Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata.
- Ideas Doshas, surgery, ethics.
- Issues Evidence, piracy.
- Way Integrate with standards.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita?
The Charaka Samhita is the main classical work on internal medicine, covering diagnosis, drugs, diet and medical ethics. The Sushruta Samhita is the main classical work on surgery, describing operations, instruments and training. Together they form the two great pillars of Ayurveda.
What are the three doshas in Ayurveda?
The three doshas are vata, pitta and kapha, which are regarded as the bodily humours linked with air, fire and water. Ayurveda holds that health is the balance of these doshas, and that disease arises when they are disturbed by diet, season, age or mental state.
What did Sushruta contribute to surgery?
Sushruta described about 300 surgical procedures and 120 instruments in the Sushruta Samhita. He is known for the repair of the nose using a skin flap, for cataract couching, for removal of stones, and for teaching surgery by practice on models such as fruits and skins.
Who was Vagbhata?
Vagbhata was a medical author of about the 7th century CE who wrote the Ashtanga Sangraha and the Ashtanga Hridaya. His works brought together the teachings of Charaka and Sushruta in a compact form and became very influential in India and in Tibet and other parts of Asia.
What is the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library?
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library is an Indian database of traditional medical formulations from texts in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga, translated into several languages. Patent offices use it as prior art to prevent biopiracy, as in the successful challenges to patents on turmeric and neem.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Sushruta Samhita is chiefly a work on surgery.
It describes operations and instruments.
2 The Charaka Samhita is mainly about surgery.
It is mainly about internal medicine.
3 Vagbhata wrote the Ashtanga Hridaya.
A synthesis of earlier teachings.
4 The Ministry of AYUSH was formed in 1990.
It was created in 2014.
Related Topics
Browse the full Art & Culture index