Caraka, Suśruta and Vāgbhata are known as the ‘Great Three’ of Āyurveda and their classics continue to be the foundational texts after many hundreds of years. Among the texts, Caraka Samhitā stands out by its emphasis on philosophical themes which potentiate the central theme of medicine. They are to Caraka’s medicine what the powerful background is to the figure of Christ in the ‘Last supper’. Among the themes of philosophy, knowledge appears in many contexts and shows Caraka’s notable skill in adapting philosophical traditions to suit the demands of medicine because Caraka’s guiding principle was ‘compassion for fellow beings’. This essay outlines the philosophical underpinnings of Āyurveda and traces the ontological borrowings from the Vaiśesika, Nyāya and Sānkhya philosophers. Further, Caraka’s own views on philosophical matters such as ethics, destiny and agency are discussed.
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