Question

Charaka is usually known as the father of Indian medicine. However it is not generally known that he also tried to list the names of all animals and plants then known to science. How many animals did he list in his Charaka Samhita?
A. 1000
B. 750
C. 380
D. 2002

Answer 1

Hint: Acharya Charaka was the first and one of the principal contributors to the ancient system of medicine developed in India known as Ayurveda. He is also known as the father of Indian medicine.

Complete answer:
Acharya Charaka was born in 300 BC and was a Native citizen of Kashmir. He said that life can not be predetermined and can be lived in a disease-free state by following a healthy lifestyle. He was the first scientist who described the importance of good digestion and immunity.
He is known for his great work towards medical science in India. He wrote the book “Charaka Samhita” in which he compiled all his knowledge and this book is regarded as the Encyclopedia of Ayurveda. Charaka Samhita was the work of many authors but Acharya Charaka compiled their works. It is divided into eight parts and contains 120 Chapters. “Charaka Samhita” along with “Sushruta Samhita” is considered the foundational text of Ayurveda.
In this book, he also tried to name all the plants and animals present at that time. He listed almost 200 animals and 180 plants in it. Thus, a total of 380 animals and plants were listed by him. He also wrote about the health benefits of using animals and plant products and their meat.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Charaka contributed greatly to the fields of embryology, physiology, and etiology. Charaka has a philosophy of ‘prevention is better than cure’. He stated that our life can become better if we start following precautions and by doing this, we can actually extend our lifespan.