Acharya Charak.

Why in news?

• National Medical Commission has recommended a modified Maharishi Charak Shapath for candidates on introduction to medical education.
• Acharya Charak, also known as Pranacharya Charak, was born in Kashmir and remembered as Father of Indian Medicine.
• He was an Ayurvedic practitioner and considered to be a court physician of King Kanishka.
• He wrote Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit text on Ayurveda dealing with subjects such as basic physiological and anatomical details of humans, Tridosha (vata, pitta and kapha), etc.
  • Charaka Samhita is dedicated to Maharshi Bharadwaja, as it traces its root to Atharva Veda with verses from Maharshi Bharadwaja to treat various ailments.
  • Agnivesha Samhita (by Rishi Agnivesha) on Ayurveda is also mentioned in Charaka Samhita.