Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva in the context of ‘Carakasaṃhitā’

Abstract

Philosophical and Ayurvedic theories and concepts both seem to have had influence on each other. One of the theories is ‘Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva’ or ‘Cause and Effect Theory’. The law of nature states that cause (Kāraṇa) precedes effect (Kārya). Āyurveda is basically a ‘Cikitsā Śāstra’. The basis of Cikitsā in Āyurveda is ‘Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva’ (कार्यकारणभाव:). The knowledge of ‘Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva’ helps physicians in making accurate diagnoses, identifying the causes of a disease's appearance, and suggesting treatment regimens. Due to abundance of the topic, we will see the ‘Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva’ (Cause and Effect Theory) only from the point of view of Carakasaṃhitā. Carakasaṃhitā is a Sanskrit text on Āyurveda. In Carakasaṃhitā, the concept of Kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva is thoroughly explained with appropriate instances. Like outbreaks of vātādidoṣa (वातादििोष:) arise due to consumption of mithyā āhāra (मिथ्र्ा-आहार:). One’s physical well-being is also a result of following health-related guidelines. Sāṃkhya Darśana and Carakasaṃhitā both follow the Satkāryavāda. Satkāryavāda means that before the production, the effect already exists in the cause in an unmanifested form. This theory proves that satkārya (सत्कार्यि्) can only be produced from satkāraṇa (सत्कारणि्). Through this research paper, we will see further via many examples that Carakasaṃhitā adheres to Satkāryavāda.