Maharishi Charak is known as the great knower of Ayurveda of ancient India. Some scholars are of the opinion that Charaka was the royal physician of Kanishka, that is, he happened in the first century AD, but some people consider him even before the Buddhist period, that is, he was in BC. happened before 600.
The Chinese translation of Tripitaka mentions Charaka as Kanishka's physician. Since Kanishka and his poet Asvaghosha were Buddhists and the Charaka Samhita strongly opposes Buddhism, the association of Charaka and Kanishka seems impossible.
Charak wrote the famous Ayurveda text 'Charak Samhita' composed of. In this book, there is mention of curative and prophylactic drugs and a description of the ashes and their use of metals like gold, silver, iron, mercury etc. is found. The preceptor of this book was Atriputra Punarvasu, the original author of this book was Agnivesha and the anti-sanskara of this book was Charaka.
That is, Acharya Charak, by amending and enhancing Acharya Agnivesh's book Agnivesh-Tantra, gave it a new form, which is today called Charak Samhita. Maharishi Charak is counted among the original originators of Indian medicine. Charaka was educated in Taxila.
In Charaka Samhita, not only the remedies of diseases have been told, but also the subjects of philosophy and economics are also mentioned. He collected and compiled the major texts of Ayurveda and its knowledge. Charaka visited many places, consulted with the physicians of that period and collected their views and on the basis of his experience and research, he propounded the principles of Ayurveda.
It is known from the perusal of ancient literature that in those days the texts or tantras were composed in the name of the branch, as in the Katha branch, the Kathopanishad was formed. Shakhas or Charan were the Vidyapeethas of those days, where many subjects were studied. Therefore, it is possible that the Charaka Samhita was reputed to have taken place in the Charaka branch.
Some words of Pali-literature are found in Charaka Samhita, such as Avakranti, Jantak (Jantaka-Vinay-Pitaka), Bhangodana, Khuddak, Bhootdhatri (sleep) etc. From this the teaching period of Charaka Samhita is fixed after the Upanishads and before the Buddha. Its counter-rites must have happened around AD 78 during the time of Kanishka. In the eighth century AD, this book was translated into Arabic language and this text reached the western countries. This book is still viewed with great respect in Ayurveda.