Abstract

HERMENEUTICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHARAKA SAMHITA: AN INTERPRETIVE FRAMEWORK

Dr. Haroon Irshad*, Dr. G. R. R. Chakravarthy

ABSTRACT

The Charaka Samhita is a foundational text of Ayurveda composed in a highly condensed aphoristic style, making interpretation a complex and critical process. Literal translations often fail to capture its multidimensional meanings, leading to conceptual and clinical misinterpretations. Hermeneutics provides a systematic approach to understanding such classical texts by emphasizing context, intent, and methodological tools. This qualitative, conceptual, and textual study employed classical Ayurvedic hermeneutical principles such as Prakrta (context), Desha (place), Kala (time), Tantrakartru Abhipraya (authorial intent), and Upaya (interpretive devices). Selected verses from the Charaka Samhita were analyzed through contextual, linguistic, and commentarial examination to illustrate meaning construction. The analysis revealed that meaning in the Charaka Samhita is dynamic, context-dependent, and systematically guided by internal interpretive tools. The application of hermeneutical principles clarified semantic ambiguities, resolved apparent contradictions, and demonstrated that the text functions as a structured scientific coding system rather than a collection of literal statements. The findings highlight that hermeneutical literacy is essential for preserving the epistemic integrity of Ayurveda. The absence of such an approach leads to reductionist interpretations and conceptual distortions, especially in modern academic and clinical contexts. The study establishes that hermeneutical principles are intrinsic to the structure of the Charaka Samhita and indispensable for its accurate understanding, teaching, and clinical application. A systematic interpretive framework is therefore necessary to sustain the relevance of classical Ayurvedic knowledge in contemporary healthcare.

Keywords: Hermeneutics, Charaka Samhita, Prakrta, Desha, Kala, Tantrakartru Abhipraya, Upaya.