Charvak

Maharshi Charvak ( 6th century BC) was an atheist scholar in ancient India known for his philosophy called Charvak Darshan named after him. Tenets of Charvak or Lokayats were contemporaries to early Buddhism and Jainism. In one tradition, he was said to be a preceptor of Brihaspati, while in another tradition he was said to be disciple of Brihaspati. Both of them are considered founder of Charvak philosophy, which suggests that he was the preceptor. The philosophy he founded is therefore know as Charvak Darshan. Much of his writings or sayings could not survive except about a hundred shlokas, and that too because they were referred to in writings of other scholars. It is said that he was a sage and preached even in front of the temples of his time. His name and the shlokas attributed to him are mainly found in the Mahabharata, Buddha and Jain literature.

Wisdom & Quotes

• As long as he lives a man should live happily

and drink ghee (purified butter), though he run into into debt,
for when the body is turned to ashes,
how can there be any return to life?

• A man must not turn back from pleasure for fear of concomitant sorrow. He must accept occasional sorrow gladly, for the sake of the joy which he finds in the world, as he accepts the bones with the fish or the husk with the corn.
• Whoever turns in fear from the joy that he sees before him is a fool, no better than an animal.
• If a man really left his body,

and passed on to the other world,
would he not come back once more,
drawn by his love for his kin?

• The fire is hot, the water cold, refreshing cool the breeze of morn;

By whom came this variety ? from their own nature was it born.

• There is no world other than this;

There is no heaven and no hell;
The realm of Shiva and like regions,
are fabricated by stupid imposters.

• The enjoyment of heaven lies in eating delicious food, keeping company of young women, using fine clothes, perfumes, garlands, sandal paste... while moksha is death which is cessation of life-breath... the wise therefore ought not to take pains on account of moksha.

A fool wears himself out by penances and fasts. Chastity and other such ordinances are laid down by clever weaklings.

• While life is yours, live joyously;

None can escape Death's searching eye:
When once this frame of ours they burn,
How shall it e'er again return?

• There is no heaven, no final liberation, nor any soul in another world, Nor do the actions of the four classes, orders, etc., produce any real effect.

- attributed to Charvak by his disciple Brihaspati


Gautam Buddha