Charavaka or Lokayata philosophy of materialism
Charvaka is a philosophy that believes neither in a Creator nor atman nor Karma nor Moksha, nor afterlife nor in supernatural beings. It says that only those things that can be perceived by the sense organs exist. Other things like a Creator which is the Brahman of the Vedas and the atman itself are just due to creative processes of the mind devoid of any real existence. This philosophy believes that since life is attained only one time and death is inevitable, pleasure-seeking is the ultimate aim of life, and suffering must be avoided. This Charvaka philosophy falls under the umbrella of nastika philosophies alongside Buddhism and Jainism. To be classified as a nastika, a philosophy has to deny the teachings of the Vedas and refutes rituals. Charvaka also says that religion is the artificial creation of the rich and the intelligent to exploit the weak and the poor. Charvaka embraces the idea of uncertainty.
Charvaka philosophy seeks pramaan or evidence, and anubhav or observation. Empirical observation has a prime position in this philosophy. Conditional inference is important in this school of thought. The Charvaka philosophy started around 600 BC and lived on till 12th century AD. Guru Brihaspati was the founder of this school of thought. But, the original sutras of Brihaspati are lost.
Jayarasi Bhatta is loosely connected to Charvaka because he too talks about uncertainilty. He does not attack the Vedas in particular, rather, he attacks all forms of knowledge. He says that it is not possible to know anything for sure. In this manner, even Charvaka need not be true knowledge. However, since it is related to common sense, Charvaka can be used as a guide to happiness.
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The original texts of Charvaka philosophy are lost. So, from the Shastras, sutras, and Mahakavyas, and other secondary sources, the teaching of Charvaka have been compiled.
Charvaka says that when one tries to reach a truth from other truths or observations then there always is a scope for doubt. So, all inferred knowledge is conditional and not absolute truth. The meaning of 'Charvaka' is 'uncertain'. The other name of Charaka is 'Lokayata' which means 'worldly'. But, it also means to debate in a logical manner. Again, it also means to prove about nature in a logical manner. Ultimately, logic is the key to Charvaka philosophy and debate and uncertainty are very important elements of this philosophy.
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My thoughts
I believe that Brahmins were getting too evil and greedy during the end of the later Vedic period leading to the coming of Buddhism and Jainism alongside many other faiths which died down soon after but with similar contempt for the Vedas. I believe that the great and the pious were using the Vedic knowledge to fulfill unscrupulous needs by oppressing the weak which set the stage for Charvaka. Charvaka saw that the practitioners of the Vedas were only interested in pleasure seeking so that must be the ultimate aim of life and hence the philosophies. In the hands of corrupt Brahmins, the Vedas no longer fulfilled their promises and common people lost all hope. So, as many as five major schools of thoughts emerged which refuted the Vedas, Charvaka among them. Had the Brahmins not been so corrupt around those times, Buddhism, Jainism, Ajivika, and Charvaka would not have been so necessary. But, it had been foretold that at the arrival of the Kaliyug, the Brahmins would sink too low and become the worst Chandals. Hence, the Buddha came alongside all these other schools of thoughts. The greedy and godless embraced Charvaka. But, what happened around 12th century AD that Charvaka fell out of use?
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