Questioning Ancient Wisdom: A Modern Woman’s View on Charaka Samhita’s Gender Bias

 In my journey of exploring Ayurveda and spiritual texts, I turned to the Charaka Samhita, a revered pillar of ancient Indian medicine. While its knowledge on health, body types, seasonal care, and treatments is profound, I was deeply disturbed by one particular section — Sutra Sthana Chapter 8 — which warns against trusting women too much.

As a woman, a seeker, and someone passionate about Ayurveda and equality, I believe it's important to pause and ask: Should we accept everything written in ancient texts without question?

The Verse in Question

In Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana Chapter 8, while describing whom a physician should not associate with, it includes gamblers, secretive people, and women, claiming they are likely to be deceptive or distracting.

But something immediately struck me:

Why is there no warning about men?

Why is deception or manipulation attributed only to women in that list?

Understanding the Context

To be fair, this was written more than 2000 years ago, in a different cultural and social structure. Women were not given equal education, rights, or freedom. In such a context, patriarchal views found their way into religious and medical texts. What was written might reflect that era's fear of female independence, rather than any universal truth.

But we are in 2025. And it’s time we view these teachings through a lens of compassion, logic, and fairness.

Why It Matters Today

We often quote ancient texts to validate our health practices, rituals, and moral values. But when parts of those same texts contain gender bias, we must be brave enough to say:

“This is not acceptable today. We move forward.”

If we can evolve in technology and medicine, why not evolve in thought?

Ayurveda Without Bias

Ayurveda is about balance, self-awareness, healing, and respect for nature. There is nothing about these principles that requires gender inequality. The healing art survives because it works — not because of every word written in ancient manuscripts.

So yes, while I admire and respect Charaka Samhita for its brilliance, I also condemn the unfair portrayal of women in this chapter.

As a modern student and lover of this science, I choose to carry forward its wisdom, not its prejudice.

Final Thought

Spiritual and medical journeys are both about truth — not blind belief. Questioning respectfully is not disrespect. It is devotion to clarity.

Let us keep the gold. Let us leave the dust.

Let us honour Ayurveda by evolving with it.