The etymology of Charvaka (Sanskrit: ) is uncertain.

Some believe it to mean

"agreeable speech" or pejoratively, "sweet-tongued" (from Sanskrit's cru "agreeable"
and vk "speech"). Others contend that it derives from the root charv meaning to
eatpossibly alluding to the philosophy's hedonistic precepts of "eat, drink, and be merry".
[15]
Yet another theory believes it to be eponymous in origin, with the founder of the school
being Charvaka, a disciple of Brihaspati.[16]
Bhattacharya notes that the word Charvaka is of irregular construction, as cara as an
adjective means "agreeable, pleasant", but as a noun is another name of Brihaspati, and
both derivations are plausible.[17]

As Lokayata[edit]
According to Chattopadhyaya, the traditional name of Charvaka is Lokayata. It was called
Lokayata because it was prevalent (ayatah) among the people (lokesu), and meant the
world-outlook of the people.[18] The dictionary meaning of Lokyata () signifies
"directed towards, aiming at the world, worldly".[15][19]
In early to mid 20th century literature, the etymology of Lokayata has been given different
interpretations, in part because the primary sources are unavailable, and the meaning has
been deduced from divergent secondary literature.[20] The name Lokyata, for example, is
found in Chanakya's Arthashastra, which refers to three nvks iks (, literally,
examining by reason,[21] logical philosophies) Yoga, Samkhya and Lokyata. However,
Lokyata in the Arthashastra is not anti-Vedic, but implies Lokyata to be a part of Vedic
lore.[22] Lokyata here refers to logic or science of debate (disputatio, "criticism").[23] Rudolf
Franke translated Lokayata in German as "logisch beweisende Naturerklrung", that is
"logically proving explanation of nature".[24]
In 8th century CE Jaina literature, Saddarsanasamuccaya by Haribhadra,[25] Lokayata is
stated to be the Hindu school where there is "no God, no samsara (rebirth), no karma, no
duty, no fruits of merit, no sin."[26]
The Buddhist Sanskrit work Divyavadana (ca. 200350 CE) mentions Lokayata, where it is
listed among subjects of study, and with the sense of "technical logical science".
[27]
Shantarakshita and Adi Shankara use the word lokayata to mean materialism,[5][28] with the
latter using the term Lokyata, not Charvaka.[29] The terms Lokayata and Brhaspatya have
been used interchangeably for the Charvaka philosophy of materialism.

Origin[edit]
The tenets of the Charvaka atheistic doctrines can be traced to the relatively later
composed layers of the Rigveda, while substantial discussions on the Charvaka is found in
post-Vedic literature.[5][30][31] The primary literature of Charvaka, such as the Brhaspati Sutra is
missing or lost.[5][32] Its theories and development has been compiled from historic secondary
literature such as those found in the shastras (such as the Arthashastra), sutras and the
epics (the Mahabharata and Ramayana) of Hinduism as well as from the dialogues of
Gautama Buddha and Jain literature.[5][33]
Substantial discussions about the Charvaka doctrines are only found in texts after 600
BCE.[5][32][34] Bhattacharya posits that Charvaka may have been one of several atheistic,
materialist schools that existed in ancient India.[35] Though there is evidence of its
development in Vedic era,[36] Charvaka emerged as an alternative to the stika schools as
well as a philosophical predecessor to subsequent or contemporaneous nstika
philosophies such as jvika, Jainism and Buddhism in the classical period of Indian
philosophy.[37]
The earliest documented Charvaka scholar in India is Ajita Kesakambali. Although
materialist schools existed before Charvaka, it was the only school which systematised
materialist philosophy by setting them down in the form of aphorisms in the 6th century BC.

There was a base text, a collection stras or aphorisms and several commentaries were
written to explicate the aphorisms.[38]
E. W. Hopkins, in his The Ethics of India (1924) claims that Charvaka philosophy was
contemporaneous to Jainism and Buddhism, mentioning "the old Crvka or materialist of
the 6th century BC". Rhys Davids assumes that lokyata in ca. 500 BC came to mean
"skepticism" in general without yet being organised as a philosophical school. Its
methodology of skepticism is included in the Ramayana, Ayodhya kanda, chapter 108,
where Jabli tries to persuade Rma to accept the kingdom by using nstika arguments
(Rma refutes him in chapter 109):[39]
O, the highly wise! Arrive at a conclusion, therefore, that there is nothing beyond this
Universe. Give precedence to that which meets the eye and turn your back on what is
beyond our knowledge. (2.108.17)
There are alternate theories behind the origins of Charvaka. Br haspati is sometimes
referred to as the founder of Charvaka or Lokyata philosophy. Billington states that a
philosopher named Charvaka lived in or about the 6th century BC, who developed the
premises of this Indian philosophy in the form of Brhaspati Sutra.[40] These sutras predate
150 BC, because they are mentioned in the Mahbhs ya (7.3.45).[39]
A.L. Basham, citing the Buddhist Samaaphala Sutta, suggests six schools of heterodox,
pre-Buddhist and pre-Jain, atheistic Indian traditions in 6th century BCE, that included
Charvakas and Ajivikas.[41] Charvaka was a living philosophy up to the 12th century in
India's historical timeline, after which this system seems to have disappeared without
leaving any trace.[42]