A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c17.92

v1.c17.92

Caraka is sometimes supposed to be identical with Patañjali. 237 A late tradition, represented by the *Bhāvaprakāśa*, 238 makes him an avatāra of Śeṣa, 239 also called Ananta, who was incarnated as the son of a muni, who became known as Caraka because he came to the earth in the guise of a spy (cara). The description of this muni in the *Bhāvaprakāśa* made Bhagvat Sinh Jee240 assert that the name of Caraka’s father was Viśuddha.241 Some 242 assume that Caraka was thought to be an avatāra of the great Nāga called Śeṣa because he was of nāgavaṃśa.