Lokayata

(from Sanskrit, “directed to the world”), an ancient Indian materialistic doctrine. The actual works of the representatives of lokayata have not been preserved. Its founder is traditionally given as the ancient sage Brihaspati, who taught that the source of being was the always-existing principle of svabhava (nature). His views and the skeptical attitude toward the truthfulness of the Veda gave rise to lokayata; a later form was the hedonistic doctrine of sarvaka.