The knowledge of Ayurveda can become an eye-opener for the research to be undertaken in modern medical science

Ayurveda for a healthy life ! – 1/2023

Importance of good health as per Ayurveda

Ayurveda (It teaches that good health depends on the balance of three constituents of the body – vata [Wind], pitta [Bile] and kapha [Phlegm]) is considered to be the fifth Veda (The most sacred of Hindu Scriptures, revealed directly by God). Charaksanhita is the basic Text of Ayurveda.

Following has been expressed for good health.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणाम्आरोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्।

– Charaksanhita, Sutrasthan (1.15)

Meaning : Good health is the foundation to accomplishing the four Purusharthas – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (Righteousness, Material gain, Desire and Final Liberation respectively).

1. Origin of the basic biological Elements

Prakruti (Primeval Nature) according to Sankhya (One of the six schools of Indian philosophy) philosophy and Maya (The Great Illusion that the material world only is real) according to the Vedanta philosophy is the root substance from which the entire Universe except the Soul principle originates.

2. Subtle Elements

A. Subtle sense organs and mind : From Sattva quality of Causal Space, Air, Energy, Water and Earth arise Pancha jnanendriya i.e. the subtle sense organs of hearing, touch, vision, taste and smell respectively.

Mind and intellect arise from combination of Sattva quality of all the five Causal Elements.

B. Subtle motor organs and Pran i.e. motor life Principle : From Raja quality of causal Space, Air, Energy, Water and Earth arise Pancha karmendriya i.e. the subtle motor organs controlling speech, hands, feet, Payu (anorectal sphincter) and Upastha (penis with urinary sphincters ) respectively. Five Pranas i.e. Pran, Vyan, Udan, Saman and Apan arise from the combination of Raja quality of all the, five Causal Elements. Though Pran represents the motor life principle and is one, it is termed differently depending on the action it performs in different regions. The subtle Pran i.e. motor life principle, should not be confused with Pran Vayu i.e. Oxygen, which though essential for life belongs to the category of air in the gross form.

C. Panchatanmatra i.e. subtle forms of Space, Air, Energy, Water and Earth : From Tama quality of the five Causal Elements originate the subtle forms of Space, Air, Energy, Water and Earth, which are termed as Shabda, Sparsha, Rupa, Rasa and Gandha that determines the qualities of the five subtle Elements viz. sound, touch, form, taste and smell. Subtle Elements cannot be appreciated by the human motor sense organs.

3. The diseased state results from a change in the body composition

Health may be defined as a state of perfect balance between the five basic Elements quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The diseased state results from a change in the body composition, i.e. the balance of the five basic Elements in man either quantitatively or qualitatively or both, e.g. diminution in the Water component in the body results in dehydration; increase in the Earth component would result in obesity; increase in the internal Energy would result in raised body temperature or fever, increase in Air would give rise to distension, increase in the Space in lungs would give rise to emphysema or a cavity and in the bone same process would lead to osteoporosis.

(Ref.: Sanatan’s Text on Ayurveda – Principles of Ayurveda related to Vata, Pitta and Kapha)