The Tridosha Concept Explained
References:
Vagbhata’s Astanga Hrdayam, Sarira Sthana, Chapter 3
0. Introduction
In my previous article titled “Basics of Ayurveda For Modern Man” I touched upon the concepts of Purusha and Prakriti that have origins in the Samkhya Philosophy and appears in Vedanta texts. Prakriti in Ayurveda is that fundamental principle that postulates that everybody and everything has a basic nature. I also explained the three Doshas (Vata — Air+Ether, Pitta-Fire+Water and Kapha-Earth+Water) derived from the Panchamahabootas (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, Earth). In this article, I would like to explain the Tridoshas in much more detail.
Actually, the distillation of the Panchamahabhootas into the elements of Prakriti is not as simple as stating it’s key constitution. Vedanta explains it through a process called the Pancheekarana, which goes into great details about how gross matter came about from subtle matter. The Sharira Sthana of Susrutha Samhita, the Vimana Sthana of Charaka Samhita and the Sharira Sthana of Ashtanga Hrudaya (I have used this text for my article since it is the latest treatise out of the three) explain the characteristics of the Tridoshas so that anyone can understand it to an extent.
- Context of Ashtanga Hrudaya’s Sharira Sthana, Chapter 3
In Ashtanga Hrudaya’s Sharira Sthana volume, Vagbhata talks about the physical development of an embryo as told by sage Atreya. In Chapter 3, he expounds the development of different parts of the body of the baby from the nutrients nourished by the mother and derives the origins the tissues (dhatu) from the mahabhootas. The Sapta Dhatus in Ayurveda are Rasa (body fluids), Rakta(blood), Mamsa(Muscular tissue), Meda(Adipose tissue), Asthi(Bone tissue), Majja(Bone marrow and nervous tissue) and Shukra(Generative tissues — ovum, semen, stem cells). Each Dhatu undergoes a metabolic process (via the Dhatu Agni) to give rise to Upadhatu (sub tissues) and Mala(wastes). Rasa dhatu is the medium of transport of the doshas. When there is accumulation or stagnation of rasa at any place of the body, there is an accumulation of the doshas, giving rise to a disease in that part depending on which dosha is stagnated in excess. Ayurveda places a lot of importance to Jatharagni (digestive activity) in the gastrointestinal tract. Almost all organic diseases of mind and body are said to be originated by abnormal states of digestive activity.
This chapter in Ashtanga Hrudaya talks about the seven kinds of Prakriti (human constitution). Three of them are from Eka-doshas (Single dosha types — Vata-ja, Pitta-ja, Kapha-ja: ja=born from). Three are from dvi-doshas (Dual Dosha Types— Vata+Pitta-ja, Vata+Kapha-ja, Kapha+Pitta-ja) and one is from all the three doshas in equal constituency (sammisraja = Vata+Pitta+Kapha-ja). Among the three doshas, Vata dosha is the all-pervading, quick-acting and strong one that has the tendency to aggravate the others, producing many diseases.
2. Prakriti — Characteristics of Doshas (Physical and Mental)
The text has verses to characterize how each of the doshas exhibit in the bodily parts and mental faculties of a person. I am hereby embedding the translations of the select verses from Ashtanga Hrudaya.
- Vata (Nervous Temperament) as per Master Vagbhata:
- Pitta (Bilious temperament) as per Master Vagbhata:
- Kapha(Phlegmatic temperament) as per Master Vagbhata:
I have prepared few comparison charts from the treatise into excel sheets to help compare the many physical and mental traits predominant in each individual dosha.
3. How can we use these charts ?
The key to understanding one’s Prakriti is to know oneself better by self-observation. The doshas are not only spaced in body and mind but they also have a time factor associated to them. Kapha dosha is prominent in early years of growth, Pitta in middle age and Vata is more prominent when one grows old. Hence old age sees more onset of diseases and malaise. But, given that there are so many factors influencing the flow of doshas in one’s body and mind, one can still get a sense of one’s own Vikriti that is not in tune with their Prakriti as one grows older and more mature. The more one knows oneself, the more they can separate their own nature from their derived drawbacks.
One can use these charts by adding a point to the columns that correspond to one’s nature and summing up all the points column-wise. The percentage of dosha dominance can be thence calculated. A person is rarely Eka-dosha type(Kapha, Pitta or Vata) or Sammisraja type(all three doshas in equal proportion). Everyone usually falls under the following Prakriti categories — Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Vata, Vata-Kapha, Kapha-Vata, Pitta-Kapha or Kapha-Pitta. Vikriti is anything in excess to one’s Prakriti over a long period of time. There are Vikriti calculators you can find in the internet if you are curious enough (Note that they may not be accurate — and one shouldn’t rely on the questionnaires available on the internet)
Vikriti once identified can be brought down to normalize. Consciously bringing down Vikriti is possible by self-effort and piety.
4. How does an Ayurvedic physician help?
Ayurvedic physicians use the mode of touch (example: naadi pareeksha to study the rasa dhatu, temperature etc), interrogations and examination to understand where in the body there is imbalance or stagnation of the doshas and from their knowledge about which types of tastes (sour, sweet, salty, spicy, pungent, astringent), what temperature of food and environments, which herbal properties and what timings of the day etc, they recommend a way of life that most suits a specific individual.
5. Conclusion
Understanding the tridoshas and thereby understanding one’s Prakriti and Vikriti helps an individual gain more insight into how to help oneself to stay healthy. Ayurveda is a deep science that needs extensive study, erudition and spiritual knowledge. To take advantage of what we have at our disposal is pertinent to every individual who wants to stay sane in these times of competitiveness and mistrust. When one is healthy, they give health to the entire society at large. Hence building one’s knowledge and applying them to oneself becomes the key to gaining peace and longevity for individuals and societies.
