Doshas.

DOSHAS.

Prakruti is the main cause of creation of this universe.It posseses three mahagunas ;v.i.z.; Satva,Raja and Tama.When purush comes in contact with the prakruti;it looses it’s balance within three mahagunas leading to thecreation.In the same way ;when ovum(matrubeeja) and sperm(pitrubeeja) unite together causing imbalance within the three mahagunas in them leading to the formation and development of theembryo.These mahagunas and tridoshas posses the inter-relation which decends from the prakrutis or the genetic codes of the mother and the father leading to the formation of the prakruti or genetic code of the child.

At the same time of commencement of life,by the union of the shukra and artava,the doshas which are predominant confer their own character(to the embryo).Just as poisonous worms develop from poisonous material,there arise three kinds of prakrutis(constitutions) – Hina(poor),Madhya(moderate) and Uttama(best) from these doshas, separately.Samadhatu prakruti arising from the combination of all the three doshas in equal proportion (in the genetic code) is ideal; Dvidosaja prakrutis arising from the combination of any two of the doshas are bad.

During the union of shukra and shonita; which doshas become predominant determines the the prakruti(of the individual) and the lakshanas or qualities of these prakrutis are as per told(by shushruta.

Those which veshiate others (and cause diseased state of body and mind); when (they themselves) get veshiated are called as doshas.

Vayu(Vat),Pitta and Kapha are,in brief,the three doshas of the body.They destroy the body or sustain it when they are abnormal and normal;respectively.

Since; we know that the body of living beings is the constitutional combination of panchamahabhutas,as

We also know that;

Which means the body is made up of tridoshas ;i.e.; vat,pitta and kapha.

Thus we can conclude with the reference that the tridoshas are made up of the panchamahabhutas.But it is the dominanace of particular mahabhutas which differentiate one dosha from aother in it’s qualities and thus;the functions.

Vat is formed with predominance of Akash and Vayu which leads to it’s functioning of all the internal and external movements.Pitta being formed with the predominance of Agni and Jala; controls all the reactions which bring about the conversions in the body.Kapha being predominant with Prithvi and Jala; provides a medium and stability to all the reactions and movements in the body.

It is very unfortunate that in many texts relating ayurvdic knowledge with the modern studies;vat is designated as air,pitta as bile and kapha as phlegm.All the tridoshas have their five different forms each which exhibit different qualities in different parts of the body performing different functions.

According to the above context;Visarga which means the union or the collection is done by kapha dosha;Adan which means digestion or conversion is done by pitta and Vikshepa which means disintegration or excreation is done by vat dosha.By performing above functions; kapha,pitta and vat holds the body in the same way as the moon,the sun and the air holds the universe.

The state of body and mind in which all the doshas(3),agnis (13),dhatus(7) and malas(3) are in equilibrium along with the enthusiastic soul,sensory organs and mind is defined as the healthy state of body and mind.

In the above context;we have to concentrate on the equilibrium among doshas.The term sama or samya;i.e.;normalcy or equilibrium among the doshas is meant in respect with their praman(quantity),gunas(qualities) and karmas(functions).In this state of equilibrium;though the doshas have opposite qualities and functions; they co-operate each other in their functions leading to the normal functioning of the body (Dehavyapar).   

The most important concept remaining in this topic is the two types of doshas in the body;v.i.z.;Prakrutik and Vaikarik doshas. The pattern of various levels of doshas formed during Prakruti formation remains unchanged for the lifetime as the genetic code or again as the Prakruti of an individual.This pattern is nothing but the pattern of equilibrium among all the doshas for that individual. These doshas in the genetic code are called as the Prakrutik doshas.These doshas are formulated at the time of fertilization of ovum and since then they support and hold the body;proving that ‘at normal conditions, doshas act as dhatus.The doshas present in the body other then the Prakrutik doshas,which undergoes the changtes along with the timeare called as the Vaikarik doshas.Now these doshas are more prone to undergo vishiation causing diseased state of body and mind;thus called as the Vaikarik doshas.