Aurveda is based on
princeple that this World is composed of five basic elements. They are Akash (sky) , Vayu
(air) , Agni (fire) , Jal (water) and Prithvi (earth). These elements are known as "
Panchamahabhoot " in Sanskrit. The person whose health is to be mantained is also
composed from same five elements , health and illness are due to same elements and the
medicenal elements used for curing the disease are also from the same set of five
elements. This view point has special a importance in Ayurveda which would be quite
explicite later on.
The first Mahabhoot to come into existence was Akash (sky) then out of
it Vayu (Air) came into existence , out of Vayu Agni (fire) came into existence and from
Agni came Jal that is water. From extremly large objects to microscopically small things
all are composed from panchmahabhoots but the Panchmahabhoot which is in dominance in any
object is known by its name.
According to Ayurveda human body or any living body consists of three
constituents ; they are Dosha , Dhatu and Mal. These all come into existence due to
Panchmahabhoot. Dosha means defects , Dhatu means physical constituents like blood , flesh
, bones etc. and Mal means that part of body which has become polluted and has to be
thrown out like urine excreta and pus. When these consituents are present in normal form
then they help in growth and sustenence of body , and when they get deformed they make
body full of diseases or sometimes even destroy it.
Description of Tridosha
According to Ayurveda a living body consists of Tridosha which in
Sanskrit means three Dosha's ie. defects , pollutants or impurities . Actually this word
has a very wide meaning as would be understood later on. The three dosha's are known as
Vaat , Pitt and Kaph in Sanskrit.
A Dosh in its natural condition helps to mantain the body , it actually
pollutes the body when it itself becomes deformed , this condition then creates various
kinds of imbalance in the body . Charak Sanhita also mentions that these three Dosha's are
always present in the body and in there natural form make the body disease free ; and in
unnatural form they are known as defects. Now we will discuss relationship of Tridosha's
with other enteties.
Tridosh and Panchmahabhoot
This world is composed of Panchmahabhoot's which are the smallest
elements possible , so it is natural that the three Dosha's are made by them and carry the
qualities of that Panchmahabhoot which dominates them. Vaat Dosha is formed by Akaash
(sky) and Vayu (air) MahabhooT, Pitt Dosha is formed by Agni (fire) Mahabhoot and Kapha
Dosha is by Jal (water) Mahabhoot.
Tridosh and Satva , Raj and Tama
Satva, Raj and Tama are qualities of Man (Mind in Sanskrit) and
similar to the three doshas which are inherent in a body . These three qualities of mind
produce emotions in human beings that is why they are called as Manasik Gun (Mental
Qualities) or Mansik Dosha (Mental disorders or defects) Satva is always at a higher
pedestal so it is not taken as a defect , so the Doshas relating to mind are only two that
is Raj and Tama and when they get deformed they create various mental disorders.
The Panchmahabhoot's also carry the three qualities Satva , Raj
and Tama which are found in human being's. So Akaash that is sky has a majority of Satva
therefore it is Satvic (In Sanskrit) Similarly Vayu that is wind has dominance of Raj so
it is Rajasik (In Sanskrit). Prithvi that is Earth is dominated by Tama so is called
Tamsik (In Sanskrit) and finally the Jal that is water is both Satvic and Tamsik .
Therefore the tridosha's also have relationship with above mentioned
mental qualities.So Vaata Dosha is dominated and characterized by Rajgun (Raj quality) ,
Pitta Dosha by Satva gun (satva quality) and Kapha Dosha by Tama gun (Tama Quality). So
these three mental qualities and three Doshas are interrelated . If a person suffers
mental imbalance then the Dosha's are also going to be effected and in certain cases of
Dosha's being effected seriously the mental equilibrium also gets effected.
Relationship of Tridosha's with Age, Period, Food and Season
Out of the three Tridosha's the one dominating in a person at that particular time depends
on his age, particular period of day or night and period in relation to his consumption of
food. This can be understood by following table.
Dosha's
