Swapna in Ayurveda

M Preethishree; Pratibha Kulkarni

Swapna in Ayurveda

Preethishree M.^1*, Kulkarni P.²

DOI:

^1* M Preethishree, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Kriya Sharira, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.

² Pratibha Kulkarni, Professor and HOD, Department of Kriya Sharira, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India.

Ayurveda being an ancient literature has given importance to each and every corner of life in maintaining health as well as diseased condition. Swapna is one among that. Acharyas has given atmost importance for Swapna for diagnosis purpose as well as disease condition. Charaka has explained Swapna in the context of Arishta Lakshanas of disease. Kashyapa explained the concept in the discussion of Grahabhada. Almost all Acharyas stated the concept of Swapna in Prakruti. At the time of conception, Prukruti of a person is decided and status of Dosha at the time of conception determines Prakruti. So the Guna of dominant Dosha will be materializing in the form of Swapna. After Swapna, when its result appears as good or bad, if bad dreams occurs, procedures to be followed for its pacification. These are the things going to be discussed in this article.

Keywords: Swapna, Arishta, Prakruti, Grahabhada, Manovaha Srotas, Dosha

Corresponding Author	How to Cite this Article	To Browse
M Preethishree, Post Graduate Scholar, Department of Kriya Sharira, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India. Email:	M Preethishree, Pratibha Kulkarni, Swapna in Ayurveda. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2022;7(3):47-52. Available From https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/1780

Introduction

Ayurveda being an ancient literature, various concepts have been explained. Swapna is one among them. It has both physiological and pathological importance in Ayurveda. But our Acharyas have given more importance to pathological aspect in the form of Arishta Lakshanas, Graha Bhada rather than physiological aspect which is in the form of Doshaja Prakruti. In the present era, Ayurveda physicians concentrates less to this concept.

Review of Literature

Concept of Swapna: Swapna word has been derived from sanskrit root Svap+Nak^[1] which means to sleep, to lie down, dream, fall asleep^[2]

Swapna - state in which a person is not in deep sleep means in between Jagrutha and Sushuptawastha.

According to Sushrutha Samhitha, when an individual gain his past experience due to Rajo Guna in mind is called Swapna.^[3]

Utpatti: when all the Doshas or one Dosha gets obstructed in Manovaha Srotas , there will be loss of Indriya Artha Sannikarsha that in turn cause Swapna.^[4]

Any single or all Dosha

↓

Obstruct Manovaha Srotas

↓

Loss of Indriyartha Sannikarsha

↓

Swapna

Classification
Table 1: According to source and content^[5]

Type	Explanation
Drushta	The one which we saw through Chakshu Indriya
Shruta	The one which we heard through Karna Indriya
Anubhutha	Tarka or Abhyasa done by Mana
Prarthitha	Fulfillment of desires
Kalpitha	Imaginary things
Bhavika	Which gives definite Shubha or Ashubha result related to Future
Doshaja	Tridoshanusara Swapna due to its vitiation

Table 2: According to efficacy^[6]

Phala	Alpa Phala	Aphala
Prathakala	Prathama Prahara of Night	Drushta, Shrutha, Anubhuta, Prarthitha, Kalpitha
After Swapna, if a person Wakes up and doesn’t get Sleep	-	Swapna occurs during morning hours
		Too lengthy or too short

According to effect

Shubha
Ashubha

According to Prakruthi^[7,12]

Table 3: Vata Prakruti

Features	S.S	A.S	A.H	SH.S	B.P	Bhela
Wandering in sky	+	+	+	+	+	-
Climbs on trees and mountains peaks	-	+	+	-	-	-
Travels in dry reservoir	-	+	-	-	-	-
Rides on camels	-	-	-	-	-	+

Table 4: Pitta Prakruti

Features	S.S	A.S	A.H	SH.S	B.P	Bhela
Dreams of sun	-	+	+	-	+	-
Dreams of gold	+	+	-	-	-	-
Dreams of bright light	-	-	-	+	+	-
Dreams of red colour sky	-	-	+	-	-	-
Dreams of Palasha and Karnika trees	+	+	+	-	-	-
Dreams of fire, falling meteors, lightening	+	+	-	-	-	+

Table 5: Kapha Prakruti

Features	S.S	A.S	A.H	SH.S	B.P	Bhela
Dreams of water reservoir, ponds	+	+	+	+	+	+
Dreams of lotuses	+	+	+	-	-	-
Dreams of birds like Hansa, Chakravaka	+	+	+	-	-	-
Dreams of clouds	-	-	+	-	-	-

Relation between Swapna and Garbha Linga Dharana

In male gender

In Swapna, intake of food and drink that of a male and does the activities like male as stated in Charaka Samhita.^[21]
Dreams of Kumuda, Utpala, Padma kind flowers, Amratak like male denoting fruits as said in Sushrutha Samhita.^[22]
Dreams of things which denotes male gender as stated in Astanga Sangraha and Astanga Hrudaya.^[23,24]

In female gender

In Swapna intake of food and drink that of a female and does the activities like female as stated in Charaka Samhita.^[25]
Dreams of flowers and fruits denoting female gender as said in Sushrutha Samhita.^[26]
Dreams of things which denotes female gender as stated in Astanga Sangraha and Astanga Hrudaya.^[27,28]

Table 6: Relation between Swapna and Arishta Lakshana

Disease	Arishta Lakshanas in Swapna
Raktapitta (Poorvaroopa)[13]	Dreams of red, blue, yellow, white colored bright substance § Wearing red colored garland § Red color of whole body § Wearing red colored clothes § Repeatedly laughing § Dragging by a lady to Dakshina Dik
Gulma (Poorvaroopa)[14]	§ Thorny creeper encircling heart
Kushta[15]	§ Nagna § ghee application on body and performing Homa where fire is absent § Padma Utpatti on Ura Pradesha
Yakshma[16]	§ Swastha - travelling on dog, camel, donkey or travelling along with these animals to Dakshina Dik § Yakshma Rogi - Madira Pana along with Preta dragging him along with a dog to Dakshina Dik
Prameha[17]	§ Snehapana along with Chandala
Apasmara[18]	§ Alcohol intake and performing dance § Dragging him upside down by Preta
Bahirayama[19]	§ Intake of Shashkuli or Apupa in Swapna and after waking up vomiting of the same

Table 7: Relation between Swapna and Graha^[20]

Skanda Graha	§ Using red colored flowers, clothes § Child rides over peacock, goat, cock and sheep, smeared with red sandal all over the body § Child sleeping over bed smeared with rakta
Skanda Apasmara	§ Adorns with red flowers and clothes, smeared with red sandals and dances with Bhutas
Skanda Pita	§ Reaching to the jungle of red lotus, worships herself or her child with garlands of red flowers
Pundarika	§ Entering forest of red flower or in fire or child being burnt by fire
Revati	§ Drowning of child in sea
Suskarevati	§ Dreams of dry well or river
Shakuni	§ Carnivorous birds
Mukhamandika	§ Bitten by birds flying downwards wearing yellow colored apparels, fleshy and adorned
Putanagraha	§ Planets, graha, moon, stars
Naigamesha	§ All above symptoms are seen

Table 8: Time of Swapna and its Result

According to Brahmavaivartya Purana,

Time of Swapna	Duration of result
1st Yaama of night	1yr
2nd Yaama of night	6mnt
3rd Yaama of night	3mnt
4th Yaama of night or early morning	Next half month
Arunodaya or at day break	10 days
At early dawn	Immediate effect

Pacification of Duhswapna

Although there is no specific treatment for the pacification of Duhswapna but some methods are stated by different Acharyas, after observing bad dreams one has to take bath, offer oblation with fire colored mustard mixed with Ghrita and Tila reciting Savithri Mantra.^[29]

After experiencing bad dreams one should give Dana of Masa, Tila, iron and gold to Brahmana, recite Gayatri mantra with three Pada. One should not narrate it to anyone, stay in temple for three days and night, worship daily Brahmana.^[30]

After bad dreams, one has to do Dana, offerings to Homa and recitation of Mantras.^[31]

Discussion

In ancient time, Swapna has its own clinical importance in both disease condition as well as wellbeing condition.

Charaka has stated that Swapna is a state of wellbeing that can be achieved by the absence of bad dreams and also said that physician should have a keen observation on Arishta Lakshanas (occurs in Swapna) in order to not to treat such kind of cases to save himself as well as his prestige.

Vata has Chalatwa, Kharatwa Guna due to these properties in Vata Prakruti persons there will be more travelling or wandering or riding kind of Swapna. Pitta has Teekshna, Ushna property may be due to this, persons of Pitta Prakruti dreams more of bright lights, sun, gold, fire, lightening etc. Kapha has Sheeta, Snigdha etc. Gunas due to this, person of Kapha Prakruti dreams of ponds, clouds, water reservoirs etc. things.

The Arishta Lakshanas, in Kushta , person dreams as that his whole body has been applied by ghee and sitting in front of Homa , here Grita is having

Sheeta Guna and fire (Homa) is Ushna Guna both are having opposite Gunas. So, it may be interpreted as indication of the destruction of body in forthcoming days. In the same context Padmotpatti in Urapradesha has been said here ura is the Sthana for Kapha Dosha and Padma arises in Panka, it can be interpreted that in coming days Kapha Dosha is going to get vitiated.

In Gulma Purvaroopa, person dreams of thorny creeper encircling his Hrut region, it can be interpreted that whatever present inside the shrub it is hard to find in the similar way diagnosis of the Gulma is also difficult.

In Raktapitta Purvaroopa, person dreams of wearing red color mala, red colored body, wearing red colored dress. So, it can be interpreted that he may suffer from the disease related to Rakta in forthcoming days.

In Apasmara there will be dreams of Nrutya by a person that means there will be movements of hands and legs, even in Apasmara there will be Bheebhatsa Chesta [involuntary movements of hands and legs]. So, it might be the reason why a person affected with Apasmara dreams of Nrutya.

In Prameha, Kapha Dosha is predominant, person dreams of Snehapana which is having Snehamsha in turn aggravates Kapha Dosha. This is the indication; the person may suffer from Kapha Dosha related disease.

In the first part of the night Kapha Dosha is predominant and Kapha Dosha is basically Manda in nature so it might be the reason where the effect (result) of Swapna is delayed. In early morning, Vata is predominant and Vata is having Sheeghrakari Guna so it is the reason effect of Swapna is also immediate in late part of night or early morning.

In Skandagraha and also in Skanda Apasmara there will be Vasa or Rakta Gandha from the body of baby so in Swapna due to this he may dreams of red colored flowers or clothes. In Suskarevati there will be Dhatukshaya in turn Vatavruddi so, in Swapna he might dreams of dry well or rivers. In Makhamandika, this Graha is fond of ornaments, looks beautiful, and gives fame to child. When the child got affected by this Graha, there will be disfigurement so the child may dreams of apparels and adorned. In Shakuni

Graha, Shakuni word refers to a bird which has got bad smell with ugly looking body parts so it might be the reason child dreams of carnivorous birds.

Conclusion

During ancient era, there were no accurate diagnostic tools to rule out the diagnosis so Acharyas made Swapna as one of the criteria in diagnosing as well as prognosis of a disease. With the Swapna itself we can rule out the Prakruti of a person. Through evaluating Swapna, the gender of the baby can be predicted. Sadya Asadyata of a disease by looking at the Arishta Lakshanas has greater importance in treating a patient.

By assessing the Swapna as well as Bahya Lakshanas of a Grahabhada physician can assess from which Graha baby might suffering. Whatever we think, imagine, hear, see or feel during day time the same will be reflected as Swapna.

Reference

1. Raja Radha Kanta Deva, Sabda Kalpadrum; Chaukamba Sanskrit Sansthana Varanasi; Fifth Edition, Volume 1 2011 P 470

2. Monnier Williams. A Sanskrit English Dictionary of Monnier, p1281, col.1.

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Manuscript Received	Review Round 1	Review Round 2	Review Round 3	Accepted
2022-02-22	2022-02-24	2022-03-03	2022-03-10	2022-03-17
Conflict of Interest	Funding	Ethical Approval	Plagiarism X-checker	Note
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Review Article

Swapna

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences