E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Prakriti and its importance

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2024 Volume 9 Number 1 January
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Brief knowledge of Prakriti and its importance

Kararrwal K1*, Kumar K2
DOI:10.21760/jaims.9.1.30

1* Kanchan Kararrwal, Post Graduate Scholar, Pg Dept of Ayurveda Samhita Evum Siddhanta, Institute for Ayurved Studies and Research, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.

2 Krishan Kumar, Associate Professor, PG Dept of Ayurveda Samhita evum Siddhanta, Institute for Ayurved Studies and Research, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.

Ayurveda is the science of living. The main goals of Ayurveda are illness prevention and treatment. Prakriti is one of the main principles of Ayurveda, which draws from the Veda, Purana, Upanishad, and Darshana. A person's Prakriti, or intrinsic nature, is something that is predetermined at birth and cannot be changed. According to Ayurveda, there are two main aspects of human nature: mental nature and physical nature. In addition to palmistry, horoscopes, and numerology, Ayurveda considered Prakriti Parikshana to be one of the most important ways to choose the right partner. For all these methods, some trustworthy information had to be provided by the person being questioned or examined. It is not required to have a name, birthdate, time, palm impression, etc. for Prakriti Parikshan. The subject only needs to be seated in front of the examiner to be examined; however, the person may also be seen in a picture or on video. The concept of Prakriti is what sets Ayurveda apart from other medical systems. Each person has a different range of options for medical care and medication based on their Prakriti. Understanding the patient's physical and mental constitution, as well as the prognosis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of many ailments, are all aided by Prakriti Analysis.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Prakriti, Prakriti Parikshana, Physical and Mental Constitution

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Kanchan Kararrwal, Post Graduate Scholar, Pg Dept of Ayurveda Samhita Evum Siddhanta, Institute for Ayurved Studies and Research, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India.
Email: 		Kararrwal K, Kumar K, Brief knowledge of Prakriti and its importance. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2024;9(1):201-206.
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https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3033

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-11-13 2023-11-23 2023-12-04 2023-12-12 2023-12-17
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None declared Nil Yes 23.96

© 2024by Kararrwal K, Kumar Kand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Introduction

For thousands of years, the Indian subcontinent has practiced the archaic medicinal field known as Ayurveda. Ayurveda's central idea is the Tridosha, a framework for understanding health and illness. In Ayurveda, all of an individual's physical, functional, and behavioural characteristics are part of their individual psychosomatic temperament, or Prakriti. Ayurveda holds that the body, or Purusha, is composed of several

elements, such as Dosha, Dhatu, Indriya, Manas, Buddhi, and Atma. Like genetic code, each individual is a unique blend that makes them a unique entity. Consequently, Prakriti (Tridoshas) is determined by a unique combination of these three Doshas. In Ayurveda, Prakriti is said to have been generated at the beginning of human existence and usually does not alter throughout time.

The Sanskrit terms "Pra" and "Kriti" are the root of the word "Prakriti." Pra denotes the starting point or place of origin, whereas Kriti describes the process of doing or producing. Thus, the term Prakriti describes the actual state or nature of an individual. Prakriti is the presentation or expression of an individual's physical, physiological, psychological, or social aspects.[2] Ayurveda believes that every individual has a distinct nature. Every Prakriti person has a unique physical appearance based on the Dosha and Mahabhuta dominance at the time of birth. Prakriti is an inventory of physical attributes that are both internal and external. A combination of inherited and acquired elements affect human Prakriti. While Shukra (sperm) and Shonita (ovum) determine the genetic constitution, environmental factors such as age, race, heredity, climate, season, and place determine the acquired constitution.

Concept of Prakriti

This constitution is composed of the "mental body" and the "physical body." Prakriti is the term used to describe an individual's "nature" or "natural constitution." Both Pra and Kriti allude to the "source of origin" or "beginning." When combined, the word "Prakriti" means "natural form." The root of the term "Prakriti" is "Prakarotiiti."[4] In this context, Prakiti indicates the predominance of a specific Dosha in an individual. Prakriti is the formation of unique qualities brought about by the supremacy of Doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

, the functional components of the body). A body's constitution is also partially impacted by other factors. A few further factors mentioned by Charaka that have an impact on Prakriti are the season, the condition of the uterus, the mother's food during the pregnancy, different routines she followed, the father and mother's Sukra Sonita (sperm-ovum), and Mahabhuta Vikara. These elements contribute to the development of one or more Doshas that are primarily related to the factors mentioned before. Because of this, Vata dominates the Prakiti of certain persons, whereas Pitta, Kapha, or a combination of the two predominates in others. In other situations, Dosha also keeps things in balance. While all of the previously mentioned factors are important in evaluating Prakriti.

Individual Prakriti formation

According to Acharya Sushruta, Prakriti is formed under the influence of Tridosha when Shukra (sperm) and Shonita (ovum) unite in the mother's Garbhashaya (womb). The dominance of any one, two, or all three Dosha (body humors - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) as determined by the Ekadoshaja Prakriti (Vata, Pitta, and Kaphaja), Dvandvaja (Vatapitta, Vatakapha, and Kaphapitta), and Samamishra (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in equal proportions) determines the traits and features of the future child. According to Acharya Charaka, 9 Panchamahabhuta and Chetana (soul) come together to form Purusha, and this Sharira's essence is referred to as Prakriti.

Prakriti and way of life

Lifestyle and Prakriti are natural phenomena of nature. All physiological processes are directly regulated by the Vata-Pitta, Kapha, and Mansika Doshas (functional psychological components); hence, the prevailing Dosha correlates to a certain Prakriti. Since the aim of science is to establish the equilibrium of the body, the two guiding principles for maintaining a proper state of health for the body and lifestyle are the observance of personal, moral, and seasonal conduct as well as the maintenance of a way of life that is opposed to an individual's Prakriti. Adhering to food and lifestyle recommendations based on Prakriti will lead to healthy tissues and Dosha harmony. Any healthy individual should be aware of their Prakriti in order to choose a healthy way of living and eating habits they should follow to maintain their health


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and prevent illness. For example, if an individual is found to have a Pitta-predominant Prakriti, he is advised to consume all the meals that not raise body temperature.

Factors that determine Prakriti

Ayurveda has discussed numerous factors that impact both the foetus's development and the determination of Prakriti. Prakriti may be defined by both extra uterine and intrauterine influences. It is possible to see six Bhavas (aspects) that Charaka described as controlling foetal development as influencing elements in the formation of the human body and personality. Vagbhata highlighted four components that influence the formation of Prakriti (nutrition): Ritu (proper timing), Aahara Rasa, Kshetra (uterus/site of lodgement), and Bija (sperm and ovum). The primary element among these is Bija, which bears the parents' offspring.

Prakriti analysis tools

Identifying the contributing elements Because of the shortcomings in the current Prakriti examination methods and the didactic value of observing individual Dosha, we decided to observe the Dosha attributes (Gunas) in relation to their positive expression in an individual, which leads to Prakriti expression. To find the characteristic expressions connected to specific Doshas, a comprehensive analysis of the Prakriti assessment process outlined in the Charaka Samhita was carried out. We were able to identify 12, 6, and 8 properties for the expressibility of Pitta, Vata, and Kapha, respectively. To determine whether these characteristics could be objectively or subjectively examined in people's facial expressions, more research was conducted. This made it impossible to objectively examine the manifestation of one Kapha attribute (Madhur) and two Pitta characteristics (Katu and Amla) (amount and quality of semen). Because of the challenges in assessing these variables objectively and the limitations on their applicability relating to gender, we have excluded them from the revised Prakriti Parikshan tools.

As a result, the Prakriti Parikshan Tools, which underwent reliability testing, consist of just 11 features for Kapha, 4 for Pitta, and 8 for Vata. Furthermore, there have been cases where particular attribute classes have expressed multiple variables. In those cases, we took all the variables that belonged to the same attribute

class and assigned them the same weight with respect to that attribute class. Such a method of choosing the elements for Prakriti determination has been established in previous studies. Comparing individual variables attribute classes, and the Dosha. To perform a quantitative, and thus proportionate, analysis of the Dosha, we arbitrarily allocated an equal number to each Dosha 15. Then, for every Dosha group, this total was split equally among the attribute classes. The stated variables that belonged to the same feature class were then equally divided to receive the score for each separate attribute class. It was proposed that the quantum level of Dosha expression may be represented by attribute class variables. The cumulative sum of these quanta represents the first quantitative representation of a feature class and, in the end, reflects the expression of a Dosha.

Features of Prakriti

Features of Vata Prakriti

Dryness, physical emaciation, and dwarfism, together with a loud, low, and dry voice that kept them awake all night. They will be light-hearted, unpredictable eaters who act in fragile ways. Unable to move freely in the jaw, lips, tongue, shoulders, hands, or head. Incoherent speech with numerous noticeable tendons and ligaments. Hasty decisions, anger, the growth of clinical symptoms, terror-stricken agony, and object preferences and aversions, Understanding and forgetting things are traits shared by this character. Chilly intolerance frequently experiencing shivering, stiffness, and the cold. Hardness and roughness in the teeth and nails, the head, hands, feet, hair, and other body parts. Limbs and organs crackle as they move. Sounds that presents all the time.

Features of Pitta Prakriti

Having a warm face, being sensitive to heat, having a fair and delicate body with brown hairs and scant (baldness) hairs on the head, face, and other parts of the body, as well as Piplu (small boils), Vyanga (facial melanosis), Tilkälaka (flat nevi), and numerous Pidakas (skin eruptions). acute physical strength, a healthy digestive tract, a propensity for gluttony, and regular consumption of massive portions of food and liquids, as well as an incapacity to cope with difficult situations. acute physical strength, a healthy digestive tract, a propensity for gluttony, and regular consumption of massive


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portions of food and liquids, as well as an incapacity to cope with difficult situations. Over all foul and rotting smell emanating from the axilla, head, lips, and other body parts.

Features of Kapha Prakriti

Lustrous skin and a glowing physique. Supple and sensitive body parts. Lovely features, a pretty face, and fragile muscles, skin, and organs. Will be more vigorous, create more sperm, be more appealing to women, and give birth to more children. Thickness, stability, and body stability. Muscles and organs that are completely formed. Sluggish in eating, talking, and doing things. A slow start to things, a gradually building irritability, and unhealthy signs. a steady, non-slip walk when each foot presses firmly into the earth. Lovely face and eyes, a kind voice, a smile, and a delicate complexion.

Different Prakriti Food

A) Vata Prakriti

Beneficial food

Vata Prakriti is best suited for foods having a sweet and spicy flavour profile. Because Vata Prakriti people have different capacity for digestion, it is recommended that they follow a proper dietary pattern. Food should only be consumed in little amounts. Eat garlic and ginger to keep your digestive tract in good working order. Cereals such as sesame and wheat. Pulses resembling black and green grammes. Dairy products such as curd, ghee, and cheese. Oils, such as sesame oil, castor oil, and cod liver oil. Veggies such as drumsticks, onions, radishes, and white gourd. Fruits such as dates, figs, pineapples, coconuts, grapes, mangos, and coconuts.

Non beneficial food

Vata is not suited for foods that are cold, dry, and astringent in character. cereals such as barely and horse gramme. Sprouting vegetables and fruits, such as watermelon, cucumber, and jamun, as well as dry leafy vegetables like potatoes, bitter gourd, and chana. Spices such as Spices like chilies, pepper, honey, and sugarcane juice are not good for you.

B) Pitta Prakriti

Beneficial food

Foods that are cold, dry, sweet, and bitter are beneficial to Pitta Prakriti. Cereals consisting of barley, wheat, and pulses such as green gram, masur, and channa. veggies such as carrots, beets, white gourds, and snake gourds, butter, and fresh buttermilk and ghee Meat from a goat or deer, together with fruits like ripe bananas, apples, pomegranates, dried grapes, and dated jaggery, as well as spices like coriander and salt.

Non-beneficial Foods

Foods possessing the spicy, pungent, and harsh Teekshna traits are not good for Pitta Prakriti. Sprouting pulses with tangy curds, buttermilk, horsegram, and blackgram Green leafy vegetables, mutton, and beef vegetables such as drumstick and bringal, as well as sea fish Limes, oranges, tamarind, unripe mangos, and other fruits along with spices including garlic, pepper, and asafoetida

C) Kapha Prakriti

Beneficial food

Bright, spicy, dry, and pungent foods are beneficial for Kapha Prakriti. Cereals include barley and pulses such as horse gramme, green gramme, and masur. Oil, like mustard and sesame. Veggies such as onions, snake gourds, drumsticks, and bitter gourds. Fruits such as pomegranates and lemons. spices like garlic, pepper, ginger, and black cumin seeds; meat from a deer; and sweets like honey and aged wine.

Non-Beneficial food

Sweet, cold, or heavy foods are not suitable for Kapha Prakriti. Grains similar to raw rice. black-colored grain. butter, ghee, milk, and curd from buffalo. oils obtained from animal fat. veggies, such as sweet potatoes and cabbage. Fruits including coconuts, guavas, bananas, grapes, and jackfruit. Mutton, egg, and freshwater fish. Juice from sugarcane and jaggery. Freshly manufactured drinks. Spices are things like coriander.

Importance of Prakriti

1. Prakriti helps us maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating habits and daily schedules.

2. Vataja Prakriti helps in disease diagnosis


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since the elements that cause diseases and those that affect Prakriti are similar, i.e., Vataja Prakriti is extremely vulnerable to Vataja Vikara such as Ashtigata Vyadhi, Vibandh, and Sandhigata Vyadhi, etc. Pittaja and Kaphaj Prakriti were also governed by the same principle.

Clinical Use of Prakriti

Sattva and Prakrti Ayurveda use Pariksha, one of the Dasavidha Atur Parikshas, to evaluate patients. The Prakriti diagnosis of Ayurveda offers a unique framework for understanding and assessing one's health. Prakriti provides guidance on how to stay in perfect health. It provides thorough instructions on adjusting one's food and lifestyle to suit one's Prakriti.

Discussion

The three Doshas dictate good and poor health in any individual. Every part of the body is impacted by the three Doshas. But there are dominating zones for every Dosha. Kapha is found in the upper body (sinuses, nose, throat, bronchi, lungs, etc.). As a result, Kapha Prakriti Purusha are more prone to upper body ailments than individuals of other Prakruti sorts, including allergies, mucus congestion, and respiratory disorders. The pancreas, duodenum, stomach, liver, spleen, gall bladder, and other organs are all in the Pitta, or centre, of the body. Pitta Prakruti Purush is hence more susceptible to disorders of its individual components, such as peptic ulcer, gastritis, agitation, etc. Vata Prakruti Purush are prone to lower body disorders like constipation, low back pain, etc. since Vata governs the lower areas of the body (lower small and large intestines, pelvic region, etc.). By determining someone's Prakruti, we may determine which ailments they are more prone to and take preventative measures to avoid them. Giving patients with Kaphaja Prakruti drugs such as Guggulu, Haridra, and Kanchnar will be scientifically justified because of their elevated levels of physiological fatty materials.

Conclusion

Understanding the nature and intensity of a disease, the body's reaction to treatment (pharmacogenomics), the selection and dosage of medications, the prognosis of the illness, and preventive measures like diet, daily

routines, and seasonal changes all depend on an understanding of Prakriti in Ayurveda. The concept of Prakriti is essential to Ayurvedic treatment methods. Kapha, Vata, and Pitta As was already said, Prakriti individuals have a wide range of physiological, psychological, and physical characteristics. In order to maintain life in harmony with Prakriti and to help sustain healthy living in a customised manner, Ayurveda provides a wealth of advice on food, nutrition, seasoning, and diet based on each person's unique constitution (Prakriti). Being able to conduct personalised preventive health, this is not possible in other medical systems.

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