E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Shatkriyakala

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2025 Volume 10 Number 8 August
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Understanding Shatkriyakala - A Classical Framework for Disease Progression in Ayurveda

Thalore R1*, Marolia P2, Sharma MM3, Choudhary A4
DOI:10.21760/jaims.10.8.15

1* Rajni Thalore, Post Graduate Scholar, PG Department of Roga Nidan Evum Vikriti Vigyan, Madan Mohan Malviya Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

2 Pankaj Marolia, Professor and HOD, PG Department of Roga Nidan Evum Vikriti Vigyan, Madan Mohan Malviya Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

3 Man Mohan Sharma, Professor, PG Department of Roga Nidan Evum Vikriti Vigyan, Madan Mohan Malviya Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

4 Ankita Choudhary, Post Graduate Scholar, PG Department of Roga Nidan Evum Vikriti Vigyan, Madan Mohan Malviya Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

The identification of a disease's progression stage is known as Kriya Kala. This idea is primarily compared to the pathogenesis of disease. Kriyakala refers to the period of therapy or pause in the progression of an illness. The 21st chapter of the Sutrasthana has a detailed account of Shatkriyakala by Acharya Susrutha. Sanchaya, Prakopa, Prasara, Sthansamshraya, Vyaktavastha, and Bhedavastha are the six stages of Shatkriyakala. Shat means 6 Kriya signifies action or therapy Kala signifies period or time. Therefore, "appropriate time periods to take action/treatment" is what Shatkriyakala signifies. Ayurveda's Prayojana is divided into two categories: healing a disease in a sick person by using therapeutic methods, and maintaining health in a healthy person by following the Ritucharya, Dincharya, and Sadvritta.

Keywords: Shatkriyakala, Sanchya, Prakopa, Ayurveda

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Rajni Thalore, Post Graduate Scholar, PG Department of Roga Nidan Evum Vikriti Vigyan, Madan Mohan Malviya Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Email: 		Thalore R, Marolia P, Sharma MM, Choudhary A, Understanding Shatkriyakala - A Classical Framework for Disease Progression in Ayurveda. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2025;10(8):81-84.
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Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-06-15 2025-06-28 2025-07-08 2025-07-18 2025-07-28
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© 2025 by Thalore R, Marolia P, Sharma MM, Choudhary A and 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].

J Ayu Int Med Sci 2025;10(8)81
Download PDFBack To ArticleIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResult and DiscussionConclusionReferences
Rajni T et al. Understanding Shatkriyakala

Introduction

The terms Kriya and Kala, which refer to the stages of a disease's evolution and the therapeutic option used to correct Dosha disruption, respectively, make up the term Kriyakala. The Kriyakala idea aids in determining the disease prognosis at each stage. Kriyakala offers information on disease diagnosis and treatment based on the degree of Doshas vitiation.[1] Susrutha explains the Vyadhi Kriya Kala in six steps, which are referred to as Shatkriyakala. According to contemporary science, there are two stages to disease recognition: the first is disease detection, and the second includes complications brought on by a specific disease. But according to Shatkriyakala, Ayurveda recognizes six stages of every illness.[2]

1. Sanchaya (Stage of Accumulation)
2. Prakopa (Stage of Aggregation)
3. Prasara (Stage of Dissemination)
4. Sthanasamshraya (Stage of Localization)
5. Vyaktavastha (Stage of Manifestation)
6. Bhedavastha (Stage of Complication)

It's interesting to note that Ayurveda can identify and address the root cause of a disease before its outward manifestations. According to Ayurveda, all illnesses are caused by gross, systemic imbalances and malfunctions of the three doshas—Pitta, Kapha, and Vata.[3] Therefore, full understanding of Shatkriyakala is necessary to treat the illness.

Materials and Methods

Literature Search: Sushrutha Samhita and Astang Hrudayam are sources of literature review on Shatk-riyakala. For debate, all of collected material has been rearranged, rigorously examined, and an effort has been made to reach some useful conclusions.

Result and Discussion

1. Sanchaya Avastha (Stage of Accumulation)[4]

This stage starts the pathogenesis of the disease by causing a progressive accumulation of Doshas in their respective locations. Doshas build up in their designated seats and display the symptoms listed below:

Vata Sanchaya Lakshana: Abdominal fullness and stiffness.

Pitta Sanchaya Lakshana: Burning sensations and a slight increase in body temperature.

Kapha Sanchaya Lakshana: A sensation of heaviness.

Managing morbid doshas at this stage stops them from spreading to the next stage. Given the low severity of the disease and the lack of Doshas vitiation, the state of disease pathogenesis at this stage can be readily handled.

2. Prakopa Avastha (Stage of Vitiation)

If the causative variables continue after Sanchaya Avastha, Sanchayit Doshas will arrive in Prakopavastha. According to Acharya Vagbhata, Prakopa is Unmargagamita, meaning that the Doshas have only recently begun to rise in their respective locations.[5]

Aggravation, or Prakopa, is the second stage of Shatkriyakala. At this point, the Dosha continues to build up in their own locations. There are two varieties of this stage: Chaya Prakopa and Achaya Prakop.[6]

A) Chaya Prakopa is a physiological aggravation of the involved Dosha's Prakopa due to Swabhavika/Ritu (natural causes); if this Chaya Dosha worsens further, it may result in a number of health issues. Ayurveda recommended "Ritucharya" (seasonal regimens) to avoid such issues.[7]

B) Achaya Prakopa: Prakopa overrides Chaya Avastha in this instantaneous form. One example of Achaya Prakopa is when someone overindulges in laborious tasks, which immediately aggravates their Vata Dosha.

3. Prasara (Stage of Spreading)

During this phase, the body's heightened Doshas disperse throughout various Srotas and move to other areas. The symptoms listed below could be present at this stage:

Vata Prasara Lakshana: Atopa and Vimarga Gamana.

Pitta Prasara Lakshana: Chosha, Osha and Dhoomayanani.

Kapha Prasara Lakshana: Avipaka, Angasada and Chardi.

Along with Vayu, Doshas travel to various locations,


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so there are 15 types of Prasara, such as Vata Prasara, Pitta Prasara, Kapha Prasara, Rakta Prasara, Vata Pitta Prasara, Vata Kapha Prasara, Vata Rakta Prasara, Pitta Kapha Prasara, Pitta Rakta Prasara, Kapha Rakta Prasara, Vata Pitta Kapha Prasara, Pitta Kapha Rakta Prasara, Vata Pitta Rakta Prasara, Vata Kapha Rakta Prasara, and Vata Pitta Kapha Rakta Prasara

4. Sthanasamshraya Avastha (Stage of Localization)[8]

At this point, the body's irritated Dosha begins to localize to any portion of the body and exhibit ailments particular to that area. At this point, the contact between morbid materials and tissues occurs, and the localization of morbid depends on the presence of weak or defective sites.

The Doshas in Prasaraavastha circulate throughout the body, but Sroto Vaigunyua obstructs them in the Srotas. Doshdushya Sammurchana is the result of this Srotovaigunya, and all of the disease's prodromal symptoms manifest during this phase.

Due to Doshdushya Sammurchyana, this stage of the illness is known as Poorvaroopa. According to Aacharya Madhavkara, the presence of Purvarupas, or prodromal symptoms, of a specific ailment makes this stage of Kriyakala easy to identify.

5. Vyakta (Stage of manifestation)

Dalhana has referred to this phase as the disease's manifestation stage. At this point, the disease is clearly identifiable due to the well-produced clinical characteristics. The symptoms of diseases are the full manifestation of those diseases.

6. Bheda (Stage of differentiation)

This is the final stage where a disease's Doshaj type and accurate diagnosis can be determined. It is seen as a complicating stage as well. At this point, illnesses turned into Asadhya (incurable) or Chirakari (chronic).

Conclusion

Understanding how a disease progresses aids in the planning of both therapeutic and preventative interventions. To further avoid illness progression, the proper Dinacharya and Ritucharya recommendations can be applied based on the particular disease appearance and progression.

In Ayurveda, the six phases of disease progression are referred to as Shatkriyakala, and this idea is very helpful in managing and preventing illnesses. The period of treatment during the onset of the sickness was referred to as Kriyakala as Chikitsavasara.

Shatkriyakala aids in evaluating the pathophysiology of illness, allowing doctors to diagnose at any point and make appropriate treatment plans. Preventing the disease at an early stage stops it from getting worse.

Shatkriyakala offers methods to totally eliminate morbid Doshas and their manifestations and is useful in predicting the Sadhyaasadhyatva of sickness.

References

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8. Shastri AD, editor. Sushruta Samhita (with Ayurveda Tattva Sandipika commentary). Sutrasthana; Chapter 21, Verse 34. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan. [Crossref][PubMed][Google Scholar]

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