This presentation is discussing the basic concepts of Ayurveda.

1. FUNDAMENTALS OF AYURVEDA
Dr. Sanjay.M
Asst. Professor
Dept. of Panchakarma
KAAMCH, Udaipur

2. CHATURVEDAS
 Rigveda
 Yajurveda
 Samaveda
 Atharvaveda
 Ayurveda is considered as the Upaveda of
Atharvaveda
 The term Ayurveda from two words “Ayus”
meaning Life and “Veda” meaning Science.
 So Ayurveda can be considered as the “Science of
Life”

3. AYURVEDA
 The theories and notions of Ayurveda have been
practiced since the past 5000 years.
 One who is desirous of attaining the Purusharthas
(Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha) should possess
Arogya (Healthy body) which can be attained by
adhering to the principles told in Ayurveda.
 Ayurveda includes instructions to maintain good
health as well as dealing with illness through
treatments, herbal medicines, yoga, correct diet and
lifestyle changes.

4. AIMS OF AYURVEDA
“Swasthasya swaasthyarakshanam”
 To maintain the health of Swastha (Healthy
individual)
“Aturasya vikaraprasamanam”
 To cure the diseases of the Atura (Patient)

5. 8 BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA

6. TRIGUNA THEORY IN AYURVEDA
 FORCE BEHIND EVOLUTION OF UNIVERSE AND
MANKIND IS EXPLAINED THROUGH TRIGUNA
THEORY
 According to modern sciences, the Universe is made
up of basic physical particles that include electrons,
protons, neutrons, mesons, gluons and quarks.
 At a spiritual level, however, the Universe is made up
of something even more basic. These basic particles
are known as the three subtle basic components
(trigunās) namely Satva, Raja and Tama.

7. TRIGUNA
 Satva represents energy requirements for creation
 Rajas stands for particle movements
 Tamas is inert material characterized by capacity to
conversion into new forms
 Tamas function under constant influence of Satva and
Rajas
 These three subtle basic components can only be
perceived by the subtle sense organs or our sixth
sense (ESP)

8. TRIGUNA

10. TRIGUNA V/S. PANCHAMAHABHUTA
 THE STRUCTURE IS EXPLAINED THROUGH THE
PANCHABHUTA THEORY
 The three subtle-components also make up the five
Absolute Cosmic Principles (Panchamahābhūtās).
 The five Absolute Cosmic Principles are
 Absolute Earth (Pruthvī tattva)
 Absolute Water (Āpa tattva)
 Absolute Fire (Tēja tattva)
 Absolute Air (Vāyu tattva) and
 Absolute Ether (Ākāsha tattva) Principles.
 Its composition can be explained based on the Trigunas

11. TRIGUNA V/S. PANCHAMAHABHUTA
 Akasha (Ether) – Satva predominant
 Vayu (Air) – Rajas predominant
 Prithvi (Earth)– Tamas predominant
 Agni (Fire)– Satva + Rajas
 Jala (Water) – Satva + Tamas

12. 20 GUNAS (VIMSHATI GUNA)
 THE FUNCTION IS UNDERSTOOD THROUGH
ACTIVITY OF 20 GUNAS WHICH ARE ACTUALLY
10 ANTAGONISTIC PAIRS.
 Within these pairs one can be the complete
absence of other.
 For eg; One pair is Ushna (hot) * Sheeta(cold) Here
Hot is understood as the complete absence of cold
and as a pair they can maintain the balance of
temperature.
 The ten pairs are

13. VIMSHATI (20) GUNAS
 Guru (Heaviness) * Laghu (Lightness)
 Sheeta (Coldness) * Ushna (Hotness)
 Snigdha (Unctuousness) * Rooksha (Dryness)
 Manda (Dullness) * Teekshna (Sharpness)
 Sthira (Immobility) * Sara (Mobility)
 Mridu (Softness) * Katina (Hardness)
 Visada (Clearness) * Pichchila (Sliminess)
 Slakshna (Smoothness) * Khara (Roughness)
 Sukshma (Fineness) * Sthula(Bulkiness)
 Sandra (Turbidity) * Drava (Fluidity)

14. TRIDOSHAS
 This 3 groups or TRIDOSHAS are
 VATA (Kinetic Energy), PITTA (Thermal Energy) &
KAPHA (Potential Energy) which provide basic
characters of AIR, FIRE & WATER in the body.
 Though from the Panchamahabhutas or five major
elements the above 3 major elements are present
in the Tridoshas, the remaining are also present

16. 20 GUNAS IN 3 DOSHAS
 The 20 gunas are further classified into 3 groups
such that within these groups the gunas generally
work together and one can lead to other.
VATA PITTA KAPHA
ROOKSHA SNIGDHA SNIGDHA
LAGHU TEEKSHNA SHEETA
SHEETA USHNA GURU
KHARA LAGHU MANDA
SUKSHMA VISRA SLAKSHNA
CHALA SARA SANDRA
DRAVA STHIRA
MRIDU

17. TRIGUNA TO TRIDOSHA
 This groups significantly helps us to reduce the
parameters from 20 to 3 while explaining the
Pathology / Physiology
TRIGUNA
PANCHAMAHABHUTA
VIMSHATI GUNA
TRIDOSHA

18. DIVISION OF TIME - YEAR
 A Year is divided into 6 RITUS (Seasons) according
to Ayurveda
SHARAT
(AUTUMN)
HEMANT
(EARLY
WINTER)
SHISHIRA
(WINTER)
VASANTA
(SPRING)
GREESHMA
(SUMMER)
VARSHA
(RAINY)

19. PREDOMINANCE OF DOSHAS IN RITUS

20. DIVISION OF TIME - DAY

21. DIVISION OF SPACE
 BHUMI DESHA – GEOGRAPHICAL LAND
 Anupa Desha – Kapha Predominant Land
 Jangala Desha – Vata Predominant Land
 Sadharana Desha – Normal Land with Equilibrium of
Tridosha
 DEHA DESHA - ANATOMICAL LAND (BODY)
 In body where the dosha are aggravated

22. SAPTA DHATUS (7 TISSUES)
 The food we eat becomes

23. TRI MALAS (3 WASTE PRODUCTS)
 PUREESHA (FAECES)
 MUTRA ( URINE)
 SWEDA (SWEAT)

24. SROTAS (MICRO & MACRO CHANNELS
IN THE BODY)
 Channels to bring nourishment and elimination in
the body
 Three which bring nourishment to body
 Pranavaha Srotas – Intake of Breath
 Annavaha Srotas – Intake of Food
 Udakavaha Srotas – Intake of Water
 Three which eliminates waste products from body
 Sweda Vaha Srotas – Excretion of Sweat
 Pureesha Vaha Srotas - Excretion of Faeces
 Mutra Vaha Srotas - Excretion of Urine

25.  7th Channel is Manovaha Srotas for mind and
thoughts
 Ayurveda emphasizing the importance of mind in the
diseases
 Seven Channels ; one for each tissue
 Rasa Vaha Srotas
 Rakta Vaha Srotas
 Mamsa Vaha Srotas
 Medo Vaha Srotas
 Asthi Vaha Srotas
 Majja Vaha Srotas
 Sukra Vaha Srotas
 Two separate channels for women
 Stanyavaha Srotas for lactation
 Artavavaha Srotas for menstruation

26. “ROGASTU DOSHAVAISHAMYAM
DOSHASAMYAM AROGATA”
 When Dosha are in equilibrium – Health otherwise
Disease
 This equilibrium is attained by maintaining
 The factors to which man is subjected to in Time and Space
and
 also by the fuel which he consumed.(Balanced Diet with 6
tastes)

27. SHAD RASA (6 TASTES)

28. AGNI (FIRE IN THE BODY)
 13 Types of Agni
 1 – Jataragni (Digestive fire) – responsible for the
digestion of the ingested food
 7 – Dhatvagni (Fire which is responsible for the
transformation of one dhatu to other)
 5 – Bhutagni ( Fire which is responsible for the
transformation of 5 major elements-
Panchamahabhutas)

30. AMA
 When Agni is not proper the digestion is not proper
and hence the transformed product will not be good
for the body.
 So you can consider Ama as the toxic by product of
poor digestion
 Ama is responsible for 90% of diseases according
to Ayurveda

32. CONCEPT OF PRAKRUTI
(BODY MIND CONSTITUTION AND TEMPERAMENT)
 Concept of Prakruti (human constitution) occupies
prime position in relation to physiological attributes
to health and disease.
 Prakruti is a composite whole of Mind-Body
complex.It is determined by relative predominance
of dosha in intra-uterine life of a fetus.
 Prakruti is unchangeable throughout the life span,
but one can take remedial measures in diet and
behavior suitable to his/her Prakruti to maintain
health and prevention of disease.

33. PRAKRUTI TYPES
A. Deha Prakruti – Body Constitution (7 types)
 Physical manifestations: Single, Dual and Three
Doshaj
 Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Vata+Pitta, Vata+Kapha, Pitta+Kapha,
and Tridoshaja
B. Manas Prakruti - Psychic Manifestations (16 types)
 Types of Manasik Prakruti
 Satvik (7)
 Rajasik (6)
 Tamasik (3)

35. SIGNIFICANCE OF PRAKRUTI IN CLINICAL MEDICINE
For Promotive & Preventive Health
 Know your Prakruti and diseases susceptibility
 Prakruti will tell the risk factors, course of disease,
complications and prognosis
 Follow your diet, behaviour, profession and life style suitable
to your Prakruti to lead a healthy life.
Curative Health
 Select the drugs and dose as per Prakruti
 Drug body interaction and reaction pattern depend upon
the Prakruti of individual & drug
 Associated complications of a disease, prognosis and their
treatment can be improved as per Prakruti of disease &
individual

36. VIKRUTI / DISEASE
 Since Prakruti denotes normalcy Vikruti is abnormality
in the body otherwise known as Disease.
Dosha gets vitiated by food and by not adhering to the
principles of Ayurveda
Impaired Agni
Ama Formation
Accumulation in Srotas
Development of Disease according to Srotas

37. HOW DO YOU DIAGNOSE DISEASE IN
AYURVEDA ?
 Trividha Pariksha (Tri fold Examination)
 Darshana – By looking/ The signs perceived to eye
 Sparshana – By touch / Auscultation & Palpation
 Prasna – By asking relevant questions
 Ashtasthana Pariksha (Eight Fold Examination)
 Nadi – Different Pulse diagnosis
 Mutra – Urine examination
 Mala – Faeces examination
 Jihva- Tongue examination
 Sabda – Sound examination
 Sparsha – Touch examination
 Drik- Looking into eyes
 Akriti – General built

38. CHIKITSA / TREATMENT
 Once you have diagnosed the disease and
assessed how much Dosha is accumulated in body
you can select the treatment options
 Shodhana – Purificatory therapy by means of
Panchakarma
 Shamana – Palliative therapy by means of medicines
 Pathya Sevana – Dietary Regimens

39. THANK YOU