Concept of Ojas, which describes the vital part of the energy and immune balance of the body.
this is the core concept behind the status of immunology in Ayurveda
2. INTRODUCTION
The Ojas is one among the dasa praanaayatana ,needed for the sustenance of life.
According to Ayurveda, Ojas is stated as cause and its effect being the resistance power-
bala.
The prime definition of Ojus – states that it is the essence present in every dhatu and is the
collective saara of all the dhatus from rasa to shukra which is mainly responsible for
strength, vigour and vitality of life.
Our physical,mental and spiritual strength totally depends on ojus which is manifested by
its own symptoms.
3. NISHPATTI
• उब्ज् + असून्=ओजस्
• Ojas literally means ,vitality,vigour,luster,power, bodily strength,energy. Ojas is the essence of all seven body
components. Ayurveda scholars recognized ojas as the potent and active principle of the body that is responsible for
the strength, vigour and vitality of an individual.
SYNONYMS
Bala, Sneha, prasad, saara, rasa, mahat, dhaari, parama teja, jivashonita, shukra sara, sarva dhatu Sneha.
4. DEFINITION
• तत्र रसादीनाां शुक्रान्तानाां धातूनाां यत्परां
त॓जस्तत् खल्वोजस्तद॓व बलमित्युच्यत॓॥(Su.Sutr. 15/19)
• प्राक
ृ तस्तु बलां श्ल॓ष्मा मवक
ृ तो िलां उच्यत॓।
स चैवोजः स्मृतः काय॓ स च पाप्मोपमदश्यते ॥(Cha.Su.17/117)
6. • Ghee is present in dormant form in milk and can be prepared after processing , just like that Ojas is present in
every tissue of the body in a dormant form and is manifested as supreme quality after its proper
metabolism.(Su.Sa.Sutra.15/19 – Dalhana). As the nectar is formed from flowers, ojas is formed from all the body
components (Cha.Su.17/76). Thus Ojas is formed as a purest secondary component after the metabolism of
primary body components.
13. TYPES OF OJAS
• Ojas is present in two forms: 1. PARA OJAS (Supreme form)
2. APARA OJAS (Mediocre)
तत् परस्यौजसः स्थानां तत्र चैतन्यसङ्ख् ग्रहः|
हृदयां िहदथथि तस्मादुिां मचमकत्सक
ै ः [१] ||७||
तेन िूलेन िहता िहािूला िता दश|
ओजोवहाः शरीरेऽन्तस्मन् मवधम्यन्ते सिन्ततः||८||
तच्चामप परापर भेदेन मद्वमवधां,तत्रयत्,परिष्टमबन्दुक
ां तदिुमद मतष्ठमत, यन्तु ततो बह तदपरां शरीरां प्रीणयमत॥(Chakr.Su,Su,15/27)
सकलशरीरव्यमपनस्तस्य षड्मबन्दुकस्य मवशेषेण िदयां स्थानि्।।( Arunadutta, a.h.Sutra 11/37)
ि्दयस्थिमप व्यामप तत्परां जीमवतास्पदि्।(A,sang. Su.19/37)
The Supreme form (Para Ojas) is the most important component responsible for the vitality of life. Its quantity in the body is measured a 8 drops. It is
located in the heart . It is generally stable in the body in an equilibrium state. Destruction of this component can cause death.
The mediocre form (Apara ojas) is formed during the metabolism of each dhatu. Its quantity in the body is measured as half Anjali. It is present in all body
components and manifests in the form of the essence of dhatu.
ईषदित्यल्पप्रमाणं, तेनाष्टदिन्िुकमोज इदत िर्शयदत| यिुक्तं तन्त्रान्तरे-
“प्राणाश्रयस्यौजसोऽष्टौ दिन्दवो हृियाश्रयााः” इदत| एतच्चाष्टदिन्िुक
ं परमोजो ज्ञेयम्, अर्ाशञ्जदिपररमाणं तु यिोजस्तिप्रर्ानं; यच्छारीरे वक्ष्यदत-
“तावच्चैव श्लैष्मिकस्यौजसाः प्रमाणम्” (र्ा. ७) इत्यनेन;
14. LOCATION
• Para ojas (supreme form ) is located in the Hridaya. The Apara ojas is present all over the body. Ancient scholars
like Bhela has specified twelve sites as the location of Ojas. These include seven body components(dhatu), three
metabolic wastes(mala), and two doshas(pitta and kapha.) (Bhela Sa su 12).
• तत् परस्यौजसः स्थानां तत्र चैतन्यसङ्ख् ग्रहः|
हृदयां िहदथथि तस्मादुिां मचमकत्सक
ै ः [१] ||७||(Cha.Su.30/7)
• “हृमद मतष्ठमत यच्छु धानां रििीषत्सपीतकि्” (सू. १७) इमत, तन्त्रान्तरेऽप्युिां- “प्राणाश्रयस्यौजसोऽष्टौ मबन्दवो
हृदयामश्रताः” इमत; मकञ्च, समत मह परे चापरे चौजमस ‘परस्य’ इमत मवशेषणां साथथक
ां भवमत, नत्वेकरूपे|
अधाथञ्जमलपररमितस्यौजसो धिन्य एव हृदयामश्रताः स्थानि्| (Chakrapani)
• तच्चामप परापर भेदेन मद्वमवधां , तत्रयत् परिष्टमबन्दुक
ां तदि्मद मतष्ठमत, यन्तु ततो बह तदपरां शरीरां प्रीणयमत॥
(Su.Su.15/27, Chakrapani)
15. FUNCTIONS OF OJAS
ओजस्तु तेजो र्ातूनाम् र्ुक्रान्तानाम् परं स्म्र्तं
ह्र्ियस्म्थमदप व्यादप िेहष्मस्म्थदत दनिन्धनं ॥
दिग्धं सोमात्मक
ं र्ुद्धमीषल्लोदहतपीतक
ं ।
यन्नार्ो दनयतं नार्ो यष्ममंष्मस्तष्ठदत दतष्ठदत ॥
दनष्पद्यन्ते यतो भावात् दवदवर्ा िेहसंस्रया:॥(A.hr.11/36)
The prime and most important function of the ojas is to maintain vitality and sustaining the integrity of life. Any deviation or depletion in
the normal quantity and quality of ojas leads to serious health complications and death.
It is responsible for providing nutrition and increasing the immune strength of the body.
Due to the presence of normal ojas , all the external and internal senses including the mind do their functions properly. Thus ojas is
respionsible for sensory functions and perception of knowledge.
21. S.NO; OJO VISRAMSA OJO VYAPAT OJO KSHAYA
1. Feeling of looseness and
displacement in joints or
synapses (sandhi
vishlesha)
Feeling of stiffness and
rigidity in body (stabdha guru
gatrata)
Fainting or unconsciousness
(murccha)
2. Fatigue (gatra sadanam) Unstable swelling due to
vitiation of vata dosha (vata
sopha)
Emaciation and muscle wasting
(mamsa kshaya)
3. Migration of vitiated
dosha to other sites
(dosha chyavanam)
Abnormal change in normal
complexion (varna bheda)
Confusion (moha)
4. Impairment and blockage
of all functions in body
and mind (kriya
sannirodha)
Lassitude (glani) Delirium (pralapa)
5. ------------ Drowsiness (tandra) Death (marana)
6. -------------- Excess sleepiness (nidra) --------------
22. BALA-OJAS-KAPHA
• प्राक
ृ तस्तु बलां श्लेष्मा मवक
ृ तो िल उच्यते|
स चैवौजः स्मृतः काये स च पाप्मोपमदश्यते||११७||(Cha.su.17/117)
• सवथधातूनाां स्नेहिोज: क्षीरे घ्रुतमिव तदैव बलमिमत। (भ.प्र)
• शुक्रस्य सारिोज:। अत्यन्त मशधानतया चान्तस्मन्मलाभव:॥(अ.सं.र्ा.६।७३)
• न च सवाथमण शरीरामण व्यामधक्षित्वे सिथाथमन भवन्तन्त|
व्यामधसहानीमत व्याध्युत्पादकप्रमतबिकामन| (Cha.su 28.chakr)
24. IMPORTANCE OF OJAS
• Ojas is responsible for the vitality of the body throughout life.(Su.Su 15/21).
• It is superior among all sites of vitality.(Cha.Su.28),(Cha.Sa.7/9).
• In gestational life, it is responsible for the vitality of the foetus. It becomes unstable in the 8th month of gestation leading
to uncertainity of labour. Therefore , its stability is of utmost importance for full-term birth.
• Ojas is important for maintaining the superior quality of dhatu sara. Hence it is directly related to superior functions of all
tissues in the body.
• Ojas is responsible to maintain immunity (vyadhikshamatva). It is responsible for the preservation of health and
prevention of diseases. It also plays a vital role in combating disease pathogens if the disease occurs.
• Dosha is unable to carry functions without the presence of ojas.(Ash.sa.su.19/36).
• Quantitative and qualitative depletion of ojas can cause death.(Ash.hrd.su.11/38).
25. ROLE OF OJAS AS VITIATED FACTOR IN DISEASES
The three stages:
1.Displacement of ojas from its own site(ojo visramsa)
2. Qualitative deterioration(ojo vyapat)
3. Depletion of quality and quantity (Ojo kshaya)
Are increasingly severe and harmful leading to death. These three stages are considered as three categories of immune
disorders viz.,Ojo vyapat as immune aberrations and allergies, ojo visramsa as a state of dislodged immunity and auto- immune
disorders.,ojo kshaya as a state of immune deficiency.
In obstinate urinary diseases (prameha vyadhi), ojas is one among the ten vitiated factors (dushya).(Cha.chi.6/8)
Madhumeha is caused when the ojas is taken to urinary bladder from its own site by the vitiated vata dosha.(cha.sa.ni.4/37). This
condition is incurable due to its severity,susceptibility to complications and contradictory treatment .(Cha.ni.6/38).
Depletion of ojas (kshaya) is observed due to the obstruction of samana vata by vitiated vyana vata. The other features observed
are muurcha, tandra, pralapa, angasaada, agni and ojo kshaya,.
26. PRSERVATION OF OJA & TREATMENT OF ITS DISORDERS
• The treatment measures of pacification of vata and pitta dosha and enhancement of kapha dosha are applied to
preserve the quality of oja and treatment of its disorders.
• Dietary regimens like ghee, cow milk, meat soup processed with jeevaniya gana dravyas are beneficial in enhancing
the ojas.
• जीवनीयौषधक्षीररसाद्यास्तत्र भेषजि्।
ओजोमवव्र्द्धानौ देहस्य तुमष्ट पुमष्टबलोदय:॥(A.hr.11/41)
The disorders of ojas are treated with herbs with immunomodulatory activities likeAswagandha, Shilajatu, Amalaki, Tulsi,
Guduchi etc.,.
Good conduct with rejuvenating effect (achara rasayanam) or ideal behaviour therapy also possesses an effect on the
preservation and enhancement of ojas.
27. APPLIED ASPECTS
• Resistance to decay and degeneration of the body is known as immunity.
• Immunity opposes the strength of diseases and denotes the resistance which an organism offer
against attack by an invader.
• Development of immunity is a process by which the body learns from experience of past infection how
to deal
• efficiently with the subsequent one?
• Vyadhi-kshamatava is the resistance of the body to arrest the progress, occurrence or reoccurrence of
the disease.
• Stressing on the importance of Ojas, Indu has
• commented that doshas even being in equilibrium are incapable to maintain the defense of the body
which
• is lacking of Ojas. (Indu on As. Su.19)