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Sankhya Philosophy In Ayurveda

May 29, 2010

Posted by midori under Ayurveda, General info, Sankhya, Theory of Ayurveda

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By Midori Hatakeyama

Sankhya is a way of understanding the universe through the principles of subtle energies and their interactions deﬁned in Bhagavata Purana, which is related to the understanding of sakti (power) and saktiman (powerful) given in Vedanta.

In Sankya philosophy, there is only one saktiman who is equivalent to Purush (predominator or wielder of energies), who energizes the prakriti which is equivalent to sakti.

As Purush breathes life into prakriti, the energy manifests as jivatma (soul) in the Ayurvedic sense of “self” that is covered with the layers of gross and subtle forms as 3 subtle elements that establishes “ego” (mind, intelligence, ahankar), 5 subtle elements called sukshhma- bhoot (sound, touch, form, taste, smell), 5 sensing functions (hearing, tactile perception, sight, sense of smell, sense of taste,), 5 physical capacities (speech, manipulative, motive, excretory, procreative), mind as a sensing system, 5 gross elements produced from the 5 subtle elements (space, air, ﬁre, water, earth), time, and Supersoul.

The principle of Panch Mahaboot is closely related to the Sankya philosophy as it develops it’s system on the 5 basic subtle elements (space, air, ﬁre, water, earth) that together compose the life energy (prakriti).

Ayurveda deﬁnes 3 types of prakriti (doshas) based on the 5 basic elements: Kapha (Water and Earth), and Pitta (Fire), Vata (Air and Space/Ether).

We are born with a combination of these 3 elements and our constitution (prikriti) is determined by the dominant element(s).

When the three doshas are balanced, a human is considered to be in a perfect health in the Ayurvedic health science. When, anyone of these elements is imbalanced and/or impared, it is believed that it creates disease. These three elements create the seven dhatus (Saptadhatu) that give shape to the body. Everyone is born with a combination of the three elements. However, one element is dominant and is called the constitution or Prakruti of the person, and oneʼs constitution determines the primary cause of oneʼs
ailments.

According to Ayurveda, these seven Dhatus are chyle, blood, ﬂesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen. Kapha (earth/water) controls blood, fat, marrow and semen. Vata (air) controls bones and joints. Pitta (ﬁre) controls the ‘agni’ that aids digestion. “ Vata or Vayu (air) is responsible of the entire movement of these dhatus.