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AYURVEDA AND PSYCHOLOGY

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DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20182-9636

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 World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Manish et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical
SJIF Research
Impact Factor 7.523

Volume 7, Issue 2, 224-231. Review Article ISSN 2277– 7105

AYURVEDA AND PSYCHOLOGY

*1Dr. Manish Walia and 2Himanshi Singh

1
Pg Scholar Ras Shastra, MMM. Ayu. Colg. Udaipur (Raj.).
2
M.Phil Clinical Psychology, PGIMS Rohtak (Haryana).

Article Received on
ABSTRACT
26 Nov. 2017, The name Ayurveda was given to the ancient healing tradition of India.
Revised on 16 Dec. 2017,
Accepted on 06 Jan. 2018 It is often translated as the "science of life," from ayus (life)
DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20182-9636 and veda (knowledge). It is an ancient science of body, mind and spirit
which has stood the test of time for over 5,000 years. One of the
*Corresponding Author branch of ayurveda as per ashtanga ayurveda is Graham chikitsa or
Dr. Manish Walia Ayurvedic psychology. It is also called bhut vidya and deals with
Pg Scholar Ras Shastra,
psychology and psychiatry. Ayurvedic psychology addresses mental
MMM. Ayu. Colg. Udaipur
imbalances and how to treat them with holistic methods so that patients
(Raj.).
may return to their inborn state of mental equilibrium. Manas vikruti
can be classified by the three doshas or Ayurvedic body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The
imbalances in vatta, pitta and kapha and past karmas, “past deeds” are said to be the major
cause for mental illness. Treating mental disorders naturally through the principles of
Ayurveda still influence people from all over the world. Learning the relationship between
Ayurvedic treatment and contemporary medicine can help a person in understanding the
development of psychiatric medicine.

KEYWORDS: Ayurveda, bhoot vidya, psychology, doshas, ashtanga ayurveda.

INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda is an ancient science of body, mind and spirit which has stood the test of time for
over 5,000 years. It has eight branches. One of these branches is Ayurvedic psychology, also
known as graha chikitsa or bhuta vidya.

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Ayurvedic psychology addresses mental imbalances and how to treat them with holistic
methods so that patients may return to their inborn state of mental equilibrium. The mind is
known as manas (phonetically mun-us) in Sanskrit.

The Charaka Samhita establishes that the causes of psychological disorders are due to the
wrong use of the mind.

“Thinking is an object for the mind (it can be observed). Thus the wrong use of the mind
creates abnormal mental conditions. The right use of the mind creates mental Charaka
Samhita stability.” Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana, Ch 8, 16.

Elements of Ayurvedic Psychology in Charaka Samhitha

Charaka in his treatise Charaka Samhita, describes eight essential psychological factors that
are negatively affected in various ways in all psychiatric disorders. The psychopathological
condition is a function of these factors, which are manas (mind), buddhi, smriti (memory),
srijna jnana (orientation and responsiveness), bhakti (devotion), shila (habits), cheshta
(psychomotor activity) and achara (conduct). Compared to other major ayurvedic texts like
Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hrdayam, Charaka Samhita gives more emphasis to the view
of life as a self-aware field of pure consciousness and natural intelligence where the knower
and the known are one.

Signs of Mental Health as per Ayurveda

1. Good memory
2. Taking the right food at the right time

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3. Awareness of one's responsibilities

4. Awareness of the self and beyond self
5. Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene
6. Doing things with enthusiasm
7. Cleverness and discrimination
8. Being brave
9. Perseverance
10. Maintaining cheerfulness irrespective of the situation
11. Fearlessness in facing situations
12. Sharp intellectual functioning
13. Self-sufficiency
14. Following a good value system
15. Ability to proceed steadfastly against all odds.

Ayurvedic doctors (vaidyas) or practitioners can determine a patient’s current psychological

state (manas vikruti) through the eight-fold examination process (ashta vidya pariksha).
Manas vikruti can be classified by the three doshas or Ayurvedic body types: Vata, Pitta, and
Kapha.

Tridoshas – vatta, pitta, kapha

According to Ayurveda, the human body (the physical entity) is composed of three
fundamental categories called Doshas, Dhatus and Malas. The Doshas are three in number,
the Dhatus are seven and the Malas are three. The three Doshas (Tridoshas) are Vata, Pitta,
and Kapha. Their psychological correlates which play a role in the functioning and behavior
of humans is the Trigunas–Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Characteristic Guna/Prakriti which gives
that matter its unique quality.

The Tridoshas are composed of all the five Mahabhutas, but one or the other is predominant,
with the other four are in lesser dominance. There can never be a state when one or the
other Mahabhuta is absent totally. All five are essential to sustain life. Proper balance among
these three Doshas is essential for good health.
 Vata Dosha is composed of Akasa (ether) and Vayu (air) Mahabhutas.
 Pitta Dosha is composed of Tejas or Agni (fire) and Ap Mahabhutas.
 Kapha Dosha is composed of Ap (water) and Prithvi (earth) Mahabhutas.

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Charaka and Sushruta recognize seven types or categories into which people can be
classified, depending on the dominance of the Doshas in their body. Besides the basic seven
types of Prakriti (Vata, Pitta and Kapha and their blends), Ayurveda recognizes 16 types of
personalities based on the classical Guna theory. Both Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas have a
description of these types. There are seven types of Sattva, six of Rajas and three of Tamas,
totaling 16 types of personalities under which all people can be grouped. The seven types of
Sattva are: Brahma Sattva, Mahendra Sattva, Varuna Sattva, Kubera Sattva, Gandharva
Sattva, Yama Sattva and Rishi Sattva. The six types of Rajas Sattva are: Asura Sattva,
Rakshasa Sattva, Paisaca Sattva, Sarpa Sattva, Praita Sattva and Sakuna Sattva. The three
types of Tamas Sattva are Pasava Sattva, Matsya Sattva and Vanaspatya Sattva.

Vata psychology
People with Vata imbalances in Ayurvedic psychology, they will exhibit symptoms of fear,
loneliness, extreme anxiety, nervousness, a very restless mind and ongoing insomnia. The
patient will speak a mile a minute, quickly change topics during a conversation, have restless
leg syndrome and crave ongoing external stimulation. The patient will have very dry skin,
rough brittle nails and a shaky tongue.

Pitta psychology
Those individuals with Pitta imbalances in Ayurvedic psychology will be prone to anger,
criticism, judgment, temper tantrums and never ending analysis. The Pitta person speaks
sharply, impatiently and concisely and expects the same in return. The patient will often be
balding or prematurely gray, be prone to moles, freckles and inflammatory conditions.

Kapha psychology
Patients who have Kapha imbalances in Ayurvedic psychology will exhibit a heavy type of
depression, greed, attachment and lethargy. They enjoy routines and are quite caring and
nurturing. Kapha patients walk and talk slowly and may be overweight. They may ponder a
question for a while before answering or forming an opinion. Once they make up their mind,
then it is difficult to alter their mindset.

Personality types based on Gunas

Seven kind of Sattvika, six kind of Rajasika and three kind of Tamasika are noted.

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Brahma Type are pure individuals and have freedom from passion and envy, they are equal to
all creatures. The individual with these characteristics are noted to be emotionally stable.

Arsa (Sharing the traits of Rsis)

The predominant characteristics are engaged in sacrifices, study, vow and celibacy. The
intelligence and imagination are defining characteristics.

Aindra (Traits of Indra)

Happy go lucky individuals, brave, and outgoing are grouped under these categories.
Incidentally this is an exception to the mention of company of women for the sake of pleasure
especially in sattwik type of category.

Yamya (Sharing the traits of Yama)

The traits are characterized as readiness for action, freedom from attachment and similar to
God of death.

Varuna
Persons with these trait cluster are sobre and conservative. They are clean and brave.

Kauvera
The Kauvera is a God of wealth, hence the persons with these traits possess luxuries and have
liking for pleasure and recreation.

Gandharva
Fondness for dancing singing and music are the predominant traits of people.

Thus, Sattvik types have been divided in above description. Rajasik types are dominated by
wrathful disposition. The six types are enumerated in brief.

Asura
Such persons are deceitful, violent, and toughminded.

Raksasa
Intolerance, overeating, and indulging in sleep are defining characteristics.

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Paisaca
The characteristic traits of these types are fondness for women, gluttonous habits and
cowardice disposition.

Sarpa
Sharp reaction and bravery in wrath terrorizing are some of the defining traits.

Praita
They have excessive desire for food and have greediness. The undisciplined traits are also
present.

Sakuni
Group dependent, tense and attachment with passion are noted in these types of individuals.
Tamasik are described as under:

Pasava
They share the traits of animal, they are less intelligent sleep and indulge in sex excessively.

Matsya
The instability is the hallmark of this trait cluster. They are passionate and have wrathful
disposition.

Mind influences the physiology and pathology of the physical body. This fact was realized by
the founding fathers of Ayurveda. Therefore, Ayurveda is defined as a philosophy and
science of life. The attempts have been made by Indian researchers to develop scale of
measurement of Triguna.

AYURVEDA AND POSTULATES OF PERSONALITY

Ayurveda postulates that all living beings on the earth, including the nonliving too, are made
up of these elements meant the five Mahabhutas–Akasa, Vayu, Tejas, Ap and Prithvi. The
earth and man are made up of these five elements. These five elements combine with each
other to form the three humors of Vata, Pitta and Kapha (also called as the Tridoshas in
unison). Ayurvedic principles are drawn heavily from Samkhyan Philosophy. “In Ayurveda,
the three Doshas are considered to be universal principles that function in all aspects of
material creation, including the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms. The Doshas have been
correlated with systems theory in the field of physics, providing a sound theoretical basis for

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this Ayurvedic concept. A pilot study revealed the possibility of utilizing Prakriti to correlate
phenotypes with genotypes in the human population, which could have wide ranging
implications for healthcare.

Why psychological imbalance occurs

Manas vikruti in Ayurvedic psychology is attributable to a number of factors. These include
following a diet which creates more vikruti, incompatible food combining, toxins from
repressed emotions, unresolved emotions, stress, trauma and poor lifestyle habits.

Manas vikruti may be balanced through eating a proper doshic diet, meditation, following a
daily routine to balance your dosha, and herbs. Ayurvedic also offers herbal remedies which
can be used to calm the mind. If you are taking any allopathic prescription or OTC
medication, please consult with your primary care physician before you begin taking any
herbal supplements. It is also advisable to get a full Ayurvedic consultation to help you on the
road to recovery. Some herbs traditionally used for the mind are Brahmi (in powder form or
as an oil or as a tincture), Bhringraj (powder or as an oil), Bacopa (powder or as a tincture),
and Shankhapushpi.

Manas prakruti is our inborn mental constitution in Ayurvedic psychology. This is

determined by the sixth level of the pulse. It is described as an eight-petaled lotus. An
adept Ayurvedic practitioner will be able to identify what the manas prakruti is though this
refined pulse assessment. Each of the eight petals is linked to a Vedic deity and the attributes
of that deity. These attributes will reveal qualities such as compassionate, introspective,
judgmental, etc. Pulse assessment will identify which of these petals is activated.

Ayurvedic Treatment and Conclusion

Bhoot vidya suggests the use of different disinfectant herbs in the category of “Graha vidya
dravya.” This recommends the fumigation of the germs from the surroundings. This is done
using small plant sticks with disinfecting characteristics like samidha to enhance the
atmosphere around the patient. Apart from that, psychiatric treatment also involves chanting
mantras, diet modification and yogic treatments. Meditation and Pranayama mainly work on
developing peace of mind.

Treating mental disorders naturally through the principles of Ayurveda still influence people
from all over the world. Learning the relationship between Ayurvedic treatment and

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 Manish et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

contemporary medicine can help a person in understanding the development of psychiatric

medicine.

REFERENCES
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and practice. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications.
3. Bhaktivedanta, A.C.S. Prabhupada. BHAGVAD GITA AS IT IS. Bombay: The
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4. Charaka Samhita.
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