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== Importance of Ahara ==

== Importance of Ahara ==

Ahara has been acclaimed for its role in every aspect of persons life in Charaka Samhita. Acharya Charaka has described the multivariate importance of Ahara or Annam in the verse below. <blockquote>प्राणाः प्राणभृतामन्नमन्नं लोकोऽभिधावति| वर्णः प्रसादः सौस्वर्यं जीवितं प्रतिभा सुखम्॥ </blockquote><blockquote>तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्बलं मेधा सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्| लौकिकं कर्म यद्वृत्तौ स्वर्गतौ यच्च वैदिकम्॥ </blockquote><blockquote>कर्मापवर्गे यच्चोक्तं तच्चाप्यन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्॥ (Char. Samh. 27.349-51)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 27 Sutras 349-51)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>prāṇāḥ prāṇabhr̥tāmannamannaṁ loko'bhidhāvati| varṇaḥ prasādaḥ sausvaryaṁ jīvitaṁ pratibhā sukham॥</blockquote><blockquote>tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭirbalaṁ medhā sarvamanne pratiṣṭhitam| laukikaṁ karma yadvr̥ttau svargatau yacca vaidikam॥</blockquote><blockquote>karmāpavarge yaccoktaṁ taccāpyanne pratiṣṭhitam॥ (Char. Samh. 27.349-51)</blockquote>Meaning: The source of life for all living beings is food and thus all the world seeks (runs behind) food. Complexion, clarity, good voice, long life, understanding, happiness, satisfaction, growth, strength and intelligence are all established in food (can be attained by eating right food). Whatever is beneficial for worldly happiness, whatever pertains to the vedic sacrifices leading to higher abode and whatever actions lead to spiritual salvation are said to be established through food.<ref>Available from [https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php?title=Annapanavidhi_Adhyaya charakasamhitaonline.com]</ref>

Ahara has been acclaimed for its role in every aspect of persons life in Charaka Samhita. Acharya Charaka has described the multivariate importance of Ahara or Annam in the verse below. <blockquote>प्राणाः प्राणभृतामन्नमन्नं लोकोऽभिधावति| वर्णः प्रसादः सौस्वर्यं जीवितं प्रतिभा सुखम्॥ </blockquote><blockquote>तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्बलं मेधा सर्वमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्| लौकिकं कर्म यद्वृत्तौ स्वर्गतौ यच्च वैदिकम्॥ </blockquote><blockquote>कर्मापवर्गे यच्चोक्तं तच्चाप्यन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्॥ (Char. Samh. 27.349-51)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 27 Sutras 349-51)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>prāṇāḥ prāṇabhr̥tāmannamannaṁ loko'bhidhāvati| varṇaḥ prasādaḥ sausvaryaṁ jīvitaṁ pratibhā sukham॥</blockquote><blockquote>tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭirbalaṁ medhā sarvamanne pratiṣṭhitam| laukikaṁ karma yadvr̥ttau svargatau yacca vaidikam॥</blockquote><blockquote>karmāpavarge yaccoktaṁ taccāpyanne pratiṣṭhitam॥ (Char. Samh. 27.349-51)</blockquote>Meaning: The source of life for all living beings is food and thus all the world seeks (runs behind) food. Complexion, clarity, good voice, long life, understanding, happiness, satisfaction, growth, strength and intelligence are all established in food (can be attained by eating right food). Whatever is beneficial for worldly happiness, whatever pertains to the vedic sacrifices leading to higher abode and whatever actions lead to spiritual salvation are said to be established through food.<ref>Available from [https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php?title=Annapanavidhi_Adhyaya charakasamhitaonline.com]</ref><blockquote>आहारः प्रीणनः सद्यो बलकृद्देहधारकः ॥ आयुस्तेजःसमुत्साहस्मृत्योजोग्निविवर्धनः ॥ (Sush. Samh. 24.68-69)<ref>Sushruta Samhita (Chikitsasthanam Adhyaya 24 Sutra 68-69)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>āhāraḥ prīṇanaḥ sadyo balakr̥ddehadhārakaḥ ॥ āyustejaḥsamutsāhasmr̥tyojognivivardhanaḥ ॥ (Sush. Samh. 24.68-69)</blockquote>Meaning: Ahara is nourishing, instantly energizing and body bearer. It promotes longevity, energy, freshness, memory, [[Ojas (ओजः)|ojas]] and Agni.

At the same time, Ayurveda acharyas have also identified the nuisance value of ahara if it is not consumed methodically. It is because of some inappropriate practices of consuming food, it can also become a cause for disease development and thus might create trouble. Acharya Charaka has pointed out this interesting aspect of Ahara by comparing it with liquor and poison by showing the similarity between them skillfully in the verse below.

At the same time, Ayurveda acharyas have also identified the nuisance value of ahara if it is not consumed methodically. It is because of some inappropriate practices of consuming food, it can also become a cause for disease development and thus might create trouble. Acharya Charaka has pointed out this interesting aspect of Ahara by comparing it with liquor and poison by showing the similarity between them skillfully in the verse below.

Thus, Ahara plays integral role in one’s health and wellness and therefore it is regarded as one of the 3 supports of life.  

Thus, Ahara plays integral role in one’s health and wellness and therefore it is regarded as one of the 3 supports of life.  

== Role of Ahara ==

== Role of Ahara ==

Ayurveda has recognized the role of Ahara in various aspects of life. Shariram (Physical body) of a person is made up of Ahara. Therefore Sharira vrddhi (physical growth), strength building can be achieved essentially through ahara. Ahara has also been identified as one of the extremely important causative factor for disease development. Thus, role of ahara in all these aspects of life, health and well-being is discussed hereafter in brief.

Ayurveda has recognized the role of Ahara in various aspects of life. [[Sharira (शरीरम्)|Shariram]] (Physical body) of a person is made up of Ahara. Therefore Sharira vrddhi (physical growth), strength building can be achieved essentially through ahara. Ahara has also been identified as one of the extremely important causative factor for disease development. Thus, role of ahara in all these aspects of life, health and well-being is discussed hereafter in brief.

=== In Sharira vruddhi ===

=== In Sharira vruddhi ===

कृत्स्नं शरीरमहरहस्तर्पयति वर्धयति धारयति [३] यापयति (Su.Su.14.3)

Ahara undergoes the process of digestion and it is transformed into [[Rasa Dhatu (रस धातु)|Rasa dhatu.]] This Rasa dhatu which is the essence of ahara is then circulated through various channels in the body to provide nourishment to each and every body component. Thus nourishment & growth of body, sustenance of metabolic functions and preservation of life is accomplished by Ahara through Rasa dhatu. <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 14 Sutra 3)</ref> Owing to this, the root of living beings, their balam (strength) and Varnam (Complexion) appears to be in Ahara. All these vital activities are carried out by Ahara with the help of its [[Rasa (रसः)|Rasa]]. Guna, [[Veeryam (वीर्यम्)|Veerya]] and [[Vipaka (विपाकः)|vipaka]]. These properties are based on dravya i.e. ingredient or substance which is consumed as a food. The origin, sustenance and destruciton of life is rooted in Ahara. It is Ahara which causes growth, strength, health, wellness when consumed appropriately, On the other hand, inappropriately consumed food leads to illness. <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthnam Adhyaya 46 Sutra 3)</ref>

 

प्राणिनां पुनर्मूलमाहारो बलवर्णौजसां च, स षट्सु रसेष्वायत्तः, रसाः पुनर्द्रव्याश्रयिणः,’ द्रव्यरसगुणवीर्यविपाकनिमित्ते च क्षयवृद्धी दोषाणां साम्यं च, ब्रह्मादेरपि च लोकस्याहारः स्थित्युत्पत्तिविनाशहेतुः, आहारादेवाभिवृद्धिर्बलमारोग्यं वर्णेन्द्रियप्रसादश्च, तथा ह्याहारवैषम्यादस्वास्थ्यं…. Su.Su. 46.3

 

 

In sthoulya-karshya

In sthoulya-karshya