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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. [[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.

Ayurveda has recognized the role of Ahara in various aspects of life. <blockquote>हिताहारोपयोग एक एव पुरुषवृद्धिकरो भवति, अहिताहारोपयोगः पुनर्व्याधिनिमित्तमिति ॥ (Char Samh 25.31)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 25 Sutra 31)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>hitāhāropayoga eka eva puruṣavr̥ddhikaro bhavati, ahitāhāropayogaḥ punarvyādhinimittamiti ॥ (Char Samh 25.31)</blockquote>Meaning: Hita Ahara (Favorable/suitable Food) is identified as the one and only source of Purusha Vrddhi (Growth of body-mind-energy system of a person).

 

This statement underlines the importance of Ahara in nourishment of not only physical body but also [[Manas (मनः)|manas]] (mind). Ahara has also been identified as one of the extremely important causative factor for disease development. The origin, sustenance and destruction of life is rooted in Ahara. It is Ahara which causes growth, generates 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> Thus, role of ahara in all these aspects of life, health and well-being is discussed step-wise in brief.

=== In Sharira vruddhi ===

=== In Sharira vruddhi ===

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>

[[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 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. Therefore, what food you select and consume is extremely important. Physical body appears good when it is in proper shape and size. The disproportionate increase or reduction in size and shape of the body is unpleasant and leads to illness as well. Thus obesity and emaciation (frail/lean body structure) both conditions are displeasing to the person. Ayurveda too opines that such body types are unfavorable and suggests that Ahara is one of the extremely significant causative factors in this which needs to be properly addressed. The other important factor is Nidra.<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 21 Sutra 51)</ref> Overall, for the growth of the physical body known as Sharira in Ayurveda, the role of Ahara was well known to the Ayurveda scholars and thus it has been counted as one among the factors responsible for Sharira Vrddhi (physical growth). These factors are collective known as Sharira Vrddhikara Bhavas. At this place it is once again communicated that not just any ahara but Aharasampat i.e good quality of Ahara is responsible for body growth.  

 

 

 

 

 

हिताहारोपयोग एक एव पुरुषवृद्धिकरो भवति, अहिताहारोपयोगः पुनर्व्याधिनिमित्तमिति [१] ||३१||

 

यदाहारजातमग्निवेश! समांश्चैव शरीरधातून् प्रकृतौ स्थापयति विषमांश्च समीकरोतीत्येतद्धितं विद्धि, विपरीतं त्वहितमिति; इत्येतद्धिताहितलक्षणमनपवादं भवति||३३|| 25.34

 

Ahara as one of the Shariravruddhikara bhavas

 

कार्त्स्न्येन शरीरवृद्धिकरास्त्विमे [१] भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा- कालयोगः, स्वभावसंसिद्धिः, आहारसौष्ठवम्, अविघातश्चेति||१२|| (Cha.Sha 6.12)

 

<blockquote>कार्त्स्न्येन शरीरवृद्धिकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा- कालयोगः, स्वभावसंसिद्धिः, आहारसौष्ठवम्, अविघातश्चेति ॥ (Char Samh 6.12)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 6 Sutra 12)</ref></blockquote><blockquote>kārtsnyena śarīravr̥ddhikarāstvime bhāvā bhavanti; tadyathā- kālayogaḥ, svabhāvasaṁsiddhiḥ, āhārasauṣṭhavam, avighātaśceti ॥ (Char Samh 6.12)</blockquote>

हिताहितानामाहारजातानां लक्षणमनपवादमभिजानीमहे; हितसमाख्यातानामाहारजातानामहितसमाख्यातानां च मात्राकालक्रियाभूमिदेहदोषपुरुषावस्थान्तरेषु विपरीतकारित्वमुपलभामह इति||३२||

 

हिताहारोपयोग एक एवेत्यवधारणेनास्य [२] प्राधान्यं दर्शयति नान्यप्रतिषेधम्, आचारस्य स्वप्नादेस्तथा शब्दादीनामपि कारणत्वेनोक्तत्वात्| व्याधिनिमित्तमिति व्याध्यभिवृद्धिनिमित्तं मध्यपदलोपाज्ज्ञेयम्, अभिवृद्धिकारणस्यैव पृष्टत्वात्; तथाऽहिताहारस्य यद्व्याधिनिमित्तत्वं, तस्य ‘तेषामेव विपद्व्याधीन् विविधान् समुदीरयेत्’ इत्यनेनैवोक्तत्वात्| किंवा व्याधिनिमित्तशब्देन सामान्येन जनको वर्धकश्च हेतुरुच्यते| अनपवादमिति अव्यभिचारि| हिताहिताहारदुर्ज्ञानताहेतुमाह- हितसमाख्यातानामित्यादि| विपरीतकारित्वमिति पथ्यस्यापथ्यत्वं तथा अपथ्यस्य पथ्यत्वं मात्रादिवशाद्भवति| तत्र पथ्या रक्तशाल्यादयोऽतिमात्रा हीनमात्रा वा मात्रादोषादपथ्या भवन्ति| तथा कालवशात्त एव रक्तशाल्यादयो लघुत्वाद्बलवदग्नीनां हेमन्ते न हिताः; कालशब्देन चेह नित्यग एव कालो गृह्यते, आवस्थिकस्य पुरषावस्थाशब्देन गृहीतत्वात्| क्रिया तु संस्करणं, तेन च रक्तशालिरसम्यक्स्विन्नाप्रस्रुतत्वादिना ओदनदोषेणाहितो भवति, तथा स एव भूमिसम्बन्धादानूपदेशजः सन्नपथ्यो भवति| तथा देहापेक्षया मेदस्विनो रक्तशालिर्लघुतया न हितो भवति, तदुक्तं- “गुरु चातर्पणं चेष्टं स्थूलानां कर्शनं प्रति” (सू. २१) इति| तथा स एव दोषे वायावहितः, दोषशब्देन व्याधिरपि ग्रहीतव्यः| तथा- पुरुषस्य बाल्यावस्थायां श्लेष्मप्रधानायां तिक्तादि पथ्यं, तत्तु वार्धक्ये वृद्धवाते न पथ्यम्| अवस्थान्तरशब्दश्च मात्रादिभिः प्रत्येकं सम्बध्यते| एवमहितस्यापि मात्रादिपरिग्रहेण हितत्वमुन्नेतव्यम्||३०-३२||

=== Role of ahara in agni strength ===

=== Role of ahara in agni strength ===

|Chilichim

|Chilichim

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== Bhojana kala ==

== Bhojana kala ==