Difference between revisions of "Sharira (शरीरम्)"
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The term Sharira can be attributed to the physical body of an individual. However, according to Ayurveda physical body is that component of the life of an individual which is limited to this world i.e mortal. Although Vedas and other shastras identify various aspects of one’s life by the term Sharira, Ayurveda sticks to only the gross Sthula Sharira category amongst Sharira Trayam. Thus, ‘Sharira’ in Ayurveda refers to the material physical mortal body that eats, breathes and moves (acts). Other terms like ‘Deha’, ‘Kaya’, ‘Vapu’ are also used synonymously with ‘Sharira’. | The term Sharira can be attributed to the physical body of an individual. However, according to Ayurveda physical body is that component of the life of an individual which is limited to this world i.e mortal. Although Vedas and other shastras identify various aspects of one’s life by the term Sharira, Ayurveda sticks to only the gross Sthula Sharira category amongst Sharira Trayam. Thus, ‘Sharira’ in Ayurveda refers to the material physical mortal body that eats, breathes and moves (acts). Other terms like ‘Deha’, ‘Kaya’, ‘Vapu’ are also used synonymously with ‘Sharira’. | ||
| + | == परिचयः ॥ Introduction == | ||
| + | Ayurveda believes that any Purusha (पुरुषः । Human being or Individual) is a life and, this life is believd to be the union of Satva (सत्वम्। Mind), Atman (आत्मा। Life energy) and Sharira (शरीरम् । Body). Thus, Sharira is one of the 3 vital components of anyone’s life. Ayurveda believes that the entire life (Individual) depends and sustains on this union. Thus, the term Sharira can be correlated with the physical body of an individual which provides the seat for life energy and mind. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology == | ||
| + | <blockquote>शीर्यते तद् शरीरम् | {{Citation needed}}</blockquote>One that is in the process of continuous degeneration. It denotes the natural tendency of physical body to degenerate (if not intervened with use of food or medicines). | ||
| − | Ayurveda | + | == शरीरस्य परिभाषा ॥ Definition of Sharira by Ayurveda == |
| + | According to Acharya Charaka, Sharira is the seat for life energy and it is composed of factors derived from the five basic elements mahabhuta in a specific proportion that maintains equilibrium. <blockquote>तत्र शरीरं नाम चेतनाधिष्ठानभूतं पञ्चमहाभूतविकारसमुदायात्मकं समयोगवाहि | (Char. Samh. 6.4)<ref name=":0">Charaka Samhita ([http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Sharira_Vichaya_Sharira#Definition_of_sharira_and_disequilibrium_in_body_elements Sharirsthanam Adhyaya 6 Sutram 4])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tatra śarīraṁ nāma cetanādhiṣṭhānabhūtaṁ pañcamahābhūtavikārasamudāyātmakaṁ samayogavāhi |</blockquote>Acharya Sushruta has laid great importance on physical appearance and constituents like organs, tissues, systems and body parts while defining the term Sharira as various places. <ref>Sushruta Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 5 Sutram 3)</ref> | ||
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| + | == शरीरस्य मूलम् ॥ Roots of the Sharira == | ||
| + | 3 Doshas, 7 Dhatus and 3 Malas are believed to be the building blocks or roots of the ‘Sharira’. <ref>Sushruta Samhita ([http://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/esushruta/?mod=read Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 15 Sutram 3])</ref>All of them are composed of different proportions of 5 basic elements or Panchamabhutas. It is thus believed that any visible characteristic or activity of a human being has its roots in the interplay of these 3 integral components of human body. These 3 components control and represent the structure and function of physical body while maintaining close union with mind, senses and life energy. | ||
| − | + | == Factors responsible for maintenance and destruction of Sharira == | |
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| − | Factors responsible for maintenance and destruction of Sharira | ||
Ayurveda has given utmost importance to maintaining the equilibrium of these 3 components viz. Dosha, Dhatu & Malas because it is said that, when in equilibrium these constituents maintain natural state of balanced internal environment and promote health. However, when these 3 components fail to maintain natural equilibrium (in terms of alteration in natural quality or quantity) then there is either discomfort or destruction of the body. | Ayurveda has given utmost importance to maintaining the equilibrium of these 3 components viz. Dosha, Dhatu & Malas because it is said that, when in equilibrium these constituents maintain natural state of balanced internal environment and promote health. However, when these 3 components fail to maintain natural equilibrium (in terms of alteration in natural quality or quantity) then there is either discomfort or destruction of the body. | ||
| − | Factors responsible for growth of Sharira | + | == शरीरवृद्धीकराः भावाः ॥ Factors responsible for growth of Sharira == |
In line with Ayurveda’s objective of maintaining health and treating diseases, guideline has been provided on the role of some important factors responsible for growth of this Sharira. These factors play critical role in growth and development of physical body according to Ayurveda. | In line with Ayurveda’s objective of maintaining health and treating diseases, guideline has been provided on the role of some important factors responsible for growth of this Sharira. These factors play critical role in growth and development of physical body according to Ayurveda. | ||
| − | This topic is another example of brilliance of ancient Ayurveda scholars. They have precisely pointed out the various factors that should be considered together in order to understand the possible reasons for proper or improper growth of physical body of any individual. Listed following are those critical factors responsible for one’s | + | |
| − | + | This topic is another example of brilliance of ancient Ayurveda scholars. They have precisely pointed out the various factors that should be considered together in order to understand the possible reasons for proper or improper growth of physical body of any individual. Listed following are those critical factors responsible for one’s growth and development, | |
| − | + | # Favorable time of season and one’s lifespan (age), | |
| − | + | # Natural tendencies of individual (which might be correlated with genetic constitution for ease of understanding), | |
| − | + | # Quality of food consumption and abiding by all the good dietary practices expounded in compendium, | |
| − | कार्त्स्न्येन शरीरवृध्दिकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा- कालयोगः, स्वभावसंसिध्दि:, आहारसौष्ठवम्,अविघातश्चेति|| | + | # Absence of inhibiting factors for health like not indulging in unhygienic practices and following rules of [[Sadvrutta (सद्वृत्तम्)|Sadvrtta]]. |
| + | <blockquote>कार्त्स्न्येन शरीरवृध्दिकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा- कालयोगः, स्वभावसंसिध्दि:, आहारसौष्ठवम्,अविघातश्चेति|| (Char. Samh. Shar. 6.12)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>kārtsnyena śarīravr̥dhdikarāstvime bhāvā bhavanti; tadyathā- kālayogaḥ, svabhāvasaṁsidhdi:, āhārasauṣṭhavam,avighātaśceti||</blockquote> | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Ayurveda]] | [[Category:Ayurveda]] | ||
Revision as of 18:05, 28 March 2019
Sharira (शरीरम्)
The term Sharira can be attributed to the physical body of an individual. However, according to Ayurveda physical body is that component of the life of an individual which is limited to this world i.e mortal. Although Vedas and other shastras identify various aspects of one’s life by the term Sharira, Ayurveda sticks to only the gross Sthula Sharira category amongst Sharira Trayam. Thus, ‘Sharira’ in Ayurveda refers to the material physical mortal body that eats, breathes and moves (acts). Other terms like ‘Deha’, ‘Kaya’, ‘Vapu’ are also used synonymously with ‘Sharira’.
परिचयः ॥ Introduction
Ayurveda believes that any Purusha (पुरुषः । Human being or Individual) is a life and, this life is believd to be the union of Satva (सत्वम्। Mind), Atman (आत्मा। Life energy) and Sharira (शरीरम् । Body). Thus, Sharira is one of the 3 vital components of anyone’s life. Ayurveda believes that the entire life (Individual) depends and sustains on this union. Thus, the term Sharira can be correlated with the physical body of an individual which provides the seat for life energy and mind.
व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology
शीर्यते तद् शरीरम् |[citation needed]
One that is in the process of continuous degeneration. It denotes the natural tendency of physical body to degenerate (if not intervened with use of food or medicines).
शरीरस्य परिभाषा ॥ Definition of Sharira by Ayurveda
According to Acharya Charaka, Sharira is the seat for life energy and it is composed of factors derived from the five basic elements mahabhuta in a specific proportion that maintains equilibrium.
तत्र शरीरं नाम चेतनाधिष्ठानभूतं पञ्चमहाभूतविकारसमुदायात्मकं समयोगवाहि | (Char. Samh. 6.4)[1]
tatra śarīraṁ nāma cetanādhiṣṭhānabhūtaṁ pañcamahābhūtavikārasamudāyātmakaṁ samayogavāhi |
Acharya Sushruta has laid great importance on physical appearance and constituents like organs, tissues, systems and body parts while defining the term Sharira as various places. [2]
शरीरस्य मूलम् ॥ Roots of the Sharira
3 Doshas, 7 Dhatus and 3 Malas are believed to be the building blocks or roots of the ‘Sharira’. [3]All of them are composed of different proportions of 5 basic elements or Panchamabhutas. It is thus believed that any visible characteristic or activity of a human being has its roots in the interplay of these 3 integral components of human body. These 3 components control and represent the structure and function of physical body while maintaining close union with mind, senses and life energy.
Factors responsible for maintenance and destruction of Sharira
Ayurveda has given utmost importance to maintaining the equilibrium of these 3 components viz. Dosha, Dhatu & Malas because it is said that, when in equilibrium these constituents maintain natural state of balanced internal environment and promote health. However, when these 3 components fail to maintain natural equilibrium (in terms of alteration in natural quality or quantity) then there is either discomfort or destruction of the body.
शरीरवृद्धीकराः भावाः ॥ Factors responsible for growth of Sharira
In line with Ayurveda’s objective of maintaining health and treating diseases, guideline has been provided on the role of some important factors responsible for growth of this Sharira. These factors play critical role in growth and development of physical body according to Ayurveda.
This topic is another example of brilliance of ancient Ayurveda scholars. They have precisely pointed out the various factors that should be considered together in order to understand the possible reasons for proper or improper growth of physical body of any individual. Listed following are those critical factors responsible for one’s growth and development,
- Favorable time of season and one’s lifespan (age),
- Natural tendencies of individual (which might be correlated with genetic constitution for ease of understanding),
- Quality of food consumption and abiding by all the good dietary practices expounded in compendium,
- Absence of inhibiting factors for health like not indulging in unhygienic practices and following rules of Sadvrtta.
कार्त्स्न्येन शरीरवृध्दिकरास्त्विमे भावा भवन्ति; तद्यथा- कालयोगः, स्वभावसंसिध्दि:, आहारसौष्ठवम्,अविघातश्चेति|| (Char. Samh. Shar. 6.12)[1]
kārtsnyena śarīravr̥dhdikarāstvime bhāvā bhavanti; tadyathā- kālayogaḥ, svabhāvasaṁsidhdi:, āhārasauṣṭhavam,avighātaśceti||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Charaka Samhita (Sharirsthanam Adhyaya 6 Sutram 4)
- ↑ Sushruta Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya 5 Sutram 3)
- ↑ Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 15 Sutram 3)