Difference between revisions of "Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)"

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Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)
 
Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)
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Indriya form one of the integral parts of the union called as ‘Ayu’ or Life of an individual. Indriyas refer to the organs that are essential for knowledge of outside world to the individual and perform actions in response to this knowledge gained from outside world to survive. Thus, Indriyas are correlated with Sense organs and motor organs of human body. They are total 11 in number.
 
  
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Introduction
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Indriyas form one of the integral parts of the union called as ‘Ayu’ (Life) of an individual. Indriyas refer to the organs that are essential for knowledge of outside world and perform actions in response to this knowledge gained from outside world to survive. Thus, Indriyas are correlated with Sense organs and motor organs of human body. They are total 11 in number.
−
Ayurveda offers the knowledge of methods for maintaining and enhancing Ayu (Life) of an individual. Ayu is defined as the close of union of 4 essential components namely, Sharira (Physical Body), Satva or Manas (Mind), Atman (Consciousness or life energy) and Indriyas (Sensory and motors organs). Thus, each and every component of this union is equally important for survival. Amongst these, Sharira and Indriyas are such components that connect individual’s life with the external world. Here, Indriyas are believed to perform the function of obtaining the knowledge of outside world and provide the essential stimulus or signal to the body or mind to perform necessary functions to survive in this world. Without Indriyas knowledge of outside world and performing any kind of action in response to these stimuli is not possible. Thus, these are considered the important tools of knowledge and action that work in close union with other 3 components viz. Shaira, Manas and Atman.
 
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Number and Types of Indriyas
 
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Total 11 Indriyas are described in Ayurveda and they are known as ‘Ekadasha Indriyani’. They are
 
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5 Jnanendriyas (Sensory organs)-
 
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5 Karmendriyas (Motor organs) &
 
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1 Manas – Though Manas is a separate entity, it is also counted under Indriyas since it has a capacity to gain knowledge independently as well. It is the important link between Atman and Indriyas in the process of gaining any kind of knowledge. Moreover, it links with Jnanendriyas as well as karmendriyas by performing both the actions i.e. gaining the knowledge and deciding the response activity.
 
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Function of Indriyas
 
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Indriyas Indriyas Site/ Body part embedding Indriya Function
 
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Jnanendriyas Chakshu Indriya Eyes Knowledge of site
 
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Ghrana Indriya Nose Knowledge of Smell
 
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Shrotra Indriya Ears Knowledge of sound
 
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Rasana Indriya Tongue Knowledge of Taste
 
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Sprashana Indriya Skin Knowledge of Touch
 
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Karmendriyas Hasta Hands Holding/grasping/collecting
 
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Pada Legs Locomotion
 
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Guda Anus Excretion
 
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Upastha Sexual Organ/ Phallus Excretion/ Secretion
 
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Vak Speech Speaking/ expressing/ reacting
 
  
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Jnanendriya ref- http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Indriyopakramaniya_Adhyaya#Indriya_pancha-panchaka_.28Five_pentads_of_sense_organs.29
+
== Introduction ==
−
KArmendriya ref: http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Katidhapurusha_Sharira#Functions_of_karmendriya_.28motor_organs.29
+
Ayurveda offers the knowledge of methods for maintaining and enhancing Ayu (Life) of an individual. Ayu is defined as the close of union of 4 essential components namely, [[Sharira (शरीरम्)|Sharira]] (Physical Body), Satva or [[Manas (मनः)|Manas]] (Mind), [[Atman (आत्मन्)|Atman]] (Consciousness or life energy) and Indriyas (Sensory and motors organs). Thus, each and every component of this union is equally important for survival. Among these, Sharira and Indriyas are such components that connect individual’s life with the external world. Here, Indriyas are believed to perform the function of obtaining the knowledge of outside world and provide the essential stimulus or signal to the body or mind to perform necessary functions to survive in this world. Without Indriyas knowledge of outside world and performing any kind of action in response to these stimuli is not possible. Thus, these are considered the important tools of knowledge and action that work in close union with other 3 components viz. Shaira, Manas and Atman.
  
−
Dominance of element (Panchamahabhuta) in each Jnanendriya
+
== Number and Types of Indriyas ==
−
Indriyas Site/ Body part embedding Indriya Dominant basic element  
+
Total 11 Indriyas are described in Ayurveda and they are known as ‘Ekadasha Indriyani’. They are described as follows,
−
Chakshu Indriya Eyes Agni (Fire)  
+
 
−
Ghrana Indriya Nose Prthvi (Earth)
+
=== Jnanendriyas (Sensory organs) ===
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Shrotra Indriya Ears Akasha (Space)
+
These are the Indriyas responsible for generating stimuli for gaining knowledge through 5 senses of sight, smell, sound, touch and taste.<ref name=":0">Charaka Samhita ([http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Indriyopakramaniya_Adhyaya#Indriya_pancha-panchaka_.28Five_pentads_of_sense_organs.29 Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 8])</ref> These are 5 in number and as follows,
−
Rasana Indriya Tongue Jalam (Water)
+
# Chakshu Indriya
−
Sprashana Indriya Skin Vayu (Air)
+
# Ghrana Indriya
 +
# Shrotra Indriya
 +
# Rasana Indriya
 +
# Sprashana Indriya
 +
 
 +
==== Dominance of element (Panchamahabhuta) in each Jnanendriya ====
 +
Ayurveda believes that all Indriyas are composed of 5 basic elements. Although each Indriya has all 5 basic elements in it, there exists dominance of 1 particular element in each Jnanendriya.<ref name=":0" /> This dominance is responsible for specific action of that Indriya and thus understanding this association is important in order to comprehend the health and diseased status of anyone of these Indriyas.
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+Association of Jnanendriyas with Panchamahabhutas (5 Basic elements)
 +
|'''Indriyas'''
 +
|'''Site/ Body part embedding Indriya'''
 +
|'''Dominant basic element'''
 +
|-
 +
|Chakshu Indriya
 +
|Eyes
 +
|Agni (Fire)  
 +
|-
 +
|Ghrana Indriya
 +
|Nose
 +
|Prthvi (Earth)
 +
|-
 +
|Shrotra Indriya
 +
|Ears
 +
|Akasha (Space)
 +
|-
 +
|Rasana Indriya
 +
|Tongue
 +
|Jalam (Water)
 +
|-
 +
|Sprashana Indriya
 +
|Skin  
 +
|Vayu (Air)
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== Karmendriyas (Motor organs) ===
 +
These type of Indriyas are responsible to perform appropriate actions as a response to any generated stimulus.<ref>Charaka Samhita ([http://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/mediawiki-1.28.2/index.php?title=Katidhapurusha_Sharira#Functions_of_karmendriya_.28motor_organs.29 Sharirasthanam Adhyaya] )</ref> There are 5 such Indriyas and are listed as follows,
 +
# Hasta
 +
# Pada
 +
# Guda
 +
# Upastha
 +
# Vak
 +
 
 +
=== Manas ===
 +
It is 1 in number. Also known as Satvam. Though [[Manas (मनः)|Manas]] is a separate entity, it is also counted under Indriyas since it has a capacity to gain knowledge independently as well. It is the important link between Atman and Indriyas in the process of gaining any kind of knowledge. Moreover, it links with Jnanendriyas as well as karmendriyas by performing both the actions i.e. gaining the knowledge and deciding the response activity. Thus, it is called as Ubhayatmakam (Capable of performing both types of actions) Indriyam. 
 +
 
 +
== Function of Indriyas ==
 +
All types of Indriyas perform specific action vital for the survival of the Individual in this world. Each Indriya is assigned exclusive action and this is called as the function of that Indriya. Since Manas can perform varied types of activities owing to its unique nature and role it is not listed in the table below. Refer Manas for details. 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+FUNCTIONS OF INDRIYAS
 +
|'''Indriyas'''
 +
|'''Indriyas'''
 +
|'''Site/ Body part embedding Indriya'''
 +
|'''Function'''
 +
|-
 +
|Jnanendriyas
 +
|Chakshu Indriya
 +
|Eyes
 +
|Knowledge of site
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Ghrana Indriya
 +
|Nose
 +
|Knowledge of Smell
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Shrotra Indriya
 +
|Ears
 +
|Knowledge of sound
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Rasana Indriya
 +
|Tongue
 +
|Knowledge of Taste
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Sprashana Indriya
 +
|Skin
 +
|Knowledge of Touch
 +
|-
 +
|Karmendriyas
 +
|Hasta
 +
|Hands
 +
|Holding/grasping/collecting
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Pada
 +
|Legs
 +
|Locomotion
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Guda
 +
|Anus
 +
|Excretion
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Upastha
 +
|Sexual Organ/ Phallus
 +
|Excretion/ Secretion
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Vak
 +
|Speech
 +
|Speaking/ expressing/ reacting
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
<references />
 +
[[Category:Ayurveda]]

Revision as of 16:58, 23 April 2019

Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)

Indriyas form one of the integral parts of the union called as ‘Ayu’ (Life) of an individual. Indriyas refer to the organs that are essential for knowledge of outside world and perform actions in response to this knowledge gained from outside world to survive. Thus, Indriyas are correlated with Sense organs and motor organs of human body. They are total 11 in number.

Introduction

Ayurveda offers the knowledge of methods for maintaining and enhancing Ayu (Life) of an individual. Ayu is defined as the close of union of 4 essential components namely, Sharira (Physical Body), Satva or Manas (Mind), Atman (Consciousness or life energy) and Indriyas (Sensory and motors organs). Thus, each and every component of this union is equally important for survival. Among these, Sharira and Indriyas are such components that connect individual’s life with the external world. Here, Indriyas are believed to perform the function of obtaining the knowledge of outside world and provide the essential stimulus or signal to the body or mind to perform necessary functions to survive in this world. Without Indriyas knowledge of outside world and performing any kind of action in response to these stimuli is not possible. Thus, these are considered the important tools of knowledge and action that work in close union with other 3 components viz. Shaira, Manas and Atman.

Number and Types of Indriyas

Total 11 Indriyas are described in Ayurveda and they are known as ‘Ekadasha Indriyani’. They are described as follows,

Jnanendriyas (Sensory organs)

These are the Indriyas responsible for generating stimuli for gaining knowledge through 5 senses of sight, smell, sound, touch and taste.[1] These are 5 in number and as follows,

  1. Chakshu Indriya
  2. Ghrana Indriya
  3. Shrotra Indriya
  4. Rasana Indriya
  5. Sprashana Indriya

Dominance of element (Panchamahabhuta) in each Jnanendriya

Ayurveda believes that all Indriyas are composed of 5 basic elements. Although each Indriya has all 5 basic elements in it, there exists dominance of 1 particular element in each Jnanendriya.[1] This dominance is responsible for specific action of that Indriya and thus understanding this association is important in order to comprehend the health and diseased status of anyone of these Indriyas.

Association of Jnanendriyas with Panchamahabhutas (5 Basic elements)
Indriyas Site/ Body part embedding Indriya Dominant basic element
Chakshu Indriya Eyes Agni (Fire)
Ghrana Indriya Nose Prthvi (Earth)
Shrotra Indriya Ears Akasha (Space)
Rasana Indriya Tongue Jalam (Water)
Sprashana Indriya Skin Vayu (Air)

Karmendriyas (Motor organs)

These type of Indriyas are responsible to perform appropriate actions as a response to any generated stimulus.[2] There are 5 such Indriyas and are listed as follows,

  1. Hasta
  2. Pada
  3. Guda
  4. Upastha
  5. Vak

Manas

It is 1 in number. Also known as Satvam. Though Manas is a separate entity, it is also counted under Indriyas since it has a capacity to gain knowledge independently as well. It is the important link between Atman and Indriyas in the process of gaining any kind of knowledge. Moreover, it links with Jnanendriyas as well as karmendriyas by performing both the actions i.e. gaining the knowledge and deciding the response activity. Thus, it is called as Ubhayatmakam (Capable of performing both types of actions) Indriyam.

Function of Indriyas

All types of Indriyas perform specific action vital for the survival of the Individual in this world. Each Indriya is assigned exclusive action and this is called as the function of that Indriya. Since Manas can perform varied types of activities owing to its unique nature and role it is not listed in the table below. Refer Manas for details.

FUNCTIONS OF INDRIYAS
Indriyas Indriyas Site/ Body part embedding Indriya Function
Jnanendriyas Chakshu Indriya Eyes Knowledge of site
Ghrana Indriya Nose Knowledge of Smell
Shrotra Indriya Ears Knowledge of sound
Rasana Indriya Tongue Knowledge of Taste
Sprashana Indriya Skin Knowledge of Touch
Karmendriyas Hasta Hands Holding/grasping/collecting
Pada Legs Locomotion
Guda Anus Excretion
Upastha Sexual Organ/ Phallus Excretion/ Secretion
Vak Speech Speaking/ expressing/ reacting

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 8)
  2. ↑ Charaka Samhita (Sharirasthanam Adhyaya )
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