Dravya (द्रव्यम्)

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INTRODUCTION

Dravya is literally defined as object, substance or matter. In Ayurveda, dravya is one of the shad padharthas (dravya, guna, karma, samanya, vishesha, samavaya). Dravya also is one of the important aspects of chikitsa chatushpada (four components of treatment), which are the important four pillars of any treatment protocol.

भिषग्द्रव्याण्युपस्थाता रोगी पादचतुष्टयम्| गुणवत् कारणं ज्ञेयं विकारव्युपशान्तये|| (char.sutr.9.3)

Which are, bhishak- physician, dravya which is aushadhi dravya (medicine), upasthata – attendant, rogi is patient. These four aspects in their best state are responsible for the treatment of disease.

Definition

       यत्राश्रिताः कर्मगुणाः कारणं समवायि यत्|

         तद्द्रव्यं || (char.sutr.1.51)

Dravya is that entity which shelters karma and guna. Karma and guna resides in dravya with samavaya karana meaning in perpetual coherence. Guna or karma cannot exist independently without dravya.

द्रव्यलक्षणं तु ‘क्रियागुणवत् समवायिकारणम्’ इति ||३||(sush.sutr.40.3)

Acc to (rasa.vai.1.166)

Dravya is that entity which consist of rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka, karma.

These five altogether form dravya.

ETYMOLOGY

Dravya word is derived from

“Dru + gatho”

Where dru means origin

Gatho means movement

NOMENCLATURE

नामानि क्वचिदिह रूढितः भावात् देश्योक्त्या क्वचन च लाञ्छनोपमाभ्याम् |

वीर्येण क्वचिदितराह्वयादिदेशात् द्रव्याणां ध्रुवमिति सप्तधोदितानि ||१३||

(raj Nighantu. 1.13)

The nomenclature or naming of dravya is based on seven factors as follows,

Rudhi – conventional basis

Prabhava – based on special effect

Deshayukta – based on place

Lanchan – having characteristic mark

Upma- has resemblance or in comparison with other substances

Veerya – based on the potency of that dravya

Iteravhya -  

PANCHABHAUTIKTA OF DRAVYA

तत्र पृथिव्यप्तेजोवाय्वाकाशानां समुदायाद्द्रव्याभिनिर्वृत्तिः, उत्कर्षस्त्वभिव्यञ्जको भवति- इदं पार्थिवमिदमाप्यमिदं तैजसमिदं वायव्यमिदमाकाशीयमिति || (sush.sutr. 41)

The existence of every dravya depends on panchamahabhuta (akasha, vaayu, teja, jala, pruthvi). Every dravya expresses itself differently based on the predominance of mahabhuta in it.

PRADHANATA OF DRAVYA

Su.su.40.3

Vyavasthitavta – dravya has stability, there is no change in the form of dravya, whereas rasa and guna of dravya changes with respect to time, place etc. for example a mango fruit changes its taste and properties from raw to ripe, but the mango as a fruit remains same start till end.

Nitya – dravya is a constant entity. It does not change according to climate, timing, place, whereas properties of a drvya do.

Swajatya awasthanat - each dravya has a particular mahabhuta predominance, which remains constant and thus the nature of a dravya remains constant.

Panchendriya grahanat – dravya is Pradhan or important entity because it can be understood by all the five sensory organs or panch indriyas in compararison with rasa, veerya etc.

Ashrayatva – dravya encompasses guna, karma rasa etc , they cannot be independent.

Aarambha samarthya – whwnever there is treatment to be done, the preparation of medicine starts with identifying the dravya according to their name.

Vikalpa samarthya(ra.vai.1.105)

There are various formulations like kalka(herbal paste), Kashaya( decoction) etc, which are of dravya and not of any other entity.

CLASSIFICATION OF DRAVYA

There are n number of dravyas and their categories in various classical treatises, but at a basic level for better understanding,

खादीन्यात्मा मनः कालो दिशश्च द्रव्यसङ्ग्रहः|

सेन्द्रियं चेतनं द्रव्यं, निरिन्द्रियमचेतनम्||cha.su.1.48

Panchamahabhuta(akasha, vayu, teja, jala, pruthvi)

MAHABHUTA	INDRIYA	GUNA
AKASHA	SHABDA	MRUDU, LAGHU, SLAKSHA, SUKSHMA
VAAYU	SPARSHA	LAGHU, SHEETA, RUKSHA, KHARA
TEJAS	RUPA	USHNA, TEEKSHNA, LAGHU, RUKSHA
JALA	RASA	DRAVA, SNIGDHA, SHEETA, MANDA
PRUTHVI	GANDHA	GURU, KATHINA, MANDA, STHULA

Atma

Manah

Kala

Disha or dik – meaning a direction, locality, geographical area.

According to vachaspatyam, dik means to show, indicate. Deasha and dik are from same root of word, where desha means, place or locality.

प्राच्यादिव्यवहारहेतुर्दिक्। सा चैका विभ्वी नित्या च (tarka samgraha)

Meaning, dravyas which are responsible for providing knowledge of dik/disha or directions. It is nitya(constant) and vibhu (omnipotent).

Gunas of dik

तस्यास्तु गुणाः संख्यापरिमाणपृथक्त्वसंयोगविभागाः कालवदेते सिद्धाः ।(prashastapada)

पूर्वेण दक्षिणेन पश्चिमेनोत्त्त्तरेण पूर्वदक्षिणेन दक्षिणापरेण अपरोत्तरेण उत्तरपूर्वेण चाधस्तादुपरिष्टाच्चेति दश प्रत्यया यतो भवन्ति सा दिगिति,अन्यनिमित्तासम्भवात् ।

Purva(east) Paschim(west), uttar(north) , Dakshin(south)

पूर्वेण दक्षिणेन पश्चिमेनोत्त्त्तरेण पूर्वदक्षिणेन दक्षिणापरेण अपरोत्तरेण उत्तरपूर्वेण चाधस्तादुपरिष्टाच्चेति दश प्रत्यया यतो भवन्ति सा दिगिति,अन्यनिमित्तासम्भवात् ।(prashtapadam)

Sankhya (enumerate)

Pariman

Prithakatva

Sanyog

Vibhaga

Classification

Based on origin,

तत् पुनस्त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं जङ्गमौद्भिदपार्थिवम् | (ch.su.1.67)

Jangama dravya (animal origin)- the dravyas which are obtained from animals like milk, ghee, gorochan etc

Audbhida dravya (plant origin) – plants or vegetables etc are audbhida dravya,like guduchi, haritiki etc

Parthiva dravya (mineral origin) – naturally occurring inorganic substances like parad (mercury), gandhak(sulphur) etc