Nidra (निद्रा)

Nidra (Samskrit: निद्रा) refers to the sleep. Sleep is not merely the state of reversible unconsciousness but according to the Ayurveda, sleep is that state of body, mind, senses and energy where the interaction between purush (पुरुषः) and loka (लोकम्) is suspended for some time and all the above components relax, rejuvenate and refresh the individual. Sleep is associated with health and well-being of body (शरीरम्), mind (मनः) and senses (इन्द्रियाणि). It has widespread effects on life of an Individual.

त्रयोपस्तंभाः॥ Trayopastambha

Ayurveda mentions the concept of 3 supporting pillars of life. These are called as 3 upastambhas. It is stated that, strength, immunity, complexion and growth of any individual is dependent on well-regulated support of 3 factors namely Ahara (food), nidra (sleep) and observance of bramhacharya (celibacy/control of senses) (Cha. Su. 11/35). These are called supports or pillars of one’s Ayu or life. Thus, Nidra is said to be one of 3 supports of life which plays integral role in one’s health and wellness.

निद्रा उत्पत्तिः॥ Utpatti of Nidra

Acharya Sushruta has stated that, Nidra originates from maya of devata Vishnu (विष्णुः). Thus, nidra is said to be Vaishnavi (वैष्णवी). As per Hindu tradition, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the 3 devatas (देवताः) which represent the 3 dimensions of cosmic energy, creation, sustenance and destruction respectively. In this, Vishnu devata sustains the creation and represents the eternal principle of preservation. Thus, with respect to the human body Vaishnavi Nidra is said to be the factor that sustains life and helps in energy preservation. Therefore while evaluating the energy dynamics of human body Ayurveda lays high emphasis on sleep disturbances of the individual.

निद्रा त्रिगुण संबंधः॥ Nidra and Triguna

Nidra is said to occur due to Tamas guna abundance in body while Satva guna abundance helps one to wake-up from sleep. Therefore, abundance of these gunas in surroundings during day & night cycle naturally one feels sleepy or awakened. Raja guna affects movements of manas which is the main component of sleep pathway and thus this disturbs the normal pattern of sleep.

निद्राभेदाः॥ Types of Nidra

Ayurveda literature described various types of sleep. These types are nothing but various causes that induce sleep in an individual. These are as below

तमोभवा॥ Tamobhava

Abundance of Tamas guna leads to induction of sleep. Therefore, tamas excess could be the only causative factor for sleep in some individuals at some time and then such kind of sleep is identified as Tamobhava.

श्लेष्मसमुद्भवा॥ Shleshmasamudbhava

Dominance of kapha dosha in body induces sleep. Thus, excess kapha causes sleep it is called as shleshmasamudbhava.

व्याध्यनुवर्ती॥ Vyadhyanuvarti:

In some rogas, excess sleep is manifested as a symptom. In such cases the sleep is believed to be disease related.

आगंतुकी॥ Agantuki:

Sleep is also observed as an Arishta lakshana (अरिष्टलक्षणः) in certain cases. Such sleep along with some other symptoms indicates towards end of life.

मनःशरीरश्रमसंभवा॥ Manashareershramasambhava:

Exhaustion of mind (Manas) due to its activities like overthinking or exhaustion of body from strenuous activities ultimately makes body, mind and senses incapable to perform further activities and the exhausted individual sleeps. Such kind of sleep resulting from exhaustion is included under this category.

रात्रिस्वभावप्रभवा॥ Ratrisvabhavprabhava

Tamas guna dominance due to darkness is believed to be the natural status of night (Ratri). And due to dominance of tamas sleep is induced. This is the course of natural cycle of sleep. Thus sleep that is induced due to day and night cycle, at night, is included in this category. This type of sleep is called as Bhootadhatri (भूतधात्री) i.e. the one that sustains living beings or their life.

रात्रौ जागरणम्॥ Ratrau Jagaranam

Jagaranam (जागरणम्) means to stay awake or not to sleep. Thus, staying awake at night or not to sleep till late night is known as Ratrau jagaranam. The human body is designed and programmed in such a way that it works in tune with the nature. Thus the biological clock inside human body is set according to day-night cycle in external environment. When its night, the outside environment is dark and cool. It is believed that the darkness is the attribute associated with Tamas or Tamo guna. Thus there is abundance of tamo guna in environment which naturally helps to induce the sleep in humans. An individual sleeps at night due to change in external environment and thus the sleep at night is natural and beneficial. However, if one stays awake at night it is called as Jagaranam. Staying awake late night causes adverse effects. It is said to cause imbalance of doshas and trigger the process of development of various diseases.

दिवास्वापः॥ Diwaswap

Diwaswap refers to sleep at daytime. According to natural cycle an individual performs various activities in a daytime or when there is sunlight in abundance. Lack of Tamas guna keeps one awake. But when one sleeps at this time it is not in accordance with the natural course of time. Thus Diwaswap is not advisable rather discouraged except in harsh summers and certain medical conditions or age groups.

निद्रावेगः॥ Nidra vega : Sleep, The natural urge

Nidra is identified as one of the vegas. Vega refers to the natural urge of the body which is felt or generated in order to fulfill the demand of body to correct the imbalance or to reestablish the equilibrium. Forceful induction or suppression of these urges affects health and well-being. Thus forcible induction of sleep known as Nidra udirana and forcible suppression of urge to sleep, known as Nidra vidharana could lead to multiple health issues.

निद्राफलम्॥ Effects of sleep

Nidra plays important role in controlling various aspects of life in a human being. Even the sustenance of life or disruption can also be related to sleep.

निद्रायत्तं सुखं दुःखं पुष्टिः कार्श्यं बलाबलम्| वृषता क्लीबता ज्ञानमज्ञानं जीवितं न च||३६||

अकालेऽतिप्रसङ्गाच्च न च निद्रा निषेविता| सुखायुषी पराकुर्यात् कालरात्रिरिवापरा||३७|| Cha. Su 21

In human beings, happiness and misery, nourishment and emaciation, strength and weakness, fertility and infertility, knowledge and ignorance, and life and death depend upon proper (and improper sleep). Happiness and longevity both can be taken away from an individual if the person takes Untimely, excessive sleep or is sleep deprived. The energy obtained from appropriately taken sleep is thus compared with the real knowledge of yogis which gives them spiritual powers.

देहवृत्तौ निद्रा॥ Role of sleep in survival

Ayurveda gives equal importance to sleep as food in maintenance and survival of human being. It is said that even life and death of a person depends on the sleep pattern of an individual. Thus, not just food but sleep is also equally important fro nourishment of a human being which makes th eone capable to survive in the external environment and perform activities required to continue his struggle for survival.

देहवृत्तौ यथाऽऽहारस्तथा स्वप्नः सुखो मतः| Cha su 21/51