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== Definition of Mrtyu ==

== Definition of Mrtyu ==

Mrutyu has been defined on the basis of events happening at the time of Mrtyu according to Ayurveda. Dalhana, the commentator on Sushruta samhita has defined Mrtyu as below,

Mrutyu has been defined on the basis of events happening at the time of Mrtyu according to Ayurveda. Dalhana, the commentator on Sushruta samhita has defined Mrtyu as below,<blockquote>मृत्युः शरीरेन्द्रियात्ममनसां वियोगः । (Dalhana, Su. su 1/25)</blockquote>Meaning: Dissociation of link between Sharira, Indriyas, Atman and manas is called as Mrtyu.

 

मृत्युः शरीरेन्द्रियात्ममनसां वियोगः (Dalhana, Su. su 1/25)

 

Meaning: Dissociation of link between Sharira, Indriyas, Atman and manas is called as Mrtyu.

In order to understand the concept of Mrtyu described in Ayurveda, one must first understand that how Ayurveda defines [[Ayu (आयुः)|Ayu]] i.e. life. Ayu is the synonym for Jivitam or life. The union of [[Sharira (शरीरम्)|shariram]], [[Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)|indriyas]], [[Manas (मनः)|manas]] and [[Atman (आत्मन्)|atman]] is called as Ayu or life and thus Mrtyu is exactly the opposite of it. When this link is established and functional, the individual can interact with the outside world by gaining knowledge and responding appropriately. When the link is permanently broken, the individual can not interact with outside world and thus is called to have lost life.  

In order to understand the concept of Mrtyu described in Ayurveda, one must first understand that how Ayurveda defines [[Ayu (आयुः)|Ayu]] i.e. life. Ayu is the synonym for Jivitam or life. The union of [[Sharira (शरीरम्)|shariram]], [[Indriyas (इन्द्रियाणि)|indriyas]], [[Manas (मनः)|manas]] and [[Atman (आत्मन्)|atman]] is called as Ayu or life and thus Mrtyu is exactly the opposite of it. When this link is established and functional, the individual can interact with the outside world by gaining knowledge and responding appropriately. When the link is permanently broken, the individual can not interact with outside world and thus is called to have lost life.  

== Reducing life span in every yuga ==

== The process of reduction in life span and dissolution of universe ==

Acharya Charaka has expounded the decreasing length of life span and qualities of living beings in every yuga. He states that in every succeeding yuga, the righteousness or dharma has reduced and thus there is consequent reduction in quality of life human beings and also quality of plants. At this point itself Charaka has mentioned about the dissolution of universe that will take place gradually in this manner. The reasons behind the degradation and the entire process has been systematically described by Acharya Charaka.

Charaka Samhita, the treatise on Ayurveda, describes the process of reduction of life span of human beings and gradual reduction of quality of all living beings over the ages. At this point itself Charaka also mentions about the progression of this process ultimately into dissolution of universe that will take place gradually in this manner. <blockquote>युगे युगे धर्मपादः क्रमेणानेन हीयते | गुणपादश्च भूतानामेवं लोकः प्रलीयते ||</blockquote><blockquote>संवत्सरशते पूर्णे याति संवत्सरः क्षयम् | देहिनामायुषः काले यत्र यन्मानमिष्यते ||</blockquote><blockquote>इति विकाराणां प्रागुत्पत्तिहेतुरुक्तो भवति || (Cha.Vi.3/25-27)</blockquote>Meaning: With the passage of each ''yuga'', righteousness or dharma gets reduced by a quarter, with similar reduction in the qualities of living beings, finally leading to dissolution of the universe. After completion of one hundred years in each ''yuga'' there is loss of one year in life span of living beings in respective age. Thus the initial origin of disorders is described. This association between causative factors and their effect of quality of living being is also applicable in todays time. The cause and effect relationship of lifestyle related factors and health has been put forward excellently. The qualities of living beings and their gradual degradation in yugas is described below

The reasons behind such degradation and this entire process has been systematically described by Acharya Charaka. He states the qualities of living beings in yugas starting from Satyayuga or Krtyuga and then Treta yuga. Various psychosocial factors that affected life of living beings and gave rise to various ailments have been chronologically explained. This cause-and-effect relationship between  various factors has been critically studied and put forward as follows.

 

 

इति विकाराणां प्रागुत्पत्तिहेतुरुक्तो भवति || (Cha.Vi.3/25-27)

 

Meaning: With the passage of each ''yuga'', righteousness or dharma gets reduced by a quarter, with similar reduction in the qualities of living beings, finally leading to dissolution of the universe. After completion of one hundred years in each ''yuga'' there is loss of one year in life span of living beings in respective age. Thus the initial origin of disorders is described.

 

This process of reduction of life span and quality of living beings is also believed to be the initial origin of disorders. This association between causative factors and their effect of quality of living being is also applicable in todays time. The cause and effect relationship of lifestyle related factors and health has been put forward excellently. The qualities of living beings and their gradual degradation in yugas is described below

=== Virtues, qualities and life span of living beings before Satyayuga ===

=== Virtues, qualities and life span of living beings before Satyayuga ===

* Human beings

* Human beings

In the first ''yuga'' (''kritayuga'' or ''satyayuga''), people were gifted with vitality equal to those of the sons of Aditi (i.e., devas or Gods) – they were exceedingly pure and unhampered in their powers to perceive the Supreme, the God-like sages, the Divine Law, the religious sacrifices, and the sacrificial rituals. Their bodies were firm like the essence of mountains - compact and stable; they had clear senses and complexions. They had movement, strength and valor like those of the wind; they were with well-formed buttocks, endowed with handsomeness, body-size, cheerfulness and corpulence. They were devoted to truth, honest behavior, compassion, charity, self-restraint, moral discipline, spiritual endeavor, fasting, continence, and religious vows. They were free from fear, desire, aversion, infatuation, greed, anger, despondency, pride, disease, sleep, indolence, fatigue, languor, sloth and spirit of acquisition; and lastly they were bestowed with longevity.  

Satyayuga or Krtyuga is known as the first yuga in order of yugas. In this yuga humans were gifted with vitality equal to those of devatas. They were tremendously pure and unhampered in their powers to perceive the Supreme. The firmness and stability of their bodies were comparable to essence of rocky mountains. They had clear complexion and senses. Their movement, strength and valor were like those of wind. They had the most desirable physical characteristics like handsomeness, body-size, cheerfulness and corpulence. They were devoted to truth, honest behavior, compassion, charity, self-restraint, moral discipline, spiritual endeavor, fasting, continence, and religious vows. They were free from fear, desire, aversion, infatuation, greed, anger, despondency, pride, disease, sleep, indolence, fatigue, languor, sloth and spirit of acquisition; and lastly they were bestowed with longevity.  

* Crops and herbs

* Crops and herbs

For the benefit of these people of noble minds, qualities and deeds, the crops grew with inconceivable ''rasa, veerya, vipaka,'' and ''prabhava'', and the virtue of the earth during the dawn of this golden age was charged fully with all excellent qualities.

For the benefit of these people of noble minds, qualities and deeds, the crops grew with inconceivable ''rasa, veerya, vipaka,'' and ''prabhava'', and the virtue of the earth during the dawn of this golden age was charged fully with all excellent qualities.

There was an unusual change in the maintenance of equilibrium of tissue elements and there was vitiation of ''agni'' (''pitta'') and ''maruta'' (''vata'') by which, first of all, bodies of living beings got afflicted with diseases viz. ''jwara'' (fever) etc. Therefore the life-span of living beings underwent gradual diminution.

There was an unusual change in the maintenance of equilibrium of tissue elements and there was vitiation of ''agni'' (''pitta'') and ''maruta'' (''vata'') by which, first of all, bodies of living beings got afflicted with diseases viz. ''jwara'' (fever) etc. Therefore the life-span of living beings underwent gradual diminution.

== Mrtyu a type of disease ==

== Mrtyu a type of disease ==