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Veerya (वीर्यम् वीर्य्यम्) refers to the energy or potency of a substance. In general it refers to energy, virility, strength, power or vigour. In the context of human beings veerya also refers to the Shukra (semen) which is believed to be responsible for regeneration and reproduction. As per Dravyagunashastram (Pharmacology and materia medica of Ayurveda) Veerya is that property of substance which enables it to perform various actions inside or on contact with human body. At some places veerya is considered to be the thermal energy of a substance.

Veerya (वीर्यम् वीर्य्यम्) refers to the energy or potency of a substance specifically a drug or a herb. In general it refers to energy, virility, strength, power or vigour. In the context of human beings veerya also means [[Shukra Dhatu (शुक्र धातुः)|Shukra]] (semen) dhatu, which is believed to be responsible for regeneration and reproduction inhuman body. As per Dravyagunashastram (Pharmacology and materia medica of Ayurveda) Veerya is that property of substance which enables it to perform various actions inside or on contact with human body. At some places veerya is considered to be the thermal energy of a substance. Roughly it is equated with the active principle of the herb which is responsible for its specific pharmacological activity. 

== Etymology ==

== Etymology ==

वीरयते विक्रान्तः कर्म समर्थो भवति अनेन इति वीर्यम् |  

वीरयते विक्रान्तः कर्म समर्थो भवति अनेन इति वीर्यम् |  

Meaning: The strength or energy which is performing an activity via drug is Veerya (potency) of the drug  

Meaning: The strength or energy which is performing an activity via drug is Veerya (potency) of the drug  

वीर्यं तु क्रियते येन या क्रिया| (Char. Samh. Sutra 26.65)  

वीर्यं तु क्रियते येन या क्रिया| (Char. Samh. Sutra 26.65)  

“येन कुर्वन्ति तद्वीर्यम्” (sush. Samh. Sutra 40)  

“येन कुर्वन्ति तद्वीर्यम्” (sush. Samh. Sutra 40)  

== Veerya of medicinal substances ==

== Veerya of medicinal substances ==

(TBE)Virya describe potency of dravya or specific guna of dravya. Virya associated with gunas and considered complimentary to rasas. The Virya majorly categorized as two types (Dwividha Virya) and eight types (Asthavidha Virya) etc. cold (Shita) and hot (Ushana) Virya comes under Dwividha Virya while cold (Shita), hot (Ushna), unctuous (Snigdha), dry (Ruksha), heavy (Guru), light (Laghu), soft (Mrudu) and intense (Tikshna) Virya comes under Asthavidha Virya category. Pungent, sour and salt taste have hot potency with increasing order respectively; bitter, astringent and sweet taste are cold in potency in the same manner.

Ayurveda identifies 7 matters of priority in the universe which are known as Sapta-padarthas. Dravya (substance), Guna (attribute), Rasa (taste), Veerya (potency), Vipaka(final state of transformation), Prabhava(specificity in action) and Karma (drug action) are these 7 padarthas. Thus, in Dravya-guna shstra i.e. pharmacology of ayurveda, veerya is a matter of priority because it contributes in the action and effect of a substance precisely a herb used as medicine. However, it is not just herb but any substance used as a drug or food will have a specific veerya which enables that substance to perform some activity on consumption. Without veerya no substance can perform any kind of action. Thus the period for which a drug or medicinal formulation remains potent and possess ability to perform specific action in body is called as 'Sa-veeryata avadhi' in Ayurveda. This is specifically restricted to medicinal formulations use din Ayurveda. It can be correlated with the concept of shelf life or expiry date of drugs mentioned in western medicine. Beyond this period (which is specifically defined for each type of formulation), a drug is believed to loose its potency or efficacy. Therefore, the concept of veerya described in Ayurveda treatises in the frame of reference of pharmacology and pharmaceutics is of tremendous importance 

 

The reason and the capacity of a dravya to perform an action is Veerya(potency)2 .It is a property (karmukashaktipradayakaguna) in the dravya(drug), which makes the drug capable of exhibiting the therapeutic effectiveness in the body3 .Veerya (potency) is considered to be one among seven padartha(matter of priority) in DravyaGunaVijnana, namely Dravya (substance), Guna (attribute), Rasa (taste),Vipaka(final state of transformation), Prabhava(specificity in action) and Karma ( drug action) (TBE)

== Types of veerya ==

== Types of veerya ==

शीतोष्णमिति,

शीतोष्णमिति,

== Saveeryata Avadhi ॥ Shelf life of medicinal formulations ==

== Saveeryata Avadhi ॥ Shelf life of medicinal formulations ==