Happiness in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे सुखानन्दश्च)

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Sukha and Ananda are 2 most commonly used terms in Ayurveda to indicate Happiness. There are many other terms like nanda, harsha etc. that also indicate the similar emotion as happiness. Happiness being an integral component of good health, all the discussion around happiness in Ayurveda is in the context of Health. In-fact, the definition of the 'Svastha' meaning an Healthy individual has also been given in such words that the word 'Prasanna' or happiness is used as an adjective of 3 integral components of life namely Atman, Indriyas and Manas.

Happiness as the subject of Ayurveda

The definition of Ayurveda itself includes the word sukha which is translated as Happiness. What is happy life and what is unhappy life OR following and doing what, makes one's life happy or unhappy has been preliminarily described in Ayurveda. The definition of Ayurveda is,

हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्|

मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते||४१|| (Char. Samh. 1.41)

विकारो धातुवैषम्यं, साम्यं प्रकृतिरुच्यते|

सुखसञ्ज्ञकमारोग्यं, विकारो दुःखमेव च||४|| (Char. Smah. 9.4)

Happiness and being healthy

समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रियः |

प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते ||४१||(Sush. Samh. 15.41)

Happiness is associated with 3 components of life beyond physical dimension viz. Atman, Indriyas and manas.

Among those things that can keep one healthy, non-depression or lack of dejection or self-reliance is identified to be the best one!

अनिर्वेदो वार्तलक्षणानां (Char. Samh. 25.40)

The root of happiness

Ayurveda acharyas appear to have searched deeper to understand the roots of or the causes of happiness. The word Harsha is used synonymously with the word Ananda. It means delightfulness/ecstacy or happiness. Acharya Charaka says that the best thing that generates harsha is tatvavabodha i.e. Discovery/understanding/realization is the best one for feeling exalted/ecstatic.

तत्त्वावबोधोहर्षणानां | (Char. Samh. 30.15)

Moreover, one more word 'Nanadan' used synonymously with the word ananda which means happiness is also described at the same place. The very cause of happiness is mentioned as 'Indriyajaya' (Control over organs). This means that a person's control over his sensory, motor organs along with his mind is the one thing that can cause happiness. Such happiness is long lasting, and also brings along the sense of satisfaction with it.

इन्द्रियजयो नन्दनानां| (Char. Samh. 30.15)

समग्रं दुःखमायत्तमविज्ञाने द्वयाश्रयम्| सुखं समग्रं विज्ञाने विमले च प्रतिष्ठितम्||८४|| ((Char. Samh. 30.84)

All the sufferings - diseases of both body and mind - are caused by ignorance. All happiness /health is due to the clear knowledge. Just as the Sun cannot help a blind man to see things even with all its light, similarly Ayurveda, which generously guides us through the path of dharma, artha, kama, and moksha, cannot guide someone devoid of its understanding or is a skeptic.

Eshanas or desires and happiness

इह खलु पुरुषेणानुपहतसत्त्वबुद्धिपौरुषपराक्रमेण हितमिह चामुष्मिंश्च लोके समनुपश्यता तिस्र एषणाः पर्येष्टव्या भवन्ति| तद्यथा- प्राणैषणा, धनैषणा, परलोकैषणेति||३|| Char. Samh. 11.3)

A person having sound mind, intellect, physical strength, energy and psychological strength, one who is desirous of attaining benefits in this world and the other world (after death), should try to fulfill three desires. These desires are- desire for (long and healthy) life, desire for wealth (livelihood), and desire for a blissful life in the other world (after death).

Associations of Happiness

नैकः सुखी, न दुःखशीलाचारोपचारः (Char. Samh. su 8.26)

Finding the right way to achieve the state of Happiness

अजातानामनुत्पत्तौ जातानां विनिवृत्तये|

रोगाणां यो विधिर्दृष्टः ^[१] सुखार्थी तं समाचरेत्||३४||

सुखार्थाः सर्वभूतानां मताः सर्वाः प्रवृत्तयः|

ज्ञानाज्ञानविशेषात्तु मार्गामार्गप्रवृत्तयः||३५|| (Char. Samh. Sutra 28.34-35)

Responsibility of one's own happiness

आत्मानमेव मन्येत कर्तारं सुखदुःखयोः|

तस्माच्छ्रेयस्करं मार्गं प्रतिपद्येत नो त्रसेत्||२२|| (Char. Samh. Nida. 7.22)