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== Mansa sara ==

== Mansa sara ==

शङ्खललाटकृकाटिकाक्षिगण्डहनुग्रीवास्कन्धोदरकक्षवक्षःपाणिपादसन्धयः स्थिरगुरुशुभमांसोपचिता मांससाराणाम्|

Those who have supreme quality of mansa dhatu in a body are identified by some characteristic features. These features are called as mansa-sarata features (सारता लक्षणानि). Most of these features are manifested on various parts of body and joints. Thus one can identify the quality of mansa dhatu by assessing presence or absence of following signs.<blockquote>शङ्खललाटकृकाटिकाक्षिगण्डहनुग्रीवास्कन्धोदरकक्षवक्षःपाणिपादसन्धयः स्थिरगुरुशुभमांसोपचिता मांससाराणाम्|</blockquote><blockquote>सा सारता क्षमां धृतिमलौल्यं वित्तं विद्यां सुखमार्जवमारोग्यं बलमायुश्च दीर्घमाचष्टे||१०५|| cha. vi. 8.105</blockquote>The persons having essence of mamsa dhatu have their temples (shankha), forehead (lalata), nape (krikatika), eyes (akshi), cheek (ganda), jaws (hanu), neck (griva), shoulder (skandha), abdomen (udara), axillae (kaksha), chest (vaksha), hands (pani), feet (pada) and joints (sandhi) well developed with firm, heavy and good looking muscles. This essence indicates forbearance, restraint, and lack of greed, wealth, knowledge, happiness, simplicity, health, strength and longevity. [Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 8/105]

 

सा सारता क्षमां धृतिमलौल्यं वित्तं विद्यां सुखमार्जवमारोग्यं बलमायुश्च दीर्घमाचष्टे||१०५|| cha. vi. 8.105

 

The persons having essence of mamsa dhatu have their temples (shankha), forehead (lalata), nape (krikatika), eyes (akshi), cheek (ganda), jaws (hanu), neck (griva), shoulder (skandha), abdomen (udara), axillae (kaksha), chest (vaksha), hands (pani), feet (pada) and joints (sandhi) well developed with firm, heavy and good looking muscles. This essence indicates forbearance, restraint, and lack of greed, wealth, knowledge, happiness, simplicity, health, strength and longevity. [Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 8/105]

== Vitiating factors ==

== Vitiating factors ==

The following are causative factors for the vitiation of channels for transport and transformation of mamsa dhatu (mamsavaha srotasa). [Cha. Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/15]

Multiple dietary and lifestyle factors adversely affect mansa dhatu. Once the normal constitution and levels of mansa dhatu in body are disrupted, it lays down the foundation for development of various illnesses. The following are causative factors for the vitiation of channels for transport and transformation of mamsa dhatu (mamsavaha srotasa).<ref>Charaka samhita (Vimanasthanam Adhyaya 5 Sutra 15)</ref>

==== Dietary causes ====

==== Dietary causes ====

* Excessive consumption of food that increases secretions and causes obstruction (abhishyandi), bulkiness, heaviness after digestion

* Excessive consumption of food that increases secretions and causes obstruction (abhishyandi),  

* Overeating food that is heavy for digestion (takes time for digestion)

==== Lifestyle causes ====

==== Lifestyle causes ====

* Day time sleep

* Sleeping in day time

== Importance of Mansa dhatu in health and wellbeing ==

== Importance of Mansa dhatu in health and wellbeing ==

* Proper musculature (samshanana) is one of the assessment parameters of health. Physical strength directly depends upon musculature.[Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/116]

Mansa dhatu performs the crucial function of providing covering and protection of body. Thus it is the important component of defense system of the body. Immunity of any individual depends upon the strength of that person called as 'balam' in Ayurveda. It is specifically mentioned that the one who possesses 'balam' shows nourished, toned and stable musculature (....).<ref>Sushrut Samhita (Sutrastanam Adhyaya 15 Sutra 20)</ref> Reversibly if the mansa dhatu is not well nourished the person will have weaker immune system and overall strength. Thus strength of the individual and mansa dhatu are interdependent.<ref>Charaka Samhita (Vimanasthanam Adhyaya 8 Sutra 116)</ref>

 

* A person with a balanced proportion of muscles and compactness of the body and firmness in sense organs is not affected by diseases. Such people can tolerate hunger, thirst, the heat of the sun, cold and physical exercise. Their digestion, assimilation of food, and muscle metabolism are in a state of equilibrium. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 21/19].

* The qualitative and quantitative decrease in mamsa dhatu is directly related to diminution of strength (bala kshaya) [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 28/20] and vitality (oja kshaya)[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/24]. Thus, the nutrition of mamsa dhatu is related to strength and immunity of a person.

Ayurveda acharyas have identified the need of having the best quality of mansa dhatu in order to acquire good tolerance, endurance and immunity by a human being. This significant role of mansa dhatu in one's health and well-being has been described by Acharya Charaka as follows,<blockquote>सममांसप्रमाणस्तु समसंहननो नरः| दृढेन्द्रियो विकाराणां न बलेनाभिभूयते||१८||</blockquote><blockquote>क्षुत्पिपासातपसहः शीतव्यायामसंसहः| समपक्ता समजरः सममांसचयो मतः||१९|| (Char. su 21/18-19)</blockquote>Meaning: A person with a balanced proportion of muscles and compactness of the body and firmness in sense organs is not affected by diseases. Such people can tolerate hunger, thirst, the heat of the sun, cold and physical exercise. Their digestion, assimilation of food, and muscle metabolism are in a state of equilibrium. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 21/19].

== References ==

== References ==