Tridoshas


The Tridoshas:
  • Vata (Air and Space)
  • Pitta (Fire and Water)
  • Kapha (Water and Earth)
The term Tridoshas is composed of two parts - tri, which means three and doshas means the physical energies. These teo parts are the primary factors of human body that governs our entire physical structure and body functions.

Derived from the Panchmahabhutas, doshas - cannot be detected with our senses but their qualities can be. Each Dosha is a combination of any two of the five bhutas of Panchmahabhootas with the predominance of one. Called Vata, Pitta and Kapha in Sanskrit, these three are responsible for all the physiological and psychological processes within the body and mind. Every physical activity, characteristic, mental capacity, physical energy, thoughts and the emotional tendency of a human being can therefore be explained in terms of these three tridoshas.

  • Most of the physical phenomena imputed to the nervous system of humans by modern physiology for example, can be identified with Vata.


  • Just as the entire chemical process operating in the human body can be attributed to Pitta, including enzymes, nerves, immune power, hormones and the complete nutritional system.


  • And the activities of the skeletal and the anabolic system, actually the entire physical volume of an organism, can be considered as Kapha.
When the doshas are balanced we remain healthy. As Charaka, the great ayurvedic sage, explained: "Vata, pitta and kapha maintain the integrity of the living human organism in their normal state and combine so as to make the man a complete being with his indriyas (sense organs) possessing strength, good complexion and assured of longevity of life." It is only when there is an imbalance within the theree doshas, disease is caused. And since it is the strongest dosha in the constitution that usually has the greatest tendency to increase, one is most susceptible to illnesses associated with an increase of the same.

These three doshas are forces, not substances.

  • Kapha is not mucus. Kapha is the force which causes mucus to arise.
  • Similarly pitta is not bile juice, rather it is that which causes bile to be produced.
  • These forces are called doshas - meaning `faults' as they indicate the fault lines following which the health system of human being can become imbalanced.
These three doshas within any person keep changing constantly, due to the doshic qualities of specific lifestyle, foods and environment, such as time and season. These three are not separate energies but different aspects of the same energy, present together in infinite permutations and combinations, wherein their qualities overlap and interrelate. Ayurveda however considers only three types of constitution
  • In monotypes just one dosha predominates
  • In duo types two have near similar strength
  • Iin the third type, which is very rarely found, all three are equally powerful. Within this broad classification, there are in the first category various sub-types that are listed below for easier reference.



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