The theory of panchabhuta and the human body:
The human body is in a state of continuous flux or dynamic equilibrium. The pancha bhutas are represented in the human body as the doshas, dhatus and malas. Any imbalance among these constituents result in ill health and disease. So these doshas, dhatus and malas should be in a state of perfect equilibrium for the body to remain healthy.
DOSHA:- Dosha is the Sanskrit word, commonly taken to mean roughly "force" or "fault". So the doshas are bodily energies (like bio-energies), which influence all living matter, and mental energies too. And the term means, "fault", it is understood that any imbalance will lead to a disorder in the body or the mind.
There are three doshas in body
i) Vata
ii) Pitta
iii) kapha
And these three doshas are known as tridoshas.
Vata:-Vata is the combination of air and ether element. It is responsible for the movement, sensation and for the bodily function. It is connected with the activity and vitality, controls the "empty" space within the body and the nervous system. It also controls the cell division. The action of heart, lungs, stomach and intestine. It guides the activities of brain and the motor organs and is responsible for the elimination of waste matter. Excess of Vata may leads to premature aging; dry skin, slow healing of wounds etc.
There are five types of vata, seated in the body and they are (i)praana, (ii)vyana, (iii)samana, (iv)apana, (v)udana.
DEHA PRAKRITI(VATA)
(i) A thin body and little weight gain
(ii) Dry and rough skin
(iii) Black and dry hair
(iv) Dull-looking eyes
(v) Teeth prone to decay
(vi) High sex drive
(vii) Restlessness
(viii) Insomnia
Pitta:-It is composed of fire and water element. Responsible for digestion, metabolism, intelligence and energy. They perspire freely and tend to a warm body temperature. They are active, sharp, ambitious, display leadership qualities and enjoy fine things. They are creative and stable.
There are five types of Pitta. Seated in different parts of the body.
(i)Paachaka, (ii)Ranjaka, (iii)Sadhaka, (iv)Aalochaka, (v)Bhrajak
DEHA PRAKRITI(PITTA)
(i) Moderate body, neither too heavy nor too light
(ii) Soft, oily, warm skin
(iii) Sharp, penetrating eyes
(iv) Moderate in size
(v) Moderate sex drive
(vi) Hair falls out easily
(vii) Good appetite
(viii) Free, often excessive perspiration
Kapha:-It is made up of water and earth element. It is responsible for strengthening the stomach and the joints, providing firmness to the limbs and refreshing the sense organs are the representatives of Kapha. In this type they seem dull, slow and resistant to change and the unfamiliar. They are inclined to conserve (energy, strength and money) rather than spend. They are tolerant, forgiving calm and slow to anger, but are slow to absorb information. They are not prone to information, more materialistic than spiritual.
There are five types of Kaphas (i)Kledaka, (ii) Avalambaka, (iii) Bodhaka
(iv)Tarpaka, (v) Sleshaka.
DEHA PRAKRITI(KAPHA)
(i) The body is thick and overweight
(ii) Thick, oily, cool skin
(iii) Big, attractive eyelashes
(iv) Strong, white teeth
(v) Tendency to oversleep
(vi) Low sex approach
(vii) Medium intelligence
There are some special areas in the body in which each dosha predominates, the chest and head region for Kapha. Digestive organs for Pitta and the intestines for Vata.
KHAPA
*Nostrils
*Sinuses
*Throat
*Bronchi
*Lungs
PITTA
*Stomach
*Duodenum
*Pancreas
*Liver
*Gallbladder
VATA
*Small intestine
*Large intestine
THE DHATUS: -
The Sanskrit word dhatu means constructing element. The dhatus are the body constituents and form the basic structure of the body. Each one is having its own function. The dhatus are seven in number.
*Rasa (foodjuice):-It is present in liquid form (related to water element). Contains nutrients form digested food and nourished all the tissues, organs and systems.
*Rakta(blood):-It is formed from fire. It governs oxygenation in all tissues and vital organs and maintains life.
*Mamsa(muscle tissue):-It is related to earth element. Mamsa covers the delicate organs, responsible for the movement of joints and the physical strength of the body.
*Medas(fat tissue):-It is made up of water and earth element. It lubricates and oils to all the tissues of human body.
*Asti(bone tissue):-It is formed by air and earth element and gives support to the body structure.
*Majja(bone marrow):-Formed from water element. Fills up the hollow spaces of bone.
*Sukra/Artava(semen/ovum):-This means the reproductive form and contains the ingredients of all tissues and are responsible for reproduction.
The seven dhatus are understood in a natural, biological, serial order of manifestation MALAS:
It means the waste products or the by-products of dhatu. When the process of digestion is over, the malas play a supporting role while they are in the body, and when they are eliminated; their supporting role is finished. The useful elements absorbed by the body as useful matter, while those execrated are known as malas(waste matter). The chief malas are-
Mutra(Urine)
Shakrit/Pureesha(Faeces)
Sweda(Perspiration)
YOGIC PRINCIPLE:
According to Yogic tradition, the human personality is comprised of five bodies or Koshas. The word Kosha means "sheath" or "body" and Pancha means five. These five Koshas range from the gross to the transcendental dimension.
Annamaya Kosha: Annamaya Kosha is the body of matter, which can be animate or inanimate. It may be a table, a tree or a physical body, all these are considered as Annamaya Kosha. The only difference is the table is inanimate and the body is animate. So the Annamaya Kosha or material body is a vast concept.
Pranamaya Kosha:This is the body of energy. We move our body, what helps energy, the prana or us to move the body, i.e.. Which is in "subtle form" inside the body. It is the force or energy, which maintains and supports the physical body.
Manomaya Kosha:It means the mind sheath. This Manomaya Kosha also incorporates the various other aspects of the mind. The conscious, subconscious and unconscious expression, behavior and relationship are all aspects of Manomaya Kosha. The various states of mind such as joy, cheerfulness, euphoria, happiness, worries, anxiety, depression and frustration are also the aspects of Manomaya Kosha.
Vijnanmaya Kosha:Vijnanmaya Kosha means the sheath of wisdom where the subtle knowledge is experienced. There are two aspects of levels of this Kosha.
(i) Lower aspect is the internal and external knowledge.
(ii)Second aspect is the understanding of Samskara and Karma.
When we go into this sheath through various sadhanas, the awareness of the body and mind is lost, and the awareness of the subtle mind takes place along with the awareness of the soul.
Anandamaya Kosha:-It is known as bliss body here, the experience of soul or sprit takes place. When Anandamaya Kosha is experienced, one does not remain human any longer. One becomes divine and that is the realization of the self or God. .
The Koshas represent an aspect of yogic psychology.
YOGIC PSYCHO PHYSIOLOGY
The Yogis believes that there are psychic centres and pathways in the body, through which all type of bodily function goes on. These centres are known as "Chakra" and pathways are known as nadies. And most of these chakras are located in sushumna nadi. And this sushumna is the main energy pathway.
Chakras:-There are so many charkas in our body .But seven of them are very important .
MOOLADHAR-It is located in perineum. From here the spiritual evolution started .One goes beyond animal consciousness and progress starts for a real human being.
SWADHISTAN:-Situated in the coccyx (tail bone of spine). Corresponds to the sacral flexus of nerves and controls the unconscious.
MANIPUR:-It is located in the spine behind the navel. Corresponds to solar flexus of nerves. Regulates the bodily temperature, digestion and assimilation.
ANAHAT:-It is located in the spine behind the base of the heart. Corresponds to cardiac flexus of nerves. Controls the function of heart, lungs, diaphragm etc.
VISUDDHI:-Located in the spine, behind the throat pit. Corresponds cervical plexus of nerves. Controls the epiglottis, thyroid glands etc.
AJNA:-It is located in the middle of the brain directly above the spine, behind the eyebrow centre. Corresponds to the pineal gland. It has the complete control over all the bodily function.
SAHASHRARA:-Situated at the crown of the head. It is the final culmination of kundalini shakti. Which is the seat of higher awareness.
Nadies:-It means a flow or current. The Yogis believes that there are 72,000 of nadies in our body. These nadies connect the different chakras and psychic centres in the subtle body. Mainly three nadies are important for the practitioner.
a) Ida
b) Pingala
c) Sushumna
Ida:This psychic channel represents the mental energy. It is said to be the lunar or receptive force. This Ida nadi visualized from Mooladhar to Ajna in the subtle body.
Pingala:This represents to the vital energy. It emanate from Mooldhar to Ajna in the subtle body. Pingala is the solar or dynamic force.
Sushumna:It is the main and most important nadi in the psychic body. Its base is at Moordhar chakra and travels straight upward through the spinal column via Swadistan, Manipur, Anahat,Vishuddhi lastly to Ajna. And again it travels directly upward passing through Ajna and bindu and terminates at the centre of Sahashrara.
Both Ayurveda and Yoga are sister science. According to Ayurveda, the practice of Yoga is a spiritual science of life, which important, natural, preventive measure to ensure good health. Ayurveda is the science of the body and only when the body has become fit is the individual considered ready to study the spiritual science of Yoga.

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