Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha: Meaning, Importance

By Editor On Jun 11, 2026

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Acharya Charaka has enumerated the ‘Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha’ in the 8th chapter of Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana. It is a compilation of four entities which collectively represent the process or means of acquiring the Adhyatma Jnana or spiritual knowledge.

Firstly, we will try to understand what is ‘Adhyatma’?

What is Adhyatma?

Adhyatma – means ‘the highest SELF’ – the soul. Oversoul is another term to describe it. It is the innermost spiritual essence of an individual and also the cosmos. It also explains spiritual knowledge and the knowledge of self including self-realization. When one indulges himself or herself in begetting this spiritual knowledge, a divine energy is manifested inside them.

In simple terms, Adhyatma means ‘relating to Atma or self’ which is also the highest spiritual aspect of every individual. Adhyatma Jnana means knowledge of the soul or self, which helps individuals to understand one’s true nature beyond the physical knowledge. Adhyatma Jnana forms the basis for Moksha – liberation from the vicious cycle of birth and death.

Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha

Adhyatma = pertaining to self, soul / spiritual

Dravya = substance

Guna = qualities

Sangraha = collection / package

Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha = collection or package of four entities / substances and their qualities which are related to the ‘self or soul’ or which help in acquiring spiritual knowledge.

In short – ‘substances and qualities pertaining to soul’ which helps in understanding and getting the knowledge of self (soul) i.e. spiritual knowledge.

Ref – Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 8 (Indriyopakramaniya Adhyaya), Verse 13 – from Easy Ayurveda

Which are the substances and qualities which form the spiritual compilation / collection of substances pertaining to self or soul?

मनो मनोर्थो बुद्धिरात्मा चेत्यध्यात्मद्रव्यगुणसङ्ग्रहः शुभाशुभप्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिहेतुश्च, द्रव्याश्रितं चकर्म; यदुच्यते क्रियेति||१३|| (Cha.Su.8/13)

According to Acharya Charaka, the dravyas (substances) and gunas (qualities) pertaining to Atma (soul, self, higher self) comprises of a package of the four of the below mentioned –

Manas – the mind or psyche
Mano Artha – the objects of the mind – like thoughts, emotions or anything which the mind understands, appreciates and contemplates
Buddhi – the intellect – understanding, discrimination
Atma – the self or higher self

The assembly or package of these four entities are called Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha.

What is the benefit of this sangraha?

Many times we, as human beings are attracted towards inauspicious things and acts. We make them a part of our life and life choices and gradually get addicted to and obsessed with them. These unhealthy choices related to one’s life in terms of foods, activities, longings and desires, relations etc will cause disturbances and later diseases at physical, mental and emotional planes, in one or all of them.

On the other hand, keeping away from good and auspicious things will have a similar negative impact on all-round health since we are depleting the body, mind and soul of what good things they really deserve.

Understanding the ‘Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha’ will help one to understand one’s real self and the importance of self. This will create an awareness and responsibility of taking care of oneself so as to lead a healthy and happy life. This comes through introspection. Once this conscious decision is made, one will naturally get inclined towards the auspicious things and abstain from inauspicious things. The choices will be healthy, every single time. This will help in hitting back to optimum health in all perspectives and will help in achieving physical, mental, sensual and spiritual health.

In short, the spiritual knowledge and awareness about self is obtained after thoroughly understanding the components of the sangraha and their qualities i.e. Manas, Mano-Arthas, Buddhi and Atma, individually and relatively.

Acharya further says that the Karma (action of a dravya or substance) located in the Dravya (substance) is also known as Kriya – therapeutic action of the dravya. This Karma or Kriya is dependent on the Dravya.

The comparison is thus – Just like the therapeutic action (beneficial or harmful) is dependent on the substance, the actions of an individual depends on the four substances comprising the spiritual self – manas, mano-arthas, buddhi and atma. To keep the loop of these dravyas in a healthy way, one needs to have a knowledge and awareness of these entities.

Other contextual discussion

Adyatmika Gunas – The qualities of the soul are Ichcha (desire), Dwesha (aversion or hatred), Sukha (happiness, contentment, bliss), Dukha (sadness, suffering, grief), Prayatna (efforts) and Buddhi (intellect). To be balanced at a spiritual level, one should have good control over these factors which belong to the self. These factors define what a person is. They are ‘different states’ of us. They influence our mental and emotional states, behaviors and perception.

Context of Discussion of Adhyatma Dravya Guna in Charaka Samhita

The discussion of ‘Adhyathma Dravya Guna Sangraha’ has been put forth briefly by Acharya Charaka in ‘Indriyopakramaniya Adhyaya’ – chapter 8 of Sutra Sthana. It is put amongst the context of discussions on Indriyas i.e. sense organs, Indriya-Pancha-Panchaka i.e. different kinds of perception of Indriyas and manifestation of knowledge by interaction of mind, senses and soul. In the same context is found the explanation of how diseases are manifested due to improper, excessive, deficient and perverted uses of senses and mind and their contact with their objects.

The prevention of such diseases occurring due to abuse or misuse of indriyas and manas through following Sadvritta i.e. ethical code and conduct and proper lifestyle has been discussed.

To put it simply, this chapter deals with discussion of broader philosophy of Ayurveda and spiritual knowledge regarding holistic health which includes the balance of body, mind and senses. Prajnaparadha i.e. intellectual errors or intellectual blasphemy leading to manifestation of diseases is also discussed herein.

Purpose of Understanding and Benefits of Knowledge of ‘Adhyatmika Dravya Guna Sangraha’

To understand ‘SELF’ in a better way – We think that we are what we physically appear and give too much importance to our outer person. But it is very important to know that the treasure of ‘self’ is deep seated within our selves and not perceived. Adhyatmika Dravya Guna Sangraha and its understanding helps us to take a journey into our deeper selves and explore what we actually are and also our purpose of life.

To awaken ourselves at a spiritual level and prepare ourselves for ultimate freedom – Pursuit of Prana – life, Dhana – wealth and amenities for life and Paraloka – spiritual destination are the three Eshanas – pursuits of one’s life to attain which we should always put our sincere efforts. While all of us do everything we need for sustaining Prana and Dhana, we are not aware that the terminal journey of ours towards Paraloka i.e. the ultimate freedom from the vicious cycle of life and death is totally dependent on our Karma i.e. all the physical, mental, emotional, sensual and spiritual deeds we do in a lifespan. For doing that, we need a thorough understanding of Adhyatmika Dravya Guna Sangrah and keep their loop intact and unblemished.

For enjoying a comprehensive health – Understanding Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha contributes towards our comprehensive health and its balance – physical, mental, sensual, social, emotional and spiritual parts of health. It helps us to become wholesome and complete and also to keep detached from undesired subjects and objects.

For making healthy choices – The knowledge of Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha helps us to make healthy choices of our foods, lifestyle, behaviours, attitude, subjects, objects and relationships while avoiding the unwholesome things related to the same. They will help us not to commit Prajgnaparadha – mistakes in-consciousness or intellectual errors. This is a key strategy in preventing and curing many psycho-somatic diseases.

For better perceptions – Our life depends on what we perceive, when we are able to filter between what is real and what is unreal. This helps us in making meaningful and healthy decisions which is the foundation for our personal and social wellbeing. Thorough knowledge and understanding of Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha guides us to understand the collective involvement of manas, buddhi and atma in driving the aspects of cognition, emotions and decision-making. When there is proper coordination in these four ‘components in the loop’ will help us to get a clear perception, which is a basic foundation for good and meaningful actions. We will also be aware that the imbalance between these dravyas and their gunas would cause many physical, mental and emotional diseases.

Prevention of Psychosomatic and Emotional Disorders – The better we understand the Adhyatma Dravyas, their Gunas and the chemistry between them, the better we will understand that how many mistakes we have been and are doing in a state of consciousness (Prajnaparadha). This will hold us responsible for all our problems and psychosomatic and emotional disturbances. This will empower us to get detached from these mistakes and also from improper sensory engagement. It will help in spiritual and intellectual cleansing and attaining spiritual awareness and knowledge which are essential for comprehensive well-being.

Pathways for Sdvritta and Achara Rasayana – Awareness and knowledge of Adhyatma Dravya Gunas would make us consciously adapt into the pathways of Sadvritta and Achara Rasayana which are by themselves the sources for rejuvenating and rebooting selves and are pathways to gain comprehensive health. This is because when we adapt Sadvritta and Achara Rasayanas, we also learn self control, making positive choices, to make meaningful desires and to avoid harmful things and are the roots of ethical and social behavior and wellness. As a package, they promote physical health, mental peace, sensual calmness, emotional bliss, longevity and social harmony.

Moksha Marga – Comprehensive knowledge of Adhyatma Dravya Guna Sangraha would implant strong seeds of Adhyatma Jnana or Atma Jnana – spiritual knowledge in us. This, as discussed earlier, would help us make better choices. This will eventually lead to overall good health and happiness by reducing stress and emotional highs. This will make us evolved individuals from within and guide us to take the pathway leading to Moksha – spiritual liberation while enjoying the state of Arogata – perfect health. Our Karmas are rooted in these spiritual components. By understanding and adapting them and involving ourselves in maintaining the balance and harmony within these spiritual components we would handle our Purusharthas in a proper way, which itself is a pathway for Moksha – spiritual liberation.

Source link