Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Reference and Context – Sharira Gunas are the attributes of the body. Acharya Charaka has described two types of Sharira Gunas in ‘Sharira Vichaya Shaarira’ chapter of Charaka Samhita. Ref – Charaka Sharira Sthana, Chapter 6, Verse 17 (Cha.Sha.6/17).
Dvividha Sharira Gunaha
शरीरगुणाः पुनर्व्दिविधाः संग्र्हेण- मलभूताः, प्रसादभूताश्च| तत्र मलभूतास्ते ये शरीरस्याबाधकराः स्युः| तद्यथा- शरीरच्छिद्रेषूपदेहाः पृथग्जन्मानो बहिर्मुखाः, परिपक्वाश्च धातवः, प्रकुपिताश्च वातपित्तश्लेष्माणः, ये चान्येऽपिकेचिच्छरीरे तिष्ठन्तो भावाः शरीरस्योपघातायोपपद्यन्ते, सर्वांस्तान्मले संचक्ष्महे; इतरांस्तु प्रसादे , गुर्वादींश्चद्रवान्तान् गुणभेदेन, रसादींश्च शुक्रान्तान् द्रव्यभेदेन||Charaka Vimana – 6/17
Sharira Gunas are of two types. They are –
- Malabhuta Gunaha – wastes of the body which are meant to be excreted
- Prasadabhuta Gunaha – nourishing factors which are meant to support the body and its functioning
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Malabhuta Gunas
Among both the gunas, Malabhuta Gunas are the unwanted things in the body. They are meant to be excreted to keep the body clean and healthy. These factors are described as ‘Sharira Badhakaraha’ i.e. those which afflict the body with pain and discomfort.
They are present in one or the other of the below mentioned forms –
a. Sharira Chidreshu Upadehaha – These are various substances which are formed in various orifices and channels of the body. They are the divergent forms and are in the process of being removed from the body. These forms of malabhuta gunas are the impurities which cause upadeha in the sharira chidras i.e. they are present in the form of impurities which stick to the walls of various orifices and channels inside the body. This further causes obstructions at multiple places of the body hampering many regular functions.
b. Pruthak Janmano Bahirmukhaha – the wastes, putrefied substances separately produced in the eyes, ears and nose and external orifices of the body.
c. Paripakascha Dhatavaha – the blood and other tissues which have got suppurated and have acquired the form of pus and other troublesome substances.
d. Prakupitascha Vata Pitta Shleshmanaha – vitiated vata, pitta and kapha
e. Ye cha anye api kechit satire tishtanto bhavaha sharirasya upaghataya upapadhyante, sarvaan taan male sanchakshmahe – the above said and any other similar such substances which while existing in the body tends to cause destruction of the body belong to the category of Malabhuta Gunas.
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Prasadabhuta Gunaha
Itaran tu Prasade – Acharya Charaka says ‘the others are Prasada Bhuta’. This means to say that, everything else in the body, other than those described under Malabhuta Gunas above should be considered as Prasadabhuta Gunas i.e. pure, nourishing or supporting attributes of the body. They are also the building blocks of the body.
These Prasadabhutas are in the form of –
a. Gurvadin cha Dravantan Guna Bhedan – the gunas i.e. qualities of the body and different components of the body starting with guru – heaviness and ending with drava – liquidity, which are twenty in number, commonly called as Gurvadi Gunas – are the Prasada Bhutas of the body.
b. Rasadin cha Shukrantan Dravya Bhedena – the seven tissues of the body beginning with rasa – lymph or plasma and ending with shukra – semen, are also the prasada bhuta gunas of the body.
One should keep the balance of tridoshas
Since Acharya Charaka counts the vitiated vata, pitta and kapha amongst the malabhuta gunas, he also emphasizes the importance of keeping them in a state of balance for one to experience comprehensive health in the immediate next verse.
तेषां सर्वेषामेव वातपित्तश्लेष्माणो दुष्टा दूषयितारो भवन्ति, दोषस्वभावात्| वातादीनां पुनर्धात्वन्तरे कालान्तरे प्रदुष्टानां विविधाशितपीतीयेऽध्याये विज्ञानान्युक्तानि| एतावत्येव दुष्टदोषगतिर्यावत् संस्पर्शनाच्छरीरधातूनाम्| प्रकृतिभूतानां तु खलु वातादीनां फलमारोग्यम्| तस्मादेषां प्रकृतिभावे प्रयतितव्यं बुध्दिमद्भ्दिरिति||Charaka Vimana Sthana 6/18
By their very nature, the three doshas i.e. vata, pitta and kapha vitiate the body and its components. These doshas would vitiate the tissues of the body when they get vitiated by exogenous factors. He also states that the signs and symptoms of the vitiation of various dhatus in different times have already been described in Vividha Ashita Pitiya Adhyaya – 28th chapter of Sutra Sthana. Such are the manifestations of the vitiated doshas when they come in contact with body components, mainly the tissues of the body.
On the other hand, when these doshas are in a state of normalcy and are balanced, they are responsible for the maintenance of health of the individuals. Therefore, a wise man should always try to keep these doshas in a normal state.
Acharya Charaka further adds
भवति चात्र- शरीरं सर्वथा सर्वं सर्वदा वेद यो भिषक्| आयुर्वेदं स कार्त्स्न्येन वेद लोकसुखप्रदम्||१९|| Charaka Vimana Sthana, 6/19 (Cha.Vi.6/19)
‘The physician who is always conversant and well versed with various aspects of the entire body as is described in the sharira gunas above, is also very proficient in Ayurveda. Due to this knowledge he could bestow happiness and health to the entire world’.
Related AIAPGET Questions
- The ‘Malabhuta Sharira Guna Sangraha’ is defined as (Cha.Sha.6/17)
- Sharira chidresu upadeha pruthak janmano bahirmukhaa
- Paripakvascha dhatavaha
- Prakupitascha vatapittashleshmana
- All the above
Ans – d. All the above.
This question was asked in Uttarakhand University Lecturer Screening Test – 2018, Kaya Chikitsa.
Other possible Questions
- Which among these are not mentioned as Sharira Prasadabhuta Gunas by Acharya Charaka?
- Gurvadi Gunas
- Rasadi Dhatus
- Ojas
- a & b
Ans – c – Ojas. Ref – Cha.Vi.6/17
- How many Sharira Gunas does Acharya Charaka grossly describe in Vimana Sthana?
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 6
Ans – a. 2, Malabhuta and Prasadabhuta Gunas. Cha.Vi.6/17
- Which are included under Prasadabhuta Sharira Gunas according to Charaka?
- Gurvadi Gunas and Tridoshas
- Gurvadi Gunas and Ojas
- Sapta Dhatus and Gurvadi Gunas
- Saptadhatus and Ojas
Ans – c. Sapta Dhatus and Gurvadi Gunas. Cha.Vi.6/17
