Chapter-2

Traya Upastambha The Three supportive pillars of Human life

TRAYA UPASTAMBHA (Three supportive pillars of human Life)

Aahara
Nidra
Brahmacharya

Traya Upastambha (Three supports)

1. Aahara 2. Nidra 3. Brahmacharya

(Diet) (Sleep) (Chastity)

AAHARA (DIET)

Definition of Aahara

The solid and liquid food swallowed and drunk through mouth and passed through esophagus is called Aahara.

IMPORTANCE OF AAHARA - 1
Importance

of Aahara: - 3 Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) - 7 Dhatu (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, Shukra) - 3 Malas (Mutra, Purisha and Sweda) Are the roots of human body.

IMPORTANCE OF AAHARA - 2

As the roots of the plants give support to and nourish the plant, similarly Dosha-Dhatu-Mala support the body. - In this process, they need nourishment, which is supplied by appropriate Aahara.

- Aahara keeps equilibrium of Dosh-Dhatu-Mala, which is necessary to prevent the disease.

Proper diet

Improper diet

Health

Disease

Diet 1. Solid 2. Semisolid 3. Liquid

Diet 1. Asheetam

(Particles e.g. Rice)

2. Khadeetam

(To cut e.g. Bread)

3. Pitam

(To drink e.g. Soup)

4. Lidham

(Apply on tongue e.g. Pickles)

CLASSIFICATION OF AAHARA (DIET)

Classification of Aahara (Diet)

N o. 1 On the basis of Consistency of food Classification 1) 2) 3) 1) 2) 3) 4) 1) 2) Ghana (Solid) Alpa Ghana (Semisolid) Drava (Liquid) Ashita Khadita Peeta Leedha Ushna (Hot) Sheeta (Cold) Examples 1) Almond 2) Gruel 3) Milk 1) 2) 3) 4) 1) 2) Rice Bread Milk Jam Black pepper Ghruta

Nature of food

Potency of food

Rasa (Taste) of food

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
1) 2)

Madhura (Sweet) Amla (Sour) Lavana (Salt) Katu (Pungent) Tikta (Bitter) Kashaya (Astringent)
Dravadravya (Liquid) Annadravya (Solid)

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
1) 2)

Sugar Lemon Salt Ginger Fenu greek Coffee

Water, Milk, Oil Grains,Beans, Vegetables

Consistency Mainly of original food items

CLASSIFICATION OF AAHARA (DIET) DRAVADRAVYA (LIQUID)

Varga Class of Examples

1) Jala Varga 2) Dugdha Varga 3) Taila Varga 4) Ikshu Varga 5) Madya Varga

Different varieties of water Milk & Milk products Oils Sugarcane products Wine / Alcoholic beverages prepared from food Urine of Different animals

Rain water, Boiled water Cows milk, Ghruta, Butter Sesame oil, Almond oil Sugar, Jaggery Drakshasava, Kharjurasava Cows urine, Goats urine

6) Mutra Varga

CLASSIFICATION OF AAHARA (DIET) GHANADRAVYA (SOLIDS) Varga Class of Examples 1) Shuka Dhanya Grains Rice, Wheat, Maize Green gram, Lentil Spinach, Red Pumpkin Goat meat, Chicken Clove, Black pepper, cumin seeds Moong Soup, Khichadi

2) Shimbi Dhanya Beans, Pulses 3) Shaka Varga 4) Mansa Varga 5) Haritaka Varga Vegetables Meat Condiments/ Spices

6) Krutanna Varga Receipes

Diet

One of the three supportive pillars of Human Life Diet(Aahar)

Sleep( Nidra) Celibacy ( Brahmacharya) Diet is the fuel of body machine.

Points to be considered regarding diet

a) Classification of diet b) Proper time for having meals c) Quantity of Diet d) e) f) g) Qualities of food substances Rules for taking diet Utensils Incompatibility

I) a. Proper time for having meals

Hunger is a natural urge

When previous meal is completely and properly digested, one experiences intense hunger or appetite.

Ayurved describes two ways for Deciding the time of having meals. The two ways are as follows : 1. According to symptoms

2. According to time span between two meals

Characteristic symptoms of complete digestion are 1. Belching without bad smell & taste 2. Feels energetic 3. Evacuation of bowel and bladder without any discomfort 4. Feeling of lightness

5. Feeling of intense hunger and thirst

If one feels above symptoms then and then only one must take a meal

I) b. Proper time for having meals

o Duration between two meals should be minimum three hrs. and one should not starve for more than six hrs. o For dinner Timing should be as such that there should be a gap of 2 hrs between meal and bedtime

II) Quantity of diet

Quantity should be proper
Depends on ones digestive capacity (Agni) Quantity also depends on properties of food substances for e.g.-Heavy substances should be taken in less quantity On an average - consider three parts of stomach

1 Part for solid food

1 Part for liquid food 1 Part- should be kept empty for moments of Doshas

III) Qualities of Diet (Food substances)

Qualities of food substances are dependent on dominance of Mahabhutas. e.g.- Heavy food articles Predominant qualities of Prithvi ( Earth element) Intake should be 1/3 or 1/2 of the saturation point.

Light food articles Predominant qualities of Vayu (Air element) and

Agni (Fire element)

Intake should not exceed the saturation point for proper strength of Agni

The Food Taken In Proper Quantity Provides Certainly-

Strength
Complexion Happy life With Normalcy

IV) Rules for taking healthy Diet - 1

1. All the six tastes should be included in the diet 2. Food should be fresh, warm and moist 3. One should not eat in a hurry or loitering 4. One should not indulge in excessive laughing or talking controversies, conflicts while enjoying meals.

IV) Rules for taking healthy Diet - 2

5. One should eat in a pleasant, favorable places

in good company. 6. One should always know self constitution (Prakriti) and give due consideration to suitability of food substances. 7. One should be happy and joys mood while taking meals and should concentrate on it. 8. Cleanliness and hygiene should be maintained at the time of meals.

DIET WHICH IS BENEFICIAL IN GENERAL

Cereals Pulses Meat Vegetables Fruits Sugar Milk-milk products Water Salt Shashti-Shali (Rice), Godhuma (Wheat), Ragi (Red millet), Rakta shali (Red rice) Mudga (Green gram), Makushthaka (Lentil) Goat, Deer, Pigeon, Common quail, Chicken Patola (Snake-gourd), Moolaka (Radish) Amalaki (Indian gooseberry), Dadima (Pomegranate), Draksha (Grapes) Puran Guda (Old jaggery), Madhu (Honey) Godugdha (cows milk), Goghruta (Clarified-butter of cows milk) Clean and sterile rain-water. Saindhava (Rock-salt)

Oil
Dry Fruits Spices

Groundnut oil, olive oil

Vatam (Almond), Akshot (Walnut), Angira (Fig) Ardraka (Ginger), Hingu(Asafetida), Dhanyaka (Coriander), Jeeraka (Cumin seeds), Ela (cardamom)

DIET WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN GENERAL:Cereals Pulses Meat Vegetables Fruits Sugar Milk-milk products Water Salt Oil Spices Yava (Barley), heavy preparation of flour, rice and flattened rice. Masha (Black gram) Pork, Beef, Buffalo meat, Fish, Dried meat, Meat of emaciated animals Dried vegetables, Lotus tuber , stem; Leafy vegetables. Nikucha (Wild jack fruit), unripe Kapithha (Raw wood apple) Kakvi (Boiled concentrated sugar cane juice) Kurchika & Kilata (Milk products like Paneer), Mandaka Dadhi (Immature curds) River water in rainy season Saindhava ( rock-salt) Sunflower oil Chilly powder

8 Factors of Dietetics (Aahara) - 1

There are eight specific factors of dietetics such as nature, processing, combination, quantity, place, time, rules for use and consumer.

Prakriti, svabhava (nature): The natural existence of properties like guru etc. in substances used as food and drugs, such as Black gram (heavy) and green gram (light); for nonvegetarians: pork (heavy) and meat of deer (light) Karana (processing): The making or refinement of natural products, which means imparting other properties. These properties are infused by contact of water and fire, cleansing, churning, place, time, infusing, sleeping etc. and also long duration, utensil etc. Samyoga (combination): A combination of two or more substances. This exhibits peculiarities, which are not seen in the case of individual substances such as combination of honey and ghee and that of honey, fish and milk.

8 Factors of Dietetics (Aahara) - 2

Rashi (Quantity): Rashi can be termed as quantity. It is again divided as sarvagraha (total count) and parigraha (individual amount), which ascertain the result of the food taken in proper and improper quantity. The accounting of the quantity of the entire food in totality is sarvaghraha while parighraha is that of the individual items in the food. Thus accounting of the entire is sarvgraha while that of all individual food items is parigraha. Desha (Place): Denotes place related to growth as well as distribution of the substances and also the suitability in respect of place.

8 Factors of Dietetics (Aahara) - 3

Kala (Time): Kala is eternally moving (time) as well as conditional. The conditional one is related to disorder while the eternally moving one to seasonal suitability. Upyogsamstha: This denotes the rules of dietetics. Upyokta : It is the person who consumes the food. On him depends the ok-satmya (suitability developed by practice).

V) Utensils Various metallic and nonmetallic utensils are used-

For cooking
For serving

For storage.
Utensils does have desired or undesired effects on

food substances which are cooked in them.

Utensils

Utensils & their Effects on body

Type of Utensil Beneficial effect on the Body

Gold

Best from medicinal point of view

Promotes Liver Functions Improves Intelligence & Appetite Promotes Vata and Agni but cures Kapha Useful in Jaundice Cooling effect Antidote against poison.

Silver Zinc Brass

Steel Glass Plates made from plant leaves

Specific Use of Utensils for various foods

Name of the Food item
Ghee Curd preparations Juices and fruit syrups Fruits and confectionary Boiled and cooled milk Wines, Beverages Peyas (Porridge), Edible fluids

Type of utensil best for storage

Steel vessel Stone utensils Glass and crystal ware Leaves Copper vessels Earthen pots Silver bowl

Incompatibility/ Antagonistic (Viruddha -Aahara) - 1 Definition : Substances which are contrary to physiological tissues, behave with antagonism to them are called Antagonistic or incompatible (ViruddhaAahara).

Food Incompatibility - 2 (Viruddha Aahara)

The substances which are contrary to physiological tissues (Deha Dhatus) or behave with antagonism to them are called antagonistic or incompatible. (Viruddha Ahara) This antagonism may be in terms of properties, combination, processing, place, time, Dosha etc. or natural composition. Many food combinations are given in the texts as incompatible with proper explanation For e.g. 1) One should not take fish along with milk because this combination is Abhishyandi (great obstructer for channels), it vitiates blood. 2) After eating raddish, garlic, basil one should not take milk because of the risk of skin disorders. 3) All sour liquids are antagonistic to milk. 4) Hot honey taken by a person induces toxicity and lead to death. 5) Likewise honey and ghee in equal quantity, hot water after taking honey are antagonistic.

Food Incompatibility - 3
The diet which is antagonistic with respect to Place Time Agni Dose Suitability Dosha Processing Potency Bowels Health conditions Order Contra-indication Cooking Combination Palatability Richness (in properties) Rules of eating is not wholesome for the person.

Food Incompatibility - 4
Examples of Incompatibility/ Antagonistic (Viruddha -Aahara)
1) Veerya viruddha- (potency incompatibility)-Fish + milk 2) Sanskar viruddha- (Processing incompatibility) Heated Honey 3) Matra viruddha- (dose incompatibility) - Honey + Cows ghee - mixed in equal proportion. 4) Krama viruddha - Hot water after taking honey 5) Kala viruddha- (Time incompatibility) Pungent substance in summer & Cold substances in winter 6) Krama viruddha-(Order incompatibility)-Consuming curd at night. 7) Samyoga viruddha- (Combination incompatibility)- Fruit Salad / Milk+ Banana 8) Parihar viruddha (contraindication incompatibility)Consuming cold water immediately after having hot tea or Coffee.

If one consumes above kind of Incompatible diet Frequently &

In excess quantity

one definitely suffers from Blood Disorders

Skin Disorders
Digestive Disorders

NIDRA (SLEEP)

Nidra (Sleep)
Definition When srotas of the body obstructed by Kapha Dosha, When the body fatigued by exertion, When the sense organs (Indriya)- not functioning due to exertion, sleep manifests in the body.

Merits & Demerits

Happiness and Misery Nourishment and Emaciation Strength and Weakness Potency and Impotency Knowledge and Ignorance Life and Death --------------------------Depend on Sleep.

Nidra (Sleep)
One of the 14 Adharaniya Vegas (Natural Urges) of the body Being an Adharniya Vega (Natural urge which should not be controlled) - Should not be controlled when manifests - Should not be taken forcefully when not manifested.

Abnormal patterns (modes) of the Nidra (Sleep) Atinidra (Excess Sleep) Anidra (Less Sleep) Deewaswapa (Day Sleep)

Akalanidra (Not on appropriate time)

- Leads to diseases if followed regularly

Brahmacharya (Celibacy) Brahmacharya or Celibacy - a topic which is not much or is adversely discussed. Definition - Brahmacharya or celibacy, means abstinence from physical relationship. This statement seems very stern and unrealistic in ordinance with reality. Well, as the myth goes, this word is generally defined in an incorrect manner.

 Ayurved defines the word Brahmacharya with much greater depth. Brahmacharya is composed of two words -Brahma & Charya Brahma = Optimum knowledge and Charya = The behavior.

Brahma also means Tapa, which means Dedicated devotion.

Importance of Brahmacharya Brahmacharya norms help to - maintaining a good health

- maintaining a satisfied mind

- keeping in level with the spiritual development thus maintaining the health of the society.

Phases of Life Four phases of human life - 1. Brahmacharyashram - 2. Gruhasthashram - 3. Vanaprasthashram - 4. Sanyasashram The concept of Brahmacharya passes through these phases with varying descriptions.

 1. Brahmacharyashram phase Brahmacharya means dedication towards acquiring knowledge. The education or knowledge required by a person to attain his future means e.g a job, business, trade etc., needs to be pursued during this phase. Here abstinence from any other distractions is defined as Bramhacharya.

2. Gruhasthashram phase

Marriage and family life Here abstinence from any partner, other than your own spouse is considered within Brahmacharya.

Important rules Gruhasthashram

to

maintain

in

Coitus should be done with ones own wife. Nowadays there is a trend to enjoy a multipartner relationship. Abstinence from such is suggested. Coitus should be preferred at night. There is natural coolness and quietness at night, which helps to relax the mind naturally.

 Coitus should not be done in the morning, afternoon and past midnight.
Morning - a prime work time. There should not be distractions during it. Afternoons - are warmer, and it is the Pitta Kala.

Past midnight - also the Pitta Kala, besides the

time to rest for revival. Body heat during the Pitta Kala is higher, while heat is not as much favorable for survival of the sperms, it can also make conception difficult.

Important rules Gruhasthashram

to

maintain

in

Do not have coitus while menstruation, while ill , during pregnancy, a partner other than your spouse. This is said so, as to avoid infections. Failing which one suffers from sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS being very predominant today. Abnormal, awkward positions should be avoided. Other than causing strain, it could also hamper conception.

Important rules Gruhasthashram

to

maintain

in

Coitus must not be done while suppressing the natural urges of defecation or urination, while hungry, when either partner does not have the desire etc. Suppression leads to the elevation of the Vata Dosha, which can not only cause dryness, pain, also disturbs the harmony between the other Doshas.

Important rules Gruhasthashram

to

maintain

in

In accordance with the seasons Hemant and Shishir rutu - One can have a relation more frequently. Hemant and Shishir are winter months. Climate is cool, pleasant. Mind is relaxed

and the health is at optimum.

Important rules Gruhasthashram

to

maintain

in

In accordance with the seasons Vasant and Sharad rutu - Frequency should be 2-3 times a week. The climate starts getting warmer. Varsha and Grishma rutu - Abstinence, for about 15 days needs to be maintained. The climate is very hot, humid and stuffy. Health is not so sound, so frequency can cause weakness.

Regime after having coitus

After coitus, clean the genital organs. Cleaning is for a good hygiene. Have milk or milk products. Milk helps to revive the energy. Use cool and scented herbs. Cool herbs give solace to the mind.

Point to ponder
Total abstinence may also cause mental stress, and physical illness. Like any others, this too is a natural urge. Thus one must keep a realistic approach. These rules about Brahmacharya, have been framed, keeping in mind the natural requirements of the Gruhasthashram

phase. Following these gives absolute safety, at the same time one can enjoy the fullness of life. It rewards in better health of the individual and also the entire society. These are basically simple norms, which have been very thoughtfully framed in interest of the society.

3. Vanaprasthashram The age factor has progressed, the family duties are quite fulfilled. Here one should learn to slowly detach oneself from family bonds, emotional attachments, physical requirements etc.

4. Sanyasashram

One is now prepared to totally abstain from all enticements of life. It includes both physical & emotional attachments. One is in a totally detached state from the worldly pleasures and seeks enlightenment, about the almighty, as he prepares for Moksha.

The untoward effects of changing trends

The trend to choose a multi-partner relationship. Not just an individual threat, but a threat to the entire society. The occurrence of diseases like AIDS perked up. Transmission of this disease from mother to the foetus. We can therefore conclude that such liberal activities not only harm the current generation, as well as the next generation. The society by and large is affected.