Rukshadi guna of vata –

contemparary issues

Dr. Nandini Dhargalkar

M.D. Ph. D. (Ayurveda), Pune University

Ex-Principal, RMD Ayurvedic College, Valsad,

Gujarat 396375

Professor, P.G. Department, Ashtang Ayurved College,

Pune 411030

Aim of this national workshop

The aim of this National Workshop is to identify problems in development and validation of assessment criteria with special reference to Vata and also to seek out ways in which these can be improved. This will lead to better utilization of time and money and will lead to better research outcomes.

What is exactly expected?

Ways of development of assessment

criteria; and difficulties arising in such

development; of vata dosha functioning in

living body with the help of rukshadi guna

described in compendia.

Developed tool will assess both –

swastha as well as atura individual

Development of tool for

assessment with help of rukshadi

guna

For developing any kind of tool, as suggested

in this case, with help of guna with special

reference to vata; Ayurvedic way of assessing

any guna should be studied.

New tool Ayurvedic

assessment ?

Assessment of guna - Ayurvedic

deZfHkLRouqeh;Urs ukuknzO;kJ;k xq.kk%A

lq-lw-46

LusgeknZod`r~ fLuX/kks cyo.kZdjLrFkkA

:{kLrf}ifjr% L;kf}’ks”kkr~ LraHku% [kj%AA

lq-lw-46-516

Judgment of guna is drawn by the karma it

performs.

Pairs of guna

Vinshati guna are ten pairs of guna exactly

opposite to each other in common karma

snigdha ruksha

- ruksha - snigdha 0

Karma of snigdha guna

Ruksha guna acts opposite to

snigdha guna.

Karma of snigdha guna are:

1. Offer unctuousness

2. Soften the matter

3. Balakara

4. Varnakara

Karma of ruksha guna

Ruksha guna karma are viparita to

snigdha hence ruksha dravya:

1. Offer dryness

2. Bring kathinya

3. Bala-rhasa

4. Varna-rhasa

5. Vishesha karma – stambhana khara

Principle actions of Ruksha

guna It is anti-Snigdha (fLuX/kfoifjr% L;kr~A lq-

lw- 46).

It restricts movements of body and acts as

catabolic agent (LrEHku% [kj%A lq-lw- 46).

It is hygroscopic (‘kks”k.ks :{k%A gsekfnz).

It nourishes Vata and is anti-Kapha in action.

:{ka lehj.kdja ija dQgja ere~A Hkk-iw-

[ka-

Dosha abidance: Vata.

Karma and guna

Snigdha offer unctuousness

balakara varnakara

softening hardening

varnahrasa balahrasa

offer dryness

Ruksha

Vata-guna and prakruti

Rk= jkS{;k}kryk% :{kkifprkYi’kjhjk%

izrr:{k{kkelUulDrttZjLojk%

tkx:dk’p HkofRuA p-fo- 8

Charaka proves to be one and the

only compendium to describe

prakruti in relation to guna of vatadi

dosha

Bala – role of sharirabhava

Doshabala

Dhatupadhatu Mala

Oja

BALA

Bala – role of other guna

Snigdha

Guru Pichchila

BALA

Variables - bala

It is shown in previous references that

many variables are included in judging

karma of snigdha or ruksha guna in

context to bala.

For assessing ruksha guna of vata; karma

balahrasa, similarly varnahrasa will not be

suitable. Too many variables will not give

appropriate and reliable tool

Rasa – Mahabhuta sambandha

Madhur: Pŗthvi + Āpa

Amla : Pŗthvi + Agni

Lavaņa : Āpa + Agni (Ćaraka), Pŗthvi +

Agni (Suśŗta)

Katu : Vāyu + Agni

Tikta : Vāyu + Ākāśa

Kaşāya : Vāyu + Pŗthvi

Pin pointing reference

In this way, coming down to single

variable the tool should be

developed. This is work of ample

number of institutes. References

hunting, their compilation, reduction

of language of guna to mahabhuta

level and setting of project may

unanimously be done.

More about guna

leok;h rq fu’ps”V% dkj.ke~ xq.k%A

p-lw- 1

Properties are incorporated with matter.

It is always the matter, which is

responsible for functions done. Since

attributes alone never exist, they cannot

function independently.

More about guna

fo’oy{k.kk xq.kk%A

j-oS- 1-168

Guņa or qualities never have single characteristic and output of function. Single guņa carries more than one function and one function may require more than one guņa. This is the reason guņa is defined as one which offers variety of characteristics.

Charaka-Samhita-vata-guna

Charaka-Samhita has enlisted vata guna four times, as follows

:{k ‘khrks y?kq% lw{e’pyks∙Fk fo’kn% [kj%A

p-lw- 1-58

:Pk y?kq ‘khr nk#.k [kj fo’knk% “kfMes

okrxq.kk% HkofUrA p-lw12-4

jkS{;a yk?koa oS’k|a ‘kSR;a xfr% vewrZRoa psfr

ok;ks% vkRe:ikf.k HkofUrA p-lw- 20-13

okrLrq :{ky?kqpycgq ‘kh?kz ‘khr i#”k

fo”kn%A p-fo- 8

Interpretation of Charaka

references – 1

The first reference is regarding maintenance

of health. It is in context with daily ahara-

vihara

Second reference is about guna related

physiological as well as pathological karma

of vata dosha

Interpretation of Charaka

references – 2

Third reference is about atmarupani. Commentator states about atmarupa as

Loy{k.kfefr vkReh;a y{k.ke~A

v=kI;ifj.kkehfr lac/;rs( vifj.kkehfr

fiRrÜys”elaca/kfujis{ka] u rq

‘kjhjko;okuis{kfefrA

,oafo/kRokfnfr jkS{kkfn;qDrRok}k;ksfjfr

laca/k%A

Fourth reference is phenotypical features of doshaguna. This is expression of guna on body

Difficulty in tool development

1. Due to more than one function of one guna of one dosha, specific tool development becomes difficult.

2. If field is narrowed more than one compendium offers more than one opinion e.g.

nzO;kf.k :{kxq.kcgqykfu vXus;kfu] ok;O;kfu A

p-lw- 26

:{k - - vkXus;kfuA :{k - - ok;oh;aA

ok;qxq.kHkwf;”Va jkS{;e~A lq-lw- 41

jkSS{;oS”k|s ikfFkZo ok;O;sA j-oS- 3-113

More difficulties

3. Guna is not something which can be isolated; (at least today) and the action can be observed.

4. Dravya has more than one guna and all are active in one dravya which offer resultant output of karma.

5. If we narrow our research to panchamahabhuta every dravya is panchabhautic and lone mahabhuta is not available for examination.

Suggestions to overcome difficulties

STEPS COMPILE REFERENCES

DECIDE VARIABLES

SET PROJECTS WITH EACH VARIABLE

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, RESULT AND

CONCLUSION

Development of tool

Guideline

Like medical science we can always take

help of paramedical sciences like physics

chemistry etc keeping in mind all the time

that the tool should satisfy Ayurvedic

criteria

Previously accepted work

Ckya O;k;ke’kDR;ka ifj{ksr~A p-fo- 8

O;k;ke’kDrhfr HkkjogukfnA Vhdk

The definitions spell out that weight bearing is one of the way to measure bala

Contemporary gymnasium techniques are concerned with static weight lifting and kinetic weight lifting.

Our project was on static and the kinetic was awaited to be explored

Wrong notion

For virya decision, a slit in tree was made

and thermometer was inserted in the slit

to record temperature of the tree for

three times a day

This is not Ayurvedic version of virya.

Drvya acting on living body is observed

for measurement of virya

Previously accepted work

Any work done previously may be observed for the problems faced

by the investigator. It also guides regarding development of new

tool, its utility and if necessary, amendments of some kind.

1. Anguli pramana of mutra

2. Bala measurement

3. Smruti in relation to prakruti

4. Ushnamukha

5. Ushnasahatva

Previously accepted work

6. Alpasmruti as short term memory

7. Atibhashya

8. Ativyayama

9. Abhyavaharana shakti

10. Jaranashakti

11. In garbhavastha mala-asambhavah

12. Agni

13. Effect of omkar on krodha

14. Effect of ahara on farmers

15. Blood group and prakruti

Previously accepted work

Ushna guna of pittala individual is responsible for:

Ushnamukha,

Ushnasahatva,

Sukumara-avadatagatra

Prabhuta-viplu-vyanga-tila-pidaka

Kshipra-vali-khalitya-doshah

Mrudu-alpa-kapil-shmashru-loma-keshah

Previously accepted work

Shighratvat vatalah – alpasmrutayah

Contemporary view – low memory quotient and low short term memory

A project was designed for alpasmruti and training for increment of short term memory.

Response was observed after training period was over to estimate difference between the increment in relation to prakruti

Judgement of variables

Predominant Mahabhuta of Ruksha guna are – Agni + vayu; Pruthvi + vayu; Vayu

Rasa – kashaya (vayu+pruthvi) and katu

Vipaka – katu (vayu+agni)

Lekhana dravya – vayu + agni

Vamana dravya – agni + vayu