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THE  PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDIC DOCTRINE

According to Ayurveda what exists in the universe, it exists also in the internal of every individual.
The ancient Rishi, the fathers of Ayurveda, were conscious that everything in nature is subjected to the creation, evolution and dissolution cycle. They recognized the three principles (DOSHA) which subtend  every material form.

DOSHA:

VATA:     Represents the principle of movement and activation.

PITTA:    Represents the transformation and production principle of energy and heat.

KAPHA:  Represents the principle of cohesion and structure.

From these immaterial qualities the five fundamental elements (PANCHAMAHABUTA), which are the construction basis of universe and individual, take origin.

AKASHA – SPACE        Is the container

VAJU – AIR                  Is the force which gives
                                    movement to galaxies
                                    and electrons

TEJAS – FIRE               Is  energy, transformation,
                                    metabolism, hormonal and  
                                    enzymatic activity            

JALA – WATER            They are cohesive forces of 
                                    bodies,  molecules,
                                    atoms and ect.

PRITHVI – EARTH        They are the inorganic and
                                    organic solid substances

The variety of all living beings is determinate by the infinitive possibilities of combination of the five  fundamental elements.
They stay  also at the basis of the three humours which govern the human physiology: the three Dosha, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When the three Dosha are balanced they produce health, otherwise diseases.
It is written : “ Vata, Pitta, Kapha are the three Dosha, they support the body and destroy it, when they are balanced or unbalanced respectively” (Asthanga Hridaya, sutr. 1.6).
The  Ayurveda purpose is to maintain the three humours in a good balance, in order that  health may be preserved.

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