Elements and Doshas

There are five basic elements in Nature

Ether or Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth

In Sanskrit, these five elements together are known as ‘Panchmahabhoota’ – ‘Panch’ for five, ‘maha’ for great and ‘bhoota’ for elements.These elements exist everywhere – in the Universe, in an atom, in herbs and in you.In the Universe, the elements exist as the Sun (Fire), the Moon (Earth and Water) and the Wind (Air and Space).

Every matter or substance has all five elements.However, in each substance, there is usually one element that is predominant.The substance then reflects that one element.  Ayurveda understands this law of nature.  Hence it divides human body composition into one of three body types or doshas based on the more predominant elements.

Air and Space combine to form the dosha Vata.Similar to its elements, Vata is involved in the dynamic bodily functions such as transmission of impulses and food.

Fire and Water combine to form the dosha Pitta.Similar to its elements, Pitta is involved in metabolism such as digestion of food.

Water and Earth combine to form the dosha Kapha.Similar to its elements, Kapha lends your body cohesion, stability and perfection.

Ayurveda says your health is directly dependant on the balance of these three doshas.This forms the backbone of the Ayurveda.Recognising these three doshas in your body and lifestyle will help you to stay healthy.

The three doshas occur in everyone.  However the balance between these three is not the same in every person and also does not stay constant even in the same person. The exact combination of the three doshas in you is your blueprint or ‘prakriti,’ which determines your personality and your tendency to illness.

Doshas and Personality

Vata represents creativity.Think of it this way – people tend to look up to outer space for ideas.Hence Vata people tend to be ideas people.  Society needs Vata people to have a constant source of new ideas.

Pitta represents aggressivness.  Just like Fire.  Society relies on the performance-oriented attitude of Pitta people.

Kapha represents endurance, determination and stability.Like the Earth.Kapha people do the routine needed for a well oiled machine to work.

Every person is born with a basic prakriti that stays constant throughout your life.This is influenced by the place, season and time of your conception.  The mental and physical state of your parents also influence your basic prakriti.

Effect of Geography

People closer to the equator tend to have Vata and Kapha doshas predominant which helps them survive the extremities of the weather.Pitta is stronger in people living in cold climates.

Changes in Prakriti

While the basic prakriti does not change over life, aspects thereof change with age, seasons and geo-climatic conditions.

For example, Vata becomes more prominent later in life.The seasons and geographic effects are related to those mentioned under ‘Effect of Geography.’

While each person has his or her own unique prakriti, much like finger prints, Ayurveda recognises 10 broad combinations based on the dominance of one or more doshas.Three are based on the predominance of a single dosha, six based on the equal predominance of two doshas and one based on the equal balance of the three doshas.

Practical Benefits of Recognising Prakriti

You can understand your personality and therefore your strengths and weaknesses better.This is similar to the Western concept of Personality Types.However while the Western theories recognise different personality types, they don’t explain why this is so and how to determine them apart from asking a series of behaviour questions.In Ayurveda, the behaviour questions can be augmented with questions on physical characteristics, the answers to which can be determined more objectively.You can also understand people around you better including family, friends and people you work with.If you are not married already, you may wish to use this knowledge to find someone more suitable to your personality.

You can anticipate your disease tendencies and patterns and learn to cope with them.

To determine your own prakriti you can use our form.