Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Shat = six
Utkrushtatama – greatest
Bhavas – components, habits
Grasp Charaka mentions six greatest habits price training in our life. They will also be thought-about because the 5 greatest components which provides worth to at least one’s life and makes it significant and therefore must be introduced into practices in a single’s life.
On this article we’ll attempt to enlist and perceive the that means and value of these six components or habits defined by Acharya Charaka.
Reference – Charaka Sutra Sthana, Chapter 30, Verse 15 (Cha Su, 30/15)
Shat Utkrustatama Bhavas: Finest components or fascinating habits for all times
अथ खल्वेकं प्राणवर्धनानामुत्कृष्टतममेकं बलवर्धनानामेकं बृंहणानामेकं नन्दनानामेकं हर्षणानामेकमयनानामिति | तत्राहिंसा प्राणिनां प्राणवर्धनानामुत्कृष्टतमं, वीर्यं बलवर्धनानां, विद्या बृंहणानाम्, इन्द्रियजयो नन्दनानां, तत्त्वावबोधोहर्षणानां, ब्रह्मचर्यमयनानामिति; एवमायुर्वेदविदो मन्यन्ते||१५||
There are a lot of components which contribute in direction of enhancing any attribute that we possess or to fortify the identical, however one amongst these components would be the greatest one. Right here, we talk about the perfect components which might improve 5 attributes in us, one greatest issue to reinforce or fortify or enrich one specific attribute.
Instance – there could also be many drinks or liquids which could quench our thirst, however none is healthier than water. So, water is the perfect drink for a thirsty particular person. Additionally it is abundantly accessible. And no different liquid satisfies or pacifies the thirst as shortly and as successfully the water does.
So, which components and what attributes is Acharya Charaka talking about?
The associated query is – ‘Is there a minimum of one utmost issue amongst the opposite components which may bestow or improve the under talked about attributes?’
1. One for bestowing longevity
2. One for enhancing energy
3. One which all the time must be elevated
4. One amongst every kind and sources of happiness
5. One for ecstasy / exaltation
6. One for path of self-realization
Acharya Charaka says ‘sure’ and in addition mentions one issue for every of the above-mentioned attributes.
1. Ahimsa Prana Vardhananam Utkrushtatamam
Ahimsa – non-violence is the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow longevity of residing beings. Ahimsa is claimed to be the perfect type of Dharma – righteousness and therefore is part of Purushartha Chatushtaya, the 4 pursuits of life. When one selected the proper way of life, she or he additionally would select ahimsa.
Himsa means ‘inflicting hurt’ or doing violence. Ahimsa means not harming or adopting non-violence.
Right here ahimsa must be understood in a broader sense –
– Not harming self
– Not harming others
It additionally consists of of not growing ideas of harming others. When the particular person is in such a state, he’s developed and is sattvika in nature – an individual having a serene steadiness of trigunas – sattva, rajas and tamas.
On this state, the particular person is not going to commit prajnaparadha – mental errors (obsessive errors). He will even keep away from asatmya indriyartha sannikarsha – i.e. irregular contact of senses with sense objects and therefore have management over his senses. So, he has prevented two fundamental causes of all illnesses. This may promote longevity of life.
When the particular person is within the pathway of dharma, he would even have prevented hurt to self and others. Additionally it is true vice versa, i.e. when an individual practices non-violence, he values life and therefore on the pathway of dharma. When he’s indulged in a Dharmic lifestyle, his decisions associated to meals and life-style and behavior would all be in a righteous path. So, he has chosen a wholesome way of life and therefore longevity of life.
Ahimsa is claimed to be the perfect in enhancing or selling Prana. Right here if prana is taken as life, the particular person training ahimsa would respect his and different’s life and contemplate life as the perfect reward from God and that he’s an vital a part of creation. It will assist him in taking good care of not solely his life but in addition the lifetime of others in and round him. This enhanced optimistic considering and self-respecting angle would improve the lifespan of people.
Now-a-days individuals are weak minded and have a tendency to commit suicide for trivial causes, thus not valuing the ‘life’ of self. The teachings of ‘Ahimsa’ are of utmost significance at the same time as part of psychotherapy to make individuals notice the significance of self and all lives.
Ahimsa allows the particular person to earn love, respect, pals, relationships and good individuals in his or her life. That is the best life help system in a single’s life.
2. Veeryam Bala Vardhananam Utkrushtatamam
Veerya means braveness, valour or fearlessness. It’s stated to be the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow bala – energy (immunity, endurance) in residing beings.
We preserve doing a lot work all through the day. That is important for us to dwell and to earn and to steer life. Energy is required to do any exercise / motion. Some individuals accomplish their actions or work with bodily energy, some with psychological energy and a few others with each. However the driving drive can be ‘the braveness issue’ in every case. Braveness is the seed of energy wanted to do any work or obtain something. Braveness enhances energy. It promotes each bodily and psychological energy wanted for carrying out any activity – karma. Braveness allows us and strengthens us to perform even the hardest duties, in hardest situations. If the braveness is down and out, even the best activity would look unimaginable to perform. So, braveness is the driving drive and gas for the energy wanted to perform all life actions. Subsequently, braveness is the perfect among the many promoters of energy.
3. Vidya Brimhananam Utkrushtatamam
Brimhana means nourishing or (bulk) enhancing. It is among the Upakramas i.e. sub-therapies and an vital strategic intervention in Ayurveda. However on this context, Brimhana shall be taken as ‘these / something which deserves to be all the time elevated or enhanced’.
Vidya means data. Vidya or data is the perfect issue / behavior (follow) which all the time deserves to be elevated / enhanced or ought to all the time be elevated. Amongst all components which must be elevated or enhanced all the time, data tops the listing and is all the time the perfect.
There is no such thing as a limitation to data. So, the extra you improve, the extra it accommodates. Life itself is a journey of continued studying and buying data and we do it at each juncture of life. Our life will depend on what we study and the way we carry the data of all the things into follow. We study new issues as we ascend the graph of the timeline of our life. So, the method of studying and data isn’t stagnant. It’s consistently nurtured and up to date with each new factor we study. Data is the supply of evolution of mankind and therefore it must be consistently nurtured and elevated. Nothing else deserves to be elevated so consistently and constantly as does the data.
4. Indriya Jayo Nandananam Utkrushtatamam
Indriya Jaya means gaining victory or conquering over the senses. It additionally means to realize ‘self-control’. Self-control is among the hardest issues to follow and grasp upon. However as soon as practiced and mastered, it turns into the supply of bliss, limitless happiness and psychological peace and well being.
Nandana means ‘a state of being glad’. ‘Management over the senses’ is claimed to be the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow Nandana – happiness in residing beings.
Asatmya Indriyartha Samyoga / Sannikarsha i.e. improper or inaccurate contact of the sense organs with sense objects is claimed to be one of many three fundamental causative components of all illnesses. Such contact could also be of deficit, extra or perverted sorts.
Once we begin controlling our senses we are able to successfully abort or keep away from such contacts of the indriyas. It will assist the indriyas be in a state of steadiness. When one positive factors such management, he would develop the sattva guna in him and acquire management of rajas and tamas qualities of thoughts and their fluctuations. This can be a level of self-realization. Right here, the particular person wouldn’t commit ‘aware errors / sins’ i.e. prajnaparadha. With this, the thoughts too shall be in management and the atma i.e. soul – in a state of bliss. The prasannata – i.e. pleasure state of atma, indriyas and manas is a vital criterion for psycho-somatic well being and in addition helps in prevention of many psychological problems. This kinds the supply of happiness, pleasure and bliss.
5. Tattva Bodho Harshananam Utkrushtatamam
Tattva Bodha means ‘data or realization of reality’. The data of Atma or understanding the distinction between the Jivatma – particular person soul and Paramatma – higher soul will also be thought-about as Tattva Bodha. It’s when one realizes that she or he is a minute and negligible a part of this cosmos / creation.
Harshana means ‘getting exhilarated or ecstatic’. It’s a state of being exalted, a novel feeling after having found or realized the best reality in life.
‘Tattva Bodha – Data of realization of reality’ is claimed to be the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow Harshana – exhilaration or a state of ecstasy – in residing beings.
This realization is the muse and stepping stone in direction of a significant non secular journey. Right here the particular person loses the egoism and turns into conscious and enlightened.
6. Brahmacharyam Ayananam Utkrushtatamam
Ayana means path, manner or pathway. From a non secular perspective, ayana means pathway resulting in self-realization.
Brahmacharya means celibacy in precise sense. Nevertheless it has an elaborate and deeper that means as we dig deep into understanding the time period. Brahmacharya broadly means residing a principled life whereas following the rules of the creator and creation. This once more consists of rightful following of Purusharthas i.e. Dharma, Artha and Kama which can result in Moksha – the final word liberation.
In keeping with Ayurveda Brahmacharya is among the Traya Upastambhas i.e. three supporting pillars of human life, the opposite two being Ahara – meals and Nidra – sleep.
Celibacy is equated with sexual abstinence however the time period Brahmacharya may be elaborated to incorporate abstinence from all the things which is unhealthy and unwholesome. Brahmacharya can be an Ashrama – the stage of life. This describes the earliest section of life, whereby one is indulged within the technique of studying – the coed life. One can all the time be a Brahmachari all through life, by all phases of life, since there is no such thing as a limitation of information and we’re all the time college students of life.
‘Brahmacharya’ is claimed to be the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow Ayana, or in different phrases to open up the pathways resulting in self-realization.
Amongst all of the pathways that result in self-realization, Brahmacharya is the perfect.
