Introduction with Tridosha and Panchamahabhutha:
Ahara is the foremost
among the three pillars of the healthy life. It is the basic and essential
factor which supports other two (sleep and celibacy or non celibacy). Ayurveda
has given details of proper diet to be followed in the process to obtain an
ideal status of health. Ayurveda says that our body is composed of tridoshas
(vata, pitta and kapha) and improper dieting leads to their vitiation which
gives rise to various diseases. Vata is the union of Akasa and Vayu, Pitta with
Agni and Jala, Kapha with Prithvi and Jala. According to Ayurveda, everything
in this universe is composed of these Panchamahabhuthas (Akasha, Vayu, Jala,
Agni and Prithvi).
Taste:
Ahara is also panchabhutic
in the form of taste and state. There are 6 types of taste. They are Sweet
(Madhura), Sour (Amla), Salt (Lavana), Pungent (Katu), Bitter (Thiktha) and Astringent
(Kashaya). Each taste is predominant with combination of two Panchabhuthas. First
three Sweet, Sour and Saline taste alleviates Vata while other three aggravates
vata. Sweet, Sour and Saline taste aggravates and other three alleviates Kapha.
Sour, Saline and Pungent aggravates Pitta and remaining three alleviates Pitta.
When the Panchabhuthas are in equilibrium, Tridosha level will be in
equilibrium. In this way, our health will also be normal. In order to maintain
this state of equilibrium, we can adopt all six tastes in our daily diet.
Agni:
Next is the power of
digestion (Agni) which plays a major role even though our diet is very proper. Ayurveda
says that one can analyze the quantity of the food required for them by
themselves. Every individual has different power of digestion. Some of us have
very high power of digestion (Thikshna Agni), some of them have medium power
(Mandha Agni) and some others may have good power of digestion (Sama Agni). So
if someone is taking two chapathis, it is more sufficient for them. He should
not be forced to take more because it leads to indigestion (Formation of Ama).
