Doshas at a glance:
Everything you need to know about Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
In Ayurveda, Vata, Pitta and Kapha are known as the three doshas, or regulating forces of nature. Ayurvedic wisdom holds that equilibrium or balance of these three doshas is extremely important.
Exactly what are these doshas? Ayurveda describes the doshas as three fundamental principles operating in outer nature, but also penetrating our human nature and thus regulating all physiological processes.
If you know a person’s doshas, you know everything about him, both his spiritual as well as physical characteristics: his individual constitution, temperament, likes and dislikes, dietary needs and much, much more.
These three doshas are made up of five elements: Vata comprises air and space, Pitta comprises fire and water, and Kapha water and earth.
Do you know your dosha type yet? For a first impression, we recommend that you take the Dosha test on the following website: Which dosha type are you?
However, if you want an accurate determination of your Ayurvedic constitution and your health status, request an appointment with a Maharishi Ayurvedic doctor or practitioner. The German Society for Ayurveda (DGA) will be happy to provide addresses in your area: www.ayurveda.de
Although all three doshas are present everywhere in the body, the ancient Vedic texts describe a "home location" for each of the doshas. In the Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthan 1:7 it says:
"Vata is mainly found below the navel, Pitta mainly between navel and heart, and Kapha above the heart."
The traditional source text of Ayurvedic literature, Charak Samhita, explains the importance of balanced doshas:
"The body of every living being is always the residence of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. One should know whether they are in a natural (balanced) or unnatural (unbalanced) state." – Charak Samhita, Sutrasthan, 18:48
Subsequently, the effect of balanced doshas is then described in detail. For example, a balanced Vata dosha expresses itself, among other things, as enthusiasm, smoothe functioning tissue metabolism and balanced elimination.
A balanced Pitta dosha is expressed as good digestion and eyesight, a balanced body temperature, balanced hunger and thirst and abundant charisma, happiness and intelligence.
In Charak Samhita, Sutrasthan, 18:49-51 balanced Kapha is described as expressing strength, forbearance, patience, and the absence of greed.
Life is only lived fully when the doshas are in balance. Because, then the body is healthy and according to Ayurveda produces Ojas, the finest end product of digestion. Ojas has an exceedingly fine structure such that it is still material and yet also consciousness.
Ojas is the totality of all the three doshas. Its characteristics are described in detail in the classical texts of Ayurveda: Ojas brings strength and vitality, good health, maintains digestion and metabolism, and youthfulness, makes us think positively and gives us a proportionally balanced view of problems.
A person with a lot of Ojas feels perfectly blissful and radiates happiness. Externally, for example, Ojas is seen as healthy, shiny skin and bright eyes.
What can we do to maintain or regain the balance of the doshas in order to produce Ojas?
On our site you will find lots of tips and information for healthy daily and seasonal routines, diet, work-life balance and much more.
The uniqueness of Maharishi Ayurveda is that formerly lost fragments of the old authentic Ayurvedic wisdom have been reassembled into a whole body of knowledge. Maharishi Ayurveda knows 20 holistic approaches to maintain or restore balanced doshas.