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 value practising 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 are going to attempt to enlist and perceive the that means and price 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 numerous 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 discuss the perfect components which might improve 5 attributes in us, one greatest issue to boost or fortify or enrich one specific attribute.
Instance – there could also be many drinks or liquids which could quench our thirst, however none is best than water. So, water is the perfect drink for a thirsty individual. It is usually abundantly out there. 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 at the least one utmost issue amongst the opposite components which may bestow or improve the beneath talked about attributes?’
1. One for bestowing longevity
2. One for bettering 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 likewise 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 dwelling 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 fitting 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 individual is in such a state, he’s advanced and is sattvika in nature – an individual having a serene steadiness of trigunas – sattva, rajas and tamas.
On this state, the individual 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 averted two most important causes of all ailments. This could promote longevity of life.
When the individual is within the pathway of dharma, he would even have averted hurt to self and others. It is usually 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 selections associated to meals and way of life 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 individual practising ahimsa would respect his and different’s life and contemplate life as the perfect reward from God and that he’s an necessary a part of creation. This can assist him in taking good care of not solely his life but additionally the lifetime of others in and round him. This enhanced constructive considering and self-respecting perspective would improve the lifespan of people.
Now-a-days persons 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 whilst part of psychotherapy to make individuals notice the significance of self and all lives.
Ahimsa allows the individual to earn love, respect, buddies, 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 dwelling beings.
We hold doing a lot work all through the day. That is important for us to dwell and to earn and to guide life. Power 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 power 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 conducting any job – karma. Braveness allows us and strengthens us to perform even the hardest duties, in hardest circumstances. If the braveness is down and out, even the best job would look inconceivable to perform. So, braveness is the driving power 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 likely one of the Upakramas i.e. sub-therapies and an necessary 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 information. Vidya or information 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 have to be elevated or enhanced all the time, information tops the checklist and is all the time the perfect.
There is no such thing as a limitation to information. So, the extra you improve, the extra it accommodates. Life itself is a journey of continued studying and buying information and we do it at each juncture of life. Our life relies on what we be taught and the way we deliver the information of all the pieces into follow. We be taught new issues as we ascend the graph of the timeline of our life. So, the method of studying and information isn’t stagnant. It’s continuously nurtured and up to date with each new factor we be taught. Information is the supply of evolution of mankind and therefore it must be continuously nurtured and elevated. Nothing else deserves to be elevated so continuously and persistently as does the information.
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 likely one of 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 comfortable’. ‘Management over the senses’ is claimed to be the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow Nandana – happiness in dwelling 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 most important causative components of all ailments. Such contact could also be of deficit, extra or perverted varieties.
Once we begin controlling our senses we will successfully abort or keep away from such contacts of the indriyas. This can assist the indriyas be in a state of steadiness. When one positive factors such management, he would develop the sattva guna in him and achieve management of rajas and tamas qualities of thoughts and their fluctuations. This can be a level of self-realization. Right here, the individual wouldn’t commit ‘acutely 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 likewise helps in prevention of many psychological issues. This varieties the supply of happiness, pleasure and bliss.
5. Tattva Bodho Harshananam Utkrushtatamam
Tattva Bodha means ‘information or realization of fact’. The information of Atma or understanding the distinction between the Jivatma – particular person soul and Paramatma – better 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 fact in life.
‘Tattva Bodha – Information of realization of fact’ is claimed to be the perfect issue / behavior (follow) to advertise and bestow Harshana – exhilaration or a state of ecstasy – in dwelling beings.
This realization is the inspiration and stepping stone in direction of a significant non secular journey. Right here the individual loses the egoism and turns into conscious and enlightened.
6. Brahmacharyam Ayananam Utkrushtatamam
Ayana means path, approach 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 dwelling 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 is able to result in Moksha – the final word liberation.
Based on Ayurveda Brahmacharya is likely one of 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 pieces which is dangerous and unwholesome. Brahmacharya can also be an Ashrama – the stage of life. This describes the earliest part 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, via all phases of life, since there is no such thing as a limitation of data 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.
