**3. Fundamental principles of Ayurveda**

#### **3.1 Theory of Panchamahabhut**

The basic principle of Ayurveda denotes that everything in the external universe also appears in the human body's internal cosmos. The human body consists of millions of cells, having a self-disseminating and self -correcting system to maintain harmony in the body as similar to the universe. Human is the essence of the universe, there is as much diversity in the world, and the same is observed in human beings themselves. In other words, human beings are a living microcosm of the universe, and the universe is a living macrocosm of human beings. The Panchamahabhut are the five significant elements present in both the form as a microcosm in the human body and cosmos in the universe, namely Prithvi (Earth), Jala (Water), Agni (Fire), Vayu (Air), and Akasha (Aether). Panchamahabhut is taking part in the formation of an embryo and shelter a development of the origin with its different peculiarities, gives appropriate shape to the body and various organs with the help of Prithvi (Earth). Formation of multiple types of fluids (like blood, serum, lymph, etc.) and gives elasticity, moistness to the body with the help of Jala (Water). Bodily temperature, digestive fire, various enzymes, metabolism symbolizes Agni (Fire). The various activities inside the body (circulation, digestion, filtration, transportation, respiration, etc.), multiple movements, and body functions represent Vayu (Air). The numerous spaces in the body (blood vessels, capillaries, gastrointestinal space, lungs lobules, ear, eyes, nostrils, skin pores, etc.) symbolizes Akasha (Aether). Panchamahabhuta also helps in the formation of Dosha, three fundamental bodily humors; Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The related elements are Air and Ether, Fire and Water, Water and Earth take part in the formation of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, respectively. Thus, Panchamahabhuta is the utmost important factor that describes the fundamental principles of Ayurveda [2].

#### **3.2 Theory of Triguna**

The concept of Guna is thoroughly explained in scientific literature since Bhagwat Gita, Sankhya Darshana, and Atharva Veda. Triguna theory has been utilized to explain the perception of personality in modern era as well. Triguna is Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, featured with stability, activation, and inertia, respectively. All three exist in human beings, representing the predominance of one or other feature, providing unique quality to humankind. The manifestation of Triguna is attributed to the mental function and mental processes of human beings and all living beings, including the food, surrounding animals, and other elements in the environment [3]. Each individual behaves or lives based on the dominance of Triguna they have and project their personality as well in the mode of worship, the type of food consumed, and everyday activities, having specific qualities (**Table 1**).

*Significance of Diet and Behavior During Pandemic Situation According to Ayurveda DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96544*


**Table 1.**

*The qualities of Triguna are described as follows.*

#### **3.3 Theory of Tridosha**

The fundamental concept of health is a balanced state between three bodily humours, i.e., Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). Vata is the air principle necessary for every movement and function of various systems. Pitta is the fire principle useful for digestion, energy level, and metabolism in the system. Kapha is the water principle related to mucous, lubrication, nutrient, serous fluid in the system. The five significant elements (Panchamahabhut) combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, continually moving in emotional balance with the others, required for healthy life normalcy in human behavior.

Every person comprises all three Doshas. However, the proportion varies according to the individual and is predominant [4]. That is why people can have many standard features and have an endless variety of nature, which decides the Prakrit of each individual. Each Dosha has its characteristics of governing principles (**Table 2**).

#### **3.4 Theory of Sapta Dhatu**

Dhatus are the primary supporter to structure and function of the body as like a tissue, seven in number known as Rasa (final metabolic juice and plasma-derived from the digestive system), Rakta (blood and related circulatory system), Mamsa (musculature, tendons, muscular system), Meda (fat, fat-like structures, adipose tissues), Ashti (bones, bony part, and skeleton), Majja (marrow, bone marrow) and Shukra (structurally and functionally related to the male and female reproductive system). These all structures that make the body, an integral part of it, imbalance causes fatigue and diseases. It is imperative to understand the normal and abnormal functioning of all Dhatus to recognize the exact pathophysiology in the body during disease condition. The formation of Dhatus is consecutively, and nourishments of each Dhatus depends upon the previous one. During this tissue formation process, some metabolic waste is produced as tissue excreta is known as Dhatumala, also having a unique identity in structural and functional processes in the body. If some abnormality is molded in Rasa Dhatus, the sequential nourishment will be affected, resulting in improper microcirculation and developing deformity in the next tissue [5].

#### **3.5 Theory of Srotasa**

Srotasa is the passages or channels through with Dhatus (various tissues) are transported for their transformation and metabolism. Srotasa comprises multiple systems in the body, described under the physiological heading, the structures from which the contents move out, ooze out, or transude out. The nutrient substances are provided to various tissues through these channels, related to their corresponding


**Table 2.**

*The characteristics of the governing principles of life are as follows.*

tissues' metabolic state through different mechanisms. They are of different shapes like circular, elongated, and reticular. Channels are microscopically innumerable in numbers, but they are thirteen in number or eleven in pairs as per other ancient authors in a macroscopic manner. Each channel has its roots organs; an entire track is governed given its physiology, pathology, and treatment [6].

#### **3.6 Concept of Prakriti**

Prakriti is the crucial concept, and the fundamental constitution of the body decides at the time of conception, fixed throughout the lifetime. It is the genetically determined physical and mental constitution of the individual. It is a combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Different persons have different varieties known to be their basic Prakriti as per the predominance of bodily humor. According to Ayurveda, it is the unique feature of human beings that every individual reacts differently when exposed to the same environment as once fingerprint or DNA. Thus, it is necessary to determine the person's exact Prakriti to assess a person properly for their diet, behavior, pathology, and treatment. Every person has their own unique identity, which constitutionally defines body physiology, stimuli to environmental factors, the reaction towards various drugs, and susceptibility to multiple diseases. However, in the current scenario, it is considered as a concept of preventive and personalized medicine. The knowledge of Prakriti is a unique specialty and essential tool to understand the mental and physical nature of the person, predict disease susceptibility, helps in diagnosis of the disease, and even break the pathophysiology of the disease [7]. There are many recognizable phenotypic features described for each type of Prakriti (**Table 3**).

#### **3.7 Concept of Koshta**

In Ayurveda, the term Koshta is explained in two senses; first is regarding anatomical ground viz. space and hollowness of the body and second in terms of physiological way viz. bowel movement according to the fundamental constitution of the person. There are three types of Koshta explained in the Ayurveda context viz. Kura (hard

*Significance of Diet and Behavior During Pandemic Situation According to Ayurveda DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96544*


#### **Table 3.**

*Key distinguishing features for Prakriti determination.*

bowel), Mrudu (soft bowel), Madhyam (moderate bowel), having their features with specific Prakriti and Dosha (**Table 4**). It can be assessed with bowel habits frequency, consistency, straining, or efforts, and time is taken for proper defecation [8].

#### **3.8 Concept of Agni**

Agni has an integral role in digestion and metabolism, that ingested food is digested, absorbed, and assimilated, make available as a final metabolic juice with the help of this rest of the tissue (Dhatu) nourished sequentially. As per modern medicine, metabolic processes, division, and multiplication are a continuous process from birth to death. As biological energy, Agni essential to be constant for the body's survival, provided strength to every cell till the end of life. Agni is also classified into four heads, viz. Vishama (Irregular Metabolism), Tikshna (Hypermetabolism), Manda (Hypometabolism), Sama Agni (balanced state) correlated concerning Koshta as in **Table 4**. The balanced Agni featured happiness, perfect health, calm and clear state of mind. Individuals can digest a reasonable quantity of food in any season without any problem and can easily tolerate changes in the environment and changes in the seasons. A person can enjoy balanced digestion, absorption, and elimination [9].

#### **3.9 Concept of Ahar and Vihar**

Ahar means taking in, swallowed through the throat, esophagus, and process in the gastrointestinal tract. Food is the best thing that endures life and provides strength, color, complexion, vigor, and body development, hence called superior medicine. The great scholar Lolimbaraj said that when the diet is wrong, medication is of no use; when the diet is correct, there is no need for medicine. Most of the time, the cause of numerous diseases is improper diet. Food also contains five great elements, i.e., Panchamahabhutas; if one consumes food in proper proportion, it will help balance similar elements in the body. Light food comprises Vayu, Agni, and Akasha Mahabhuta, whereas heavy food contains Prithvi and Jala Mahabhuta predominance. Based on Agni and Koshta, individuals have to consume their diet concerning the saturation point to maintain proper body strength [10].


#### **Table 4.**

*Characteristics of the Koshta.*

The word Vihar means transportation, distribution, wandering, which includes daily and seasonal activities. According to individual Prakriti, Agni, and Kosta, great scholars have described their importance, usefulness, and harmfulness. The great ancient scientist prescribed daily schedule and behavioral changes in terms of daily routine, yoga and exercise, nighttime routine, seasonal routine, regarding basic instinct, suppressible or non-suppressible natural urges, code of conducts related to ethics, social, mental, moral, and physical category, sidestepping of excessive and incorrect use of sense organs, governing on speech and thoughts. With this regime, a person remains healthy and can prevent disease conditions related to lifestyle disorders [10].

#### **4. Importance of Agni**

The Agni, biological energy, in a balanced state, keeps the body healthy and leads to long life. The imbalance or stoppage of this energy's functioning, the whole metabolism would be disturbed, and the individual may ill, diseased, or dies in a short duration. It plays a vital role in nutrition. Most of the diseases, physical-physiological and psychological, are the byproducts of the Agni's malfunctioning, hence called the key root of health. It coordinates physiological processes like digestion, reabsorption, sensations, and the formation of energy. Due to the malfunctioning of Agni, food is not digested correctly and formed a toxic substance in the body that is referred to as 'Ama' in Ayurveda. This poisonous substance is solely responsible for poor digestion, improper blood circulation, low energy level, poor complexion, poor immunity leads to disease conditions according to Prakriti, and Dosha-Dhatu balance [11, 12].

#### **5. Importance of Ahar and Vihar**

Ayurveda, Ahar (Diet), and Vihar (Behaviour) are advised as per seasonal and diurnal regimes based on Prakriti. The individual should adopt these regimes as per their Prakriti and keeps equilibrium in Dosha (three bodily humours). Ayurveda offers extensive preventive measures considering Prakriti types to maintain health with favourable foods and behavioral, physical activities. And at the same time, restrict and advised to avoid unfavorable diet and physical activities that may create disease and illness in the body. The healthy state of the body and disease condition depends entirely on Agni concerning diet and behavior [13].
