Dharma Sandes’am -10

The message of Dharma-10

Last week, we pondered over the three dispositions viz., Sattva (the Serene & balanced state), Rajasa
(the passionate & action/oriented state) snd Tamasa (Dull & the quiet state& how they create , in
the downward order, the three humors in the body viz., Vata (wind),pitta (bile) and kapha(phlegm))
Inversely these three humors correspond to three elements – air. Fire & water – and any ‘disha’-
fault or imbalance in these elements in our body contribute to one or more diseases.

Vagnhata (a classical writer of Ayurvedic texts) says that the emergence of these imbalances
depend on the kind of food we eat during the day and in the night. There are four stages in the life
of a human being: 1) Balyam -Childhood from birth up to 16 years, 2) Kaumaram –(Adolescence) 16
to 25 years, 3)Yauvanam – (Youthful adulthood) up to 45-50 years & 4 Vardhakyam (old age)-50 to
end of life. Vagbhata shortened these four in to three snd analysed them thus: 1) up to 25 years,
this first phase is pre-dominantly ruled by ‘kapha’ humor. The second phase 26 to 50 years is
dominated by the humor ‘Pitta’ and the last phase of life ftom 51 st to end of one’s life by ‘Vata’
humor. So when one us beliw 25 year, majorly under the influence of ‘kapha’ one is in the phase of
‘sattva’ conducive to grasping knowledge called –‘grahana-dharana’ i.e., receiving education,
accumulating knowledge from one or more Gurus. Whilst moving on to the second phase, the
Rajoguna-the action-oriented passionate stage- which is ruled by’ Pitta’, the urge to achieve is vidible
resulting in taking up a vocation or profession involving serious endeavour, hard work etc., resulting
in earning of a livelihood, bringing up a family and so on. Then comes ip the last phase – ‘tamasa’ –
ruled by ‘vata’ the wind affecting the vital energy & tissues in the body, bones & muscles – the
‘tamasa’ attribute shows up. Individually or by combination of one or more of the three humors,
when these are vitiated, the body slowly loses its immunity & is struck by diseases.
In the bones- ‘Snigdha’ or the sap/marrow diminishes, leading to dryness and agonising pain in the
joints. Simple tasks like bending down, rising up, walking a few steps, climbing up/down a stair-case
give one a hard time due to the -vata vikara-fault of the wind in the body that we can feel clearly.

Thus if a day is divided – the dsylight hours into four segments of four hours each, in the early
morning hours, the kapha humor rules & the sattva guna id predominant – which it is time is good
for grasping knowledge from a Guru. The next four hours -when bile is dominant with the rajoguna
prevails, are good for doing japa, performing fire rituals and giving charities etc., The last four hours
is the ‘vata’ time- when ‘tamasa’ guna rules, it is time to take care of the body. Rest, games, looking
up the day’s financial transactions- this way the life-routine continues. So also, the nightly 12 hours
are divided into three segments of four hours-the first of this is ‘kapha’ period with ‘sattvaguna’ in
play when evening-Sandhyavandana, puja-bhajans, nama- sankirtans are observed. The next four
hours are for sleep & rest. In the last four hours, rising up early at 4.30 A.M.with karmanushthana
like snana, japa, puja.
In the night, after food is eaten. The digestion period extends to six hours. The first part ofbthis time-
the ‘kapha’ period is good for digestion of the food taken. ‘ भक्
ु त्वा शतपथं गच्छे त ्’ – walk for 10-15
minutes and rest for a while the tiredness of eating hoes away. After allowing two more hours for
digestion to happen. One should sleep on one’s left side.

Thus the three characteristics of Sattva, Rajas & Tamas operate in our mind & body with the
dharmav& adharma thoughts & activities get activated.
- Dharma flourishes
P.S: In 2017 three Scientists won the Nobel prize for discovering the circadian rhythm that the sleep
activity – the molecular mechanism controlling human well-being.