AYURVEDA – The science of Life.

The primary MOTTO of Ayurveda is – स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ्य रक्षणम् , आतुरस्य विकार प्रशमनं च ||

  • TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF HEALTHY PERSON
  • TO HELP A DISEASED PERSON TO BE HEALTHY AND STAY HEALTHY.

BUT do you know what is required for this???

  • THE STRENGHTH,THE BALA.
  • In any fights,which is internal or external,it requires strength.
  • For the body,it is known as IMMUNITY, which is called VYADHIKSHAMATVA in Ayurveda.

व्याधिक्षमत्व (IMMUNITY)
It is made up of 2 words –

  • व्याधि – The disease/ Damage
  • क्षमत्व – Resistance
  • Vyadhikshamatva means The Resistance power of the body or the Defensive system of the Body.

Thousand years ago, our Acharyas have mentioned this defense system, which we know as the IMMUNITY SYSTEM nowadays.

There are two terms that define Immunity:-

  • Vyadhibala virodhi – Opposite of the manifested Disease
    The capacity of the body can fight the manifested disease.
  • Vyadhi utpadak pratibandhtwam – Capacity of the body which prevents the formation or manifestation of the disease.

SYNONYMS :-

  • Bala – the strength
  • Shleshma – the KAPHA in its normal or Prakrut state
  • Ojas – the essence of all the bodily tissues

BALA:-
Three types of Bala are described in Ayurveda.

1) Sahaj bala – Innate Immunity

The inherent strength or bala of body and mind.
This is the constitutional strength which is from the birth time from the excellence of Shukra(semen) and Artava(ovum).

2) Kalaj bala – This strength is gained in favorable times and seasons.

Yauvan avastha – youth age is having the best Bala.
Visargakala – Vasant, Sharad and Hemant seasons are having more Bala.

3) Yuktikruta Bala:- This is Acquired Bala / strength. Which we can get from our AHAR (DIET) and VIHAR ( REGIMEN).

FACTORS WHICH INCREASE IMMUNITY :-

  • Balvat purushe janm – Birth from naturally strong parents.
  • Balvat deshe janm – Birth in a place where people are naturally strong.
  • Balvat kale janm – Birth at a specific time when people naturally gain strength like visargakala.
  • Sukhasch kal yog – Pleasant time
  • Beeja- Kshetra- Guna sampat – Excellence in quality of beeja (sperm and ovum) and Kshetra(uterus)
  • Aahara sampat – Excellence of the food which is ingested or taken
  • Sharir sampat – Excellence of the physique
  • Satmya sampat – Excellence of the suitable things
  • Sattva sampat – Excellence of mind,intellect
  • Swabhava samsiddhi – Favourable nature
  • Yauvan – Young age
  • Karma – Exercise
  • Samharsha – cheerful, positive disposition – prasannata(cheerfulness) of atma, indriya, and man.

FACTORS WHICH DECREASE BALA (IMMUNITY)

1) Abhighatat – Injury
2) Dhatukshyat – Decrease in the bodily tissue
3) Kopa – Anger
4) Shok – Grief
5) Dhyan – Attention
6) Parishram – Work
7) Kshudha – Hunger
Excessiveness in these factors Decreases BALA.

HOW TO IMPROVE IMMUNITY(BALA) WITH AYURVEDA?

1) By maintaining TRIUPSTAMBHA(TRIPODS) – AHARA(FOOD), NINDRA(SLEEP), BRAHMACHARYA (CELIBACY)
2) Maintaining proper digestive fire with the rules of how, when to take food and which food on which time to take and with other factors affecting the digestive fire
3) By following the different charyas- Regimen like DINCHARYA, RITUCHARYA, RATRICHARYA, SADVRITTA (CODE OF CONDUCT)
– For pregnant women, it’s GARBHINI PARICHARYA
– For a child – it’s SHISHU PARICHARYA
4) By using different therapies – RASAYANA(REJUVENTION), VAJIKARANA (APHRODISIAC) , SHODHANA (PURIFICATION).