Ayurveda Siddhant

WHAT IS SIDDHANT

In Ayurveda, Siddhant refers to established principles or fundamental theories that serve as the foundation for Ayurvedic knowledge and practice. These principles guide diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of health and disease, ensuring that practices are based on time-tested wisdom.

These Siddhants provide a comprehensive, holistic approach to understanding and treating the human body and mind. They form the basis of Ayurvedic diagnosis, prevention, and healing methods, helping practitioners create balanced, personalized treatment plans for patients.

The basic principles or Siddhantas of Ayurveda are foundational theories that provide a systematic understanding of health, disease, and treatment.

Here are the primary Siddhantas:

1. Pancha Mahabhuta Siddhanta (Theory of Five Elements)

All matter, including the human body, is made up of five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These elements combine in different proportions to form the doshas, dhatus (tissues), and mala (wastes).

2. Tridosha Siddhanta (Theory of Three Doshas)

This principle explains that three fundamental energies or doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—govern all physiological processes in the body. Health is achieved by balancing these doshas according to one’s individual constitution.

3. Samanya-Vishesha Siddhanta (Theory of Similarity and Dissimilarity)

This principle states that “like increases like” and “opposites balance each other.” It guides treatment by suggesting that imbalances are corrected through opposing qualities.

4. Rasa, Virya, Vipaka, and Prabhava Siddhanta (Theory of Taste, Potency, Post-digestive Effect, and Specific Action)

Herbs and foods have specific properties (taste, potency, post-digestive effect) that influence their therapeutic actions. Prabhava refers to any unique, inexplicable effects beyond these properties.

5. Swasthavritta Siddhanta (Theory of Preventive Health and Lifestyle)

This principle emphasizes daily and seasonal routines (Dinacharya and Ritucharya) to maintain health, prevent disease, and live in harmony with nature.

6. Karya-Karana Siddhanta (Theory of Cause and Effect)

This is the principle of causality, which holds that every effect (disease) has a cause (factors such as lifestyle, diet, etc.). Understanding causes is key to diagnosis and treatment.

7. Loka Purusha Siddhanta (Theory of Macrocosm and Microcosm):

This theory explains the connection between the universe (macrocosm) and the individual (microcosm), emphasizing that everything in the cosmos has a reflection within the human body.