Prakriti (body constitution)

Built from passages of the source by the curated extraction. Pending human review.

Search the library for it Discussed in 3 sessions

Names and synonyms

Sanskrit: प्रकृतिदेहप्रकृतिदोषप्रकृति
Hindi: प्रकृतिशरीर प्रकृतिशरीर की प्रकृतिमिज़ाज
English: Prakritiprakriticonstitutionbody type
Romanized: prakritiprakruti

What the text says

Each statement reports the source, with its chapter, page and verse. Traditional descriptions are not presented as proven medical facts.

Definition1

The introduction says prakṛti means keeping the body in its original state. The bīja dhātu is formed by the union of śukra (the male seed) and ārtava (the female seed), and the body is formed according to the condition of that bīja dhātu; from it come the constitution of the body and the nature of the mind. Vāta prakṛti comes from the vāta dhātu, and the other constitutions likewise arise according to the relative strength of the other dhātus.
Front matter · p. 14IntroductionTraditional description

Classification3

The vāta constitution is described: dislike of cold, many hard veins, wakefulness at night and constant chatter, ill luck, thieving habits, unpopularity, envy, lack of noble qualities, dry sparse hair, biting of nails and teeth, frequent illness, quick gait, unsteadiness, friendlessness, running about and singing, ingratitude, a thin rough body, cracked feet, visible vessels, lack of fortitude, an unsteady small intellect and dreams of moving on mountain peaks and in the sky.
Chapter 3 · p. 30 · v. 18-20Hindi commentaryTraditional description
The pitta constitution is described: anger, sharp intellect, cleverness, sweating, yellowish veins, likeability, red lips and palate, intelligence, bravery, pride, eloquence, poetic and scholarly gifts, skill in crafts, learning, energy, truthfulness and strength; a yellowish-red, loose, warm body with hands and feet like red lotuses; early ageing, baldness, good fortune and constant hunger; and dreams of gold ornaments, guñjā garlands, lac, meat, meteors, lightning, fire and red flowers.
Chapter 3 · p. 31 · v. 21-24Hindi commentaryTraditional description
The kapha constitution is described: greater intelligence, stoutness, cheerfulness, a dusky complexion like young darbha shoots (the verse says dūrvā), gratitude, lasting enmity, prosperity, a voice like a drum, cloud or lion, affection, steadiness, love of sweets, sweetness, valour, fortitude, charm, endurance of pleasure and pain, cold and heat, freedom from vices, accomplishment in learning and arts with slowness to grasp, good looks and fine eyes, and dreams of pools and rivers with swans, lotuses and blue water-lilies.
Chapter 3 · p. 31 · v. 25-27Hindi commentaryTraditional description

Causes2

The verse says a person's constitution arises from the dosha that is dominant when the soul enters the semen joined with blood.
Chapter 3 · p. 29 · v. 17Sanskrit verseTraditional description
The commentary explains that when the soul enters the mass of mixed blood and semen in the womb, the constitution takes the form of whichever dosha is in excess at that moment; a pitta-dominant mass gives a child of pitta constitution, and likewise for the others, while if all three doshas are equal the constitution is balanced (sama).
Chapter 3 · p. 30 · v. 17Hindi commentaryTraditional description

Other2

Having set out the marks of suitability, the author says he will next describe people's constitutions, together with the signs of conception and causes such as the recollection of past births.
Chapter 2 · p. 20 · v. 41Hindi commentaryTraditional description
A footnote gives the variant reading bhuñjā for guñjā in the pitta dreams.
Chapter 3 · p. 31 · v. 24FootnoteTraditional description

Discussed in topics12

Chapter 3 begins (Sūtravyāvarṇana)तृतीय परिच्छेद का आरम्भ (सूत्रव्यावर्णन)Conclusion on the rules of after-drinksअनुपान विधान का उपसंहार Definition of rishtaरिष्ट का लक्षण Examination by touchस्पर्श परीक्षा How constitution arisesप्रकृति की उत्पत्ति Marks of a person of kapha constitutionकफ प्रकृति के मनुष्य के लक्षण Marks of a person of pitta constitutionपित्त प्रकृति के मनुष्य के लक्षण Marks of a person of vāta constitutionवात प्रकृति के मनुष्य के लक्षण Resolve to describe constitutionप्रकृति कहने की प्रतिज्ञा Sign of death within eight monthsआठ मास में मरण का लक्षण Signs of approaching deathअरिष्ट लक्षण The basis of treatmentचिकित्सा के आधार

Questions3

By which three means is the patient examined, and what is learned by touch?रोगी की परीक्षा किन तीन साधनों से होती है और स्पर्श से क्या जाना जाता है?How does chapter 3 explain the origin of constitution (prakṛti), and what are some marks of the vāta, pitta and kapha types?तृतीय परिच्छेद में प्रकृति की उत्पत्ति कैसे बताई गई है, और वात, पित्त व कफ प्रकृति के कुछ लक्षण क्या हैं?How should the physician choose an after-drink, according to the conclusion of the section on after-drinks?अनुपान प्रकरण के उपसंहार के अनुसार वैद्य को अनुपान कैसे चुनना चाहिए?

Sessions3

Conception and the growing embryoगर्भोत्पत्तिलक्षण Description of the body and daily regimenसूत्रव्यावर्णन Introduction and table of contentsप्रस्तावना एवं विषयानुक्रमणिका

Where else is this mentioned?

Named 1 times on 1 pages. These are automatic name matches, so a few may refer to something else with the same name.

PDF page 14Front matter… ज धातु भी जिस प्रकार स्थिति हो उस प्रकार शरीर बनता है। इसी के कारण से शरीर की प्रकृति व मन का स्वभाव बनता है। वात धातु से वात प्रकृति बनती है। इसी प्रकार अ …

Questions and answers

How does chapter 3 explain the origin of constitution (prakṛti), and what are some marks of the vāta, pitta and kapha types?

Constitution is formed by the dosha that predominates when the soul enters the mixed semen and blood in the womb, and it is balanced if all three are equal. The vāta type is described as thin and rough, with dry sparse hair and cracked feet, restless and wakeful; the pitta type as quick-tempered, sharp-witted, sweating and warm-bodied, ageing and balding early; the kapha type as stout, steady, patient and fond of sweets, with a deep voice.

Detailed answer and sources

How should the physician choose an after-drink, according to the conclusion of the section on after-drinks?

By giving whatever the person craves, is wholesome for them and suits their constitution.

Detailed answer and sources

By which three means is the patient examined, and what is learned by touch?

By seeing, touching and questioning; touch shows whether the body is hot or cold, hard or soft, unctuous or dry, light, heavy or clear, and whether this is natural or deranged.

Detailed answer and sources

All references

Every page and verse of the source that this entry draws on.

Prakriti (body constitution)

Names and synonyms

What the text says

Definition1

Classification3

Causes2

Other2

Related knowledge

Where else is this mentioned?

Questions and answers

All references