What are the Three Dosas ?

The three Dosas

         We came to know that our human body are made of five elements and individual consciousness (jivatma).These five elements (Punch maha bhutas) Earth, water,  fire, and space and the combination of these elements gives rise to the three dosas. The Dosas are the  psychological and physiological tendencies found in all of us. That is to say, our behavioural  tendencies, what our metabolism is like, what we look like etc. These three dosas are each essential to our physiology in the same way , so no dosas is better than ,or superior to ,any other. Each of them has a very specific set of functional roles to play in the body. When the dosas are out of balance ,they can wreck havoc on our health. The dosas control the creation, maintenance, and break down of bodily tissue and elimination of wastes, as well as psychological  aspects, such as emotions, understanding and love. When balanced, the dosas maintain the systems of the body. When one of the dosas increases due to certain diet and lifestyle habits ,imbalance is created. We are all made of a unique combination of these three dosas. Though every one has some of each , most people tend to have an abundance of one or two dosas. This unique combination is determined at the moment of conception, and is your own personal blue print or Prakriti (nature). As we move through the life, the proportion of each of the three dosas constantly fluctuates according to your environment, your diet, the seasons, the climate, your age, and many other factors. As they move into and out of balance, the dosas can affect our health, energy level, and general mood.

        If the proportion of dosas in your current state is close to your birth constitution, then your health will be vibrant. A divergence between these states ,however indicates a state of imbalance. Vikruti is the term used to describe this imbalanced deviation away from Prakriti.

In total, there three primary dosic states-

Balanced-All the three dosas are present in their natural proportion known as equilibrium.

Increased-A particular dosas is present in a greater than the normal proportion, also known as “Aggravated” or excess state.

Decreased-A particular dosas is present in a less than normal proportion, also known as “reduced”  or “depleted” state.

Dosas	Primary elements	Qualities	Primary function
Vata	Air + Ether	Dry, light, Cold, Rough, subtle, mobile, Clear.	Movement and communication
Pitta	Fire + Water	Hot, Sharpe, light, liquid, spreading, oily.	Digestion and transformation
Kapha	Water + Earth	Heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable, gross, cloudy or sticky.	Cohesiveness,structure, and lubrication.

 

Vata-Vata embodies the energy of movement and is therefore often related to wind (and the air element). Vata is linked to creativity and flexibility; it governs all movement—the flow of the breath, the pulsation of the guts , all muscle contractions, tissue movements, cellular mobility—and communication throughout the mind and therefore the nervous system..

 Pitta- Pitta represents the energy of transformation and is therefore closely aligned with the hearth element. But in living organisms, pitta is essentially liquid, which is why water is its secondary element. Pitta is neither mobile nor stable, but spreads—much because the warmth of a fireplace permeates its surroundings, or as water flows within the direction dictated by the terrain. Pitta is closely associated with intelligence, understanding, and therefore the digestion of foods, thoughts, emotions, and experiences; it governs nutrition and metabolism, body temperature , and therefore the light of understanding.

Kapha-Kapha lends structure, solidity, and cohesiveness to all or any things, and is therefore associated primarily with the world and water elements. Kapha also embodies the watery energies of affection and compassion. This dosha hydrates all cells and systems, lubricates the joints, moisturizes the skin, maintains immunity, and protects the tissues.

       Each of these dosas are characterized by a collection of qualities that support its particular energetic. These qualities make balancing the dosas very intuitive because, according to ayurveda, lke increase like and opposite balance.When any one of the dosas is aggravated, we can generally promote a return to balance by reducing the influence of that dosa’s quality, while favouring their opposites. And if we know which qualities are aggravated, we can focus on pacifying those qualities in particular, while favouring foods, herbs, and experience that amplify their opposing energies.

QUALITIES	VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
Body Frame	Thin	Medium build and musculature	Broad, strong, curvy
Weight	Hard to realize , easy to lose	Easy to realize , easy to lose	Easy to realize , hard to lose
Skin	Cold, dry, thin	Warm, oily, sunburns easily, freckles, acne	cool, fair, oily, thick, soft, smooth
Hair	Dry, frizzy, thin	Straight, fine, premature greying	Oily, wavy, thick
Eyes	Small, fine lashes, unusual colour	Brightly coloured, almond-shaped, steady gaze	Big, round, thick eyelashes
Appetite	Irregular	Intense	Steady
Evacuation	Constipated; irregular; dry, small quantity	Loose, regular, great quantity	slow, regular, moderate quantity
Sweat	Scanty	Profuse	Moderate
Temperament	Energetic, creative, indecisive, nervous	Bright, intelligent, arrogant, driven, direct, witty	Calm, stable, grounded, stubborn, greedy, to porous
Memory	- Learns quickly, forgets quickly	Learns quickly, forgets slowly	Learns slowly, forgets slowly
Speech	Talkative, fast, high-pitched, scattered	Articulate, decisive, clear, sharp	Slow, melodious, deep, low
Climate	Dislikes cold and dry	Dislikes heat and humidity	Dislikes damp/cool
Activity	Restless and active; social	Competitive, intense	Calm; likes leisurely activity
Routines	Dislikes routine, enjoys variety	Likes planning and organizing	Enjoys routine