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Mental Aspects of Prakruthi

Prakruthi has both physical and mental dimensions to it. In fact if we go through the list of qualities attributed to various Prakruthis, we find in it a mixture of both physical and mental qualities. However, besides the mental aspects of Vata-Pitta-Kapha Prakruthis, there is also a classification of personalities based purely on mental qualities into three types as - Sattvic, Rajasik and Tamasik Prakruthis. Strictly speaking there is no water tight classification at a purely mental or a purely physical level. In this chapter we have dealt with the topic at two levels.



  • First we have looked at the mental aspects of the three Prakruthi types - Vata,Pitta and Kapha, discussing its implication for certain factors like education and career choice.


  • Secondly we have looked at the classification of Mental Prakruthi based on Satva, Rajas and Tamas.

Study of Prakruthi in Relation to Educational Status

Our ancient Achaaryas have formulated a clear cut opinion about the educational status of the individuals of each Prakruthi which is evident from the references available in various texts. To get an idea of the educational status in the Prakruthis, some of the indications in his regard for the three major Prakruthis, i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are given.

Vata Prakruthi

Most of the Achaaryas have described Vata Prakruthi people as having poor memory (Alpasmriti), unstable mind (Avyavasthira mati) and short memories (Sighravismaranha). Qualities of Rajoguna are prominently found in the people having Vata Prakruthi. These people have a confused state of mind, and change their ideas and decision suddenly. With all these drawbacks, it may be assumed that the people of Vata Prakruthi do no have much interest in education.

Pitta Prakruthi

the people of Pitta Prakruthi have been described as being intelligent, of skillful mind (Medhavi,Nipunamati) and also as having mediocre knowledge (Madhyama Gyan-Vigyan) and a prevalence of Satvaguna. The words used for indicating the educational status of Pitta Prakruthi clearly indicate that people of Pitta Prakruthi have sharp memories and brain but simultaneously, they have moderate knowledge and abilities. With these textual references it can be presumed that people of Pitta Prakruthi tend to have moderate educational status.

Kapha Prakruthi

With regard to the educational status of Kapha Prakruthi people, the ancient Achaaryas have described that the Kapha Prakruthi people are endowed with education, are stable minded, have sastric knowledge (Vidyavantah, Dridha-sastramti), have good memory (Smritmana ) and are endowed with intelligence (Budhya Yuktha). This indicates that the people of Kapha Prakruthi are most learned,highly qualified and have the best brain and memory. They also have deep and up-to-date knowledge on their subjects. They have prevalence of Tamoguna. On the basis of this description made in Ayurvedic texts it can be presumed that the Kapha Prakruthi individuals have the highest educational status.

It is interesting to compare indications with what has been observed in the field by the CCRAS study. (Cited earlier in the Second Chapter)



  • Samadosa Prakruthi individuals have the maximum affinity towards higher education.
  • Pitta Prakruthi and dual Prakruthi types associated with Pitta have the highest tendency towards higher and high school education.
  • Pitta Prakruthi individuals have exceptionally high rate for high school education.
  • Kapha Prakruthi individuals have the highest tendency towards middle school and primary school(moderate education).
  • Individuals of Vata Prakruthi have a poor educational status compared to other Prakruthis.

Prakruthi and Occupation

The CCRAS study on Prakruthi has listed the attributes of various Prakruthi types in relation to their qualities that are relevant for occupation. Based on these qualities they have speculated upon the occupation that may be suitable for various Prakruthi types, which are summarised below -

Vata Prakruthi

The relevant characteristics are



























Chapala gati Wavering bodily movements
Jagruk Always alert
Bahu pralapa Talkative
Sigra samarambha Quick grasping power
Alpabala Low strength
Ushna saho Desire for warm articles
Kalaha priya Quarrelsome
Hasa vilasa priya Joyful and likes entertainment

Keeping in view the characteristics of Vata Prakuthi they may be best suited for the jobs of - touring, field activities, social activities, lectures, debates,discussions,business,dancing,music and entertainment etc. Jobs in army, police intelligence agencies, engineering, agricultural work,mechanical work and also physical labour work of mild are suitable for them.

Pitta Prakruthi

The relevant characteristics are -





















Klesa asahishnu Intolerant to physical strain
Teekshna parakrama Valorous and courageous
Medhavi High intellect, good memory
Nipuna Skillful
Tejasvi Attractive, glamorous
Maani High self esteem

Pitta Prakruthi individuals may be best suited for jobs like teaching, administration, politics, defence services, management, acting,art, promotion of cultural activities and labour of moderate nature.

Kapha Prakrthi

The relevant characteristic are -






























Kshamana Tolerant
Dhanya Benevolent
Deergadarshi Farsighted
Mahotsaha Highly enthusiastic
Klesha saha Able to withstand severe physical strain
Gambhira Very good intellect
Sthoolanga Large body
Bahubala Optimum strength
Jalashayaloki Fond of watery bodies and sources

Kapha Prakruthi individuals may be best suited for the jobs in which application of brain is much required such as judiciary, scientific and technological work, medicine, engineering generala administration research, teaching of religion, philosophy and higher education. Jobs which need deep thinking and high concentration are also suited for them.


Dwandvaja Prakruthi and Sama Prakruthi

Dwandvaja (dual) Prakruthi person can perform the jobs well according to the combination of two of the Prakruthi forming their Prakruthi. Samadhatu Prakruthi individuals can do all types of work including heavy physical labour and mental work.

Satva, Rajas and Tamas Prakruthis

As we stated earlier, there is a classification of Prakruthi based on these mental attributes, namely - Satva, Rajas and Tamas, which are also qualities at an abstract level.

The Nature of Satva, Rajas Tamas

Satva
Satva is considered to be blemishless and healthy. It leads one to attachment to knowledge. Satva gives rise to happiness. When satva predominates it leads to correct knowledge. Sattvik mentality leads to actions performed with selflessness and noble motives. Sattvik mentality leads to actions which are noble motives. Sattvik mentality leads to actions which are non-egoistic, performed with firmness and enthusiasm and the doer is unaffected by the success or failure of his efforts. He retains a sense of balance.

Rajas
Rajas gives rise to passion and is the source of feelings of longing and attachment. Leads one to attachment to action. When rajas predominates it leads to hasty initiation of action, restlessness and longing. Rajasik mentality leads one to action that is performed for specific effects and also performed ostentatiously. Rajasik acts are driven by strong passion to see results and they may be harmful. The doer is swayed intensely by joy or sorrow depending on the results of his action.

Tamas
Tamas gives rise to indolence and sleep. It leads to inertia. When tamas predominates, it leads to heedlessness and delusion. Tamasik mentality leads to action performed in a lackadaisical manner without sincerity of purpose or devotion. Tamasik actions are unsteady. They may be malicious and may involve despondency and procrastination.

The sankhya Karika (a basic text of India Philosophy) describes the qualities of the three different gunas as follows:


Satvam laghu prakasakmistam upastam
bakam calam ca rajah
Guru varanakameva tamah pradipavaccar
tstho vrttih
(Sankhya Karika, Sloka 13)


Satva is of the quality of light and tends to be uplifting in nature. Rajas has the quality of movement and energy. Tamas has the quality of heaviness and inertia. However, all there of them can and do act in conjunction and combination.

The Sattvik temperament is free defects and it is endowed with good effects. The Rajasik type is defective since it promotes wrathful disposition, hastiness in action,anger etc. Similarly, the Tamasik disposition is defective since it represents ignorance, inertia etc.

Sub-Divisions of Mental Prakruthi

Though these are three broad varieties of mental Prakruthi, there are a large number of sub-divisions in them representing finer shades of these qualities. For example, the Sattvic mentality is sub-divided into seven categories.

Types of Sattvik Prakruthi

Brahma- having the qualities of Brahma such as purity, love of truth. self control etc.

Arsa - sharing the qualities of Rsis such as devotion, ritual study, celibacy, etc.

Aindra - having the qualities of Indra such as lordship and authority to speak,bravery, strength, farsightedness etc.

Yama - Having the qualities of Yama such as observance of the propriety of action, memory,freedom from envy etc.

Varuna - having the qualities of Varuna such as bravery, patience, observance of religious rites, expression of anger and pleasure on proper occasions etc.

Kubera - having the qualities of Kubera such as power, health and satisfaction of desire,purity,liking for recreation etc.

Gandharva - having the skills of Gandharva such as dance,singing and music, expertise in a variety of stories etc.

Types of Rajasik Prakruthi

Similarly the Ayurvedica classic have described subdivisions of Rajasik mentality into six categories, namely -

Asura - Having the qualities of an asura (demon) such as ferocious, valorous etc.

Sarpa- Having the qualities of Sarpa (snake) such as swift in movements, inflicting sorrow to fellow being etc.

Shakuna - Having the qualities of Shakuna (bird) such as always wandering etc.

Rakshasa - Having the qualities of Rakshasa such as jealous, not trustworthy etc.

Paishackaka - Having the qualities of Paishackaka such as eating food without giving it to others, lazy, greedy etc.

Pretha - Having the qualities of Pretha (ghost) such as shameless, always sad, jealous of others etc.

Type of Tamasik Prakruthi

Tamasik mentality is classified into three and are as follows

Pashu - having the qualities of Pashu (beast) such as low intellect, dreaming of sexual activities, lack of initiative in any work.

Matsya - having the qualities of Matsya (Fish) such as - the mind is always unsteady, foolish, fearful, always liking to be in water, quarreling with fellow beings for food etc.

Vanaspathya - having the qualities of Vanaspathya (tree) such as desire to stay put in one place, greedy for food and lack of virtuous qualities.

Mental disposition forms a continuum with innumerable varieties and what we have described here are only certain ideal forms. These mentalities are perhaps best understood by citing example of well known characters. For example it is said that in the ramayana, the three brothers namely - Vibheesana, Ravana and kumbhadarna epitomize the three qualities of satva, rajas and tamas. Vibheeshana who is virtuous in thoughts, speech and action gives sound advice to his brother Ravana and then he surrenders to Lord Rama. This is an example of Sattvic behaviour. Ravana acts under the forces of lust and uncontrolled passion. His actions are ill considered and his behaviour haughty and arrogant. His behaviour is controlled by Rajas. The third brother Kumbhakarna has an extraordinary quality. He sleep for six months at a time. The yuddha Kanda of Ramayana describes at great length the extraordinary efforts that have to be made to wake up the sleepy Kumbhakarna. They use elephants and spears to pound on him and blow the sound of trumpets and conches at his ears to wake him up. This is a typical quality of Tamas - inertia, excessive sleep, sloth and ignorance.

Food and the Three Gunas

The three gunas have a great effect on the mind. In fact they constitute as it were the "substance" of which the mind is made. In India tradition a lot of importance is given to the diet for a practitioner of Yoga or religious rituals since the effect of food on the mind has been noted. Foods can influence the mind by increasing any of the three gunas. A few example are given below:




  • Food substances that are`guru’ i.e. heavy to digest increase the tamas and may make one sleepy. These may be useful in therapy. For example, for those who suffer from insomnia, one of the suggestions is to drink a glass of Buffalo’s milk at night. Buffalo’s milk is known to be ‘Nidra Kara’ - i.e. sleep inducing. It increases the tamas.


  • Certain food stuffs increase the rajas- for examples - hot and spicy foods an stimulants, such as coffee. People who want to stay awake late at night past their normal sleeping time usually drink coffee or tea. conversely others avoid coffee/tea in the evening since it affects their sleep.


  • Certain food stuffs increase the rajas - for example - hot and spicy foods and sattvic quality, for example - cow’s milk, ghee, puffed rice etc.

Sattvik foods are those that increase the lifespan, give strength, health are juicy and pleasing Example - cow’s milk, butter, fresh ripe fruits etc.

Rajasik foods are bitter, sour saline, excessively hot, dry or burning. Examples of rajasic food are - fish,eggs,onions,garlic,tea,coffee,tobacco etc.

Tamasik foods are those that are stale, tasteless,putrid,rotten and impure. Intoxicants like Ganja,stale food,half cooked food,rotten food etc., are considered tamasik.

Balance of Gunas Needed

Nevertheless, our Sastras state that the function of three qualities in their proper place is what is needed for normal existence. Without rajas we cannot perform various actions that require for us to rest. Individuals under the influence of an excess or rajas, find it difficult to rest or go to sleep.

The Sankhya school describes the combined function of the three doshas by providing an analogy with the burning of an earthen oil lamp. The flame which is light, moving upward and shedding brightness represents satva. The oil which is the fuel representing rajas providing energy. The lamp which is an earthen container and holds the other two in place and in position represents tamas. It is the proper juxtaposition and combination of all the three qualities that is needed for the normal functioning of our mind.

Assessment of Manasika Prakruthi

The assessment of Mental Prakruthi is a more involved and sophisticated task, when compared to physical Prakruthi. Vaidhya Vilas Nanal, a distinguished Ayurvedic practitioner based in Pune has evolved an interesting protocol for the assessment of Mental Prakruthi. We have reproduced the format used by him in the following section. This was used by him to assess a set of students in a management course, in Pune. He states that the experience was interesting and worthwhile and the students appreciated the counselling that they received based on their answers. As it can be seen, there is no "Key" provided to say which answer corresponds to "What type". In fact same of the questions are open ended.(Such as question no. 9,10 etc) no choices have been provided. Thus this questionnaire cannot be made use of by the reader in the same way as the questionnaire on physical prakruthi given earlier in Chapter VI. Nevertheless it has been included since it gives the reader a taste of the possible approach to analysis and some grounds for reflection and introspeciton.

Instructions



  1. Please go through the questions carefully, answer them truthfully, not anticipating what is expected out of you.
  2. At some places you are given choices from which to answer - please tick the best option . For other questions we expect you to answer elaborately in your own words.

Questionnaire


NAME:
AGE: SEX:



  1. What do you think is the right approach when confronted with a new problem which will affect you affect you after a long time.


  1. Try to solve it on your own
  2. First take advice from experienced people and then approach the problem.
  3. Wait till the problem becomes necessary to be solved


  1. How do you rank yourself in carrying out daily activities like walking, eating, drinking etc. in a group


  1. You are amongst the fastest to finish
  2. You are amongst the slowest to finish


  1. What in your opinion is the best method to start a new work one month from now


  1. Start planning from today
  2. Just start thinking about it from today and work out details after sometime
  3. Wait for 20-50 days and just give thought to it when you have to actually begin the work.


  1. Your idea about how food should be served - hot / cold?
  2. The cuisine you prefer - India/Chinese/Continental/Fast food. What do you like in it ?
  3. The substances you will prefer to be served daily
  4. Taste of food you prefer - Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter Astringent, Pungent. Write in order of preference
  5. How do you like to relax-
    Sitting idle, Relaxing,Listening to music, Dating, Reading Books, Taking a drink,Travelling or trekking, Photography, Physical exercise, Meditation, in seclusion, Provide help to the underprivileged etc.
    (May select more than one option in order of preference or may specify any other)
  6. What are your expectations from a good friend of the opposite etc.
  7. What are your expectations from your life-partner.
  8. How important do you think it is that a person should be given an opportunity to rethink a decision taken previously.
  9. What do you believe in -
    God Teachers, Seniors, Yourself, or some thing else (please specify)
  10. Which colour do you like the most, why ?
  11. What is best texture of cloth you like?
  12. How long do you sleep to feel energetic?
  13. How long does it take others to wake you from sleep ?
  14. How do you react when people around you do not take your thoughts seriously ?


  1. Get irritated immediately
  2. Ask them what is actually wrong with your thoughts
  3. Go ahead with implementing your thoughts


  1. Do you use a deodorant ? If yes why?
  2. How do you rate your popularity with the opposite sex and why.
  3. How popular are you with friends? What according to you is the reason for your popularity.
  4. What is your method of developing friendship ?
  5. What is the drink you like most ? Why?
  6. How do you differentiate between friendship and acquaintance?
  7. What is your lifetime ambition?
  8. What according to you is the motive of your family to admit you to this course
  9. Your idea about live and let live?
  10. How do you feel about a loser in the moment of your success?
  11. What according to you should be your behaviour towards a person showing affection?
  12. What according to you is not tolerated by your body -


  1. Cold touch
  2. Cold weather
  3. Hot substances
  4. Exposure to sun
  5. Anger
  6. Alcohol
  7. Dry weather
  8. Cold substances
  9. Any other - please specify


  1. What according to you should be the behaviour towards a person who insults you in a group


  1. Defend yourself on the spot and forget
  2. Forgive and forget
  3. Ignore and forget
  4. Wait for the right moment to seek vengeance however long the waiting period be.
  5. Any other - please specify.


  1. How good are you to learning new languages?
  2. What is the nature of your dreams?
    (Movement, Colours, Water, Events of the past, Irrelevant, Frightful etc.)
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