2. Chapter-2 Traya Upastambha The Three supportive pillars of Human life

3. TRAYA UPASTAMBHA (Three supportive pillars of human Life)
Aahara
Brahmacharya
Nidra 3

4. Traya Upastambha (Three supports)
1. Aahara (Diet)
2. Nidra (Sleep)
3. Brahmacharya (Chastity) 4

5. AAHARA (DIET) 5

6. Definition of Aahara
– The solid and liquid food swallowed and drunk through mouth and passed through esophagus is called Aahara. 6

7. - 3 Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
IMPORTANCE OF AAHARA - 1
Importance of Aahara:
- 3 Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
- 7 Dhatu (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, Shukra)
- 3 Malas (Mutra, Purisha and Sweda)
Are the roots of human body.

8. IMPORTANCE OF AAHARA - 2
As the roots of the plants give support to and nourish the plant, similarly Dosha-Dhatu-Mala support the body.
- In this process, they need nourishment, which is supplied by appropriate Aahara.
- Aahara keeps equilibrium of Dosh-Dhatu-Mala, which is necessary to prevent the disease.

9. Proper diet Improper diet Health Disease Diet 1. Solid 2. Semisolid
3. Liquid 9

10. 1. Asheetam (Particles e.g. Rice)
Diet
1. Asheetam (Particles e.g. Rice)
2. Khadeetam (To cut e.g. Bread) 10

11. 3. Pitam (To drink e.g. Soup)
4. Lidham (Apply on tongue e.g. Pickles) 11

12. CLASSIFICATION OF AAHARA (DIET)

13. Classification of Aahara (Diet)
On the basis of
Classification
Examples 1
Consistency of food
Ghana (Solid)
Alpa Ghana (Semisolid)
Drava (Liquid)
Almond
Gruel
3) Milk 2
Nature of food
Ashita
Khadita
Peeta
Leedha
Rice
Bread
Milk
Jam 3
Potency of food
Ushna (Hot)
Sheeta (Cold)
Black pepper
Ghruta 4
Rasa (Taste) of food
Madhura (Sweet)
Amla (Sour)
Lavana (Salt)
Katu (Pungent)
Tikta (Bitter)
Kashaya (Astringent)
Sugar
Lemon
Salt
Ginger
Fenu greek
Coffee 5
Consistency – Mainly of original food items
Dravadravya (Liquid)
Annadravya (Solid)
Water, Milk, Oil
Grains,Beans,
Vegetables 13

14. CLASSIFICATION OF AAHARA (DIET) DRAVADRAVYA (LIQUID)
Varga
Class of -
Examples
1) Jala Varga
Different varieties of water
Rain water, Boiled water
2) Dugdha Varga
Milk & Milk products
Cow’s milk, Ghruta, Butter
3) Taila Varga
Oils
Sesame oil, Almond oil
4) Ikshu Varga
Sugarcane products
Sugar, Jaggery
5) Madya Varga
Wine / Alcoholic beverages prepared from food
Drakshasava, Kharjurasava
6) Mutra Varga
Urine of Different animals
Cow’s urine, Goat’s urine 14

15. CLASSIFICATION OF AAHARA (DIET) GHANADRAVYA (SOLIDS)
Varga
Class of -
Examples
1) Shuka Dhanya
Grains
Rice, Wheat, Maize
2) Shimbi Dhanya
Beans, Pulses
Green gram, Lentil
3) Shaka Varga
Vegetables
Spinach, Red Pumpkin
4) Mansa Varga
Meat
Goat meat, Chicken
5) Haritaka Varga
Condiments/ Spices
Clove, Black pepper, cumin seeds
6) Krutanna Varga
Receipes
Moong Soup, Khichadi 15

16. One of the three supportive pillars of Human Life
Diet
One of the three supportive pillars of Human Life
Diet(Aahar)
Sleep( Nidra)
Celibacy ( Brahmacharya)
Diet is the fuel of body machine. 16

17. Points to be considered regarding diet
a) Classification of diet
b)   Proper time for having meals
c)   Quantity of Diet
d)    Qualities of food substances
e)    Rules for taking diet
f)    Utensils
g)    Incompatibility 17

18. I) a. Proper time for having meals
Hunger is a natural urge
When previous meal is completely and properly digested, one experiences intense hunger or appetite.
Ayurved describes two ways for Deciding the time of having meals.
The two ways are as follows :
According to symptoms
According to time span between two meals 18

19. Characteristic symptoms of complete digestion are –
1. Belching without bad smell & taste
2. Feels energetic
3. Evacuation of bowel and bladder without any discomfort
4. Feeling of lightness
5. Feeling of intense hunger and thirst
If one feels above symptoms then and then only one must take a meal 19

20. I) b. Proper time for having meals
o    Duration between two meals should be minimum three hrs. and one should not starve for more than six hrs.
o    For dinner – Timing should be as such that there should be a gap of 2 hrs between meal and bedtime 20

21. II) Quantity of diet Quantity should be proper
Depends on one’s digestive capacity (Agni)
Quantity also depends on properties of food substances
for e.g.-Heavy substances should be taken in less quantity
 On an average - consider three parts of stomach
1 Part for solid food
1 Part for liquid food
1 Part- should be kept empty for moments of Doshas 21

22. III) Qualities of Diet (Food substances)
Qualities of food substances are dependent on dominance of Mahabhutas. 
e.g.- Heavy food articles -
Predominant qualities of Prithvi ( Earth element)
Intake should be 1/3 or 1/2 of the saturation point.
Light food articles -
Predominant qualities of Vayu (Air element) and
Agni (Fire element)
Intake should not exceed the saturation point for
proper strength of Agni 22

23. Happy life With Normalcy
The Food Taken
In Proper Quantity
Provides Certainly-
Strength
Complexion
Happy life With Normalcy 23

24. IV) Rules for taking healthy Diet - 1
1.  All the six tastes should be included in the diet
2.  Food should be fresh, warm and moist
3.  One should not eat in a hurry or loitering
4.  One should not indulge in excessive laughing or
talking controversies, conflicts while enjoying
meals. 24

25. 5. One should eat in a pleasant, favorable places
IV) Rules for taking healthy Diet - 2
5. One should eat in a pleasant, favorable places
in good company.
6. One should always know self constitution
(Prakriti) and give due consideration to
suitability of food substances.
7. One should be happy and joy’s mood while
taking meals and should concentrate on it.
8. Cleanliness and hygiene should be maintained
at the time of meals. 25

26. DIET WHICH IS BENEFICIAL IN GENERAL
Cereals
Shashti-Shali (Rice), Godhuma (Wheat), Ragi (Red millet), Rakta shali (Red rice)
Pulses
Mudga (Green gram), Makushthaka (Lentil)
Meat
Goat, Deer, Pigeon, Common quail, Chicken
Vegetables
Patola (Snake-gourd), Moolaka (Radish)
Fruits
Amalaki (Indian gooseberry), Dadima (Pomegranate), Draksha (Grapes)
Sugar
Puran Guda (Old jaggery), Madhu (Honey)
Milk-milk products
Godugdha (cow’s milk), Goghruta (Clarified-butter of cow’s milk)
Water
Clean and sterile rain-water.
Salt
Saindhava (Rock-salt)
Oil
Groundnut oil, olive oil
Dry Fruits
Vatam (Almond), Akshot (Walnut), Angira (Fig)
Spices
Ardraka (Ginger), Hingu(Asafetida), Dhanyaka (Coriander), Jeeraka (Cumin seeds), Ela (cardamom)

27. DIET WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN GENERAL:-
Cereals
Yava (Barley), heavy preparation of flour, rice and flattened rice.
Pulses
Masha (Black gram)
Meat
Pork, Beef, Buffalo meat, Fish, Dried meat, Meat of emaciated animals
Vegetables
Dried vegetables, Lotus tuber , stem; Leafy vegetables.
Fruits
Nikucha (Wild jack fruit), unripe Kapithha (Raw wood apple)
Sugar
Kakvi (Boiled concentrated sugar cane juice)
Milk-milk products
Kurchika & Kilata (Milk products like Paneer),
Mandaka Dadhi (Immature curds)
Water
River water in rainy season
Salt
Saindhava ( rock-salt)
Oil
Sunflower oil
Spices
Chilly powder

28. 8 Factors of Dietetics (Aahara) - 1
There are eight specific factors of dietetics such as nature, processing, combination, quantity, place, time, rules for use and consumer.
Prakriti, svabhava (nature): The natural existence of properties like guru etc. in substances used as food and drugs, such as Black gram (heavy) and green gram (light); for nonvegetarians: pork (heavy) and meat of deer (light)
Karana (processing): The making or refinement of natural products, which means imparting other properties. These properties are infused by contact of water and fire, cleansing, churning, place, time, infusing, sleeping etc. and also long duration, utensil etc.
Samyoga (combination): A combination of two or more substances. This exhibits peculiarities, which are not seen in the case of individual substances such as combination of honey and ghee and that of honey, fish and milk.

29. 8 Factors of Dietetics (Aahara) - 2
Rashi (Quantity): Rashi can be termed as quantity. It is again divided as sarvagraha (total count) and parigraha (individual amount), which ascertain the result of the food taken in proper and improper quantity. The accounting of the quantity of the entire food in totality is sarvaghraha while parighraha is that of the individual items in the food. Thus accounting of the entire is sarvgraha while that of all individual food items is parigraha.
Desha (Place): Denotes place related to growth as well as distribution of the substances and also the suitability in respect of place.

30. 8 Factors of Dietetics (Aahara) - 3
Kala (Time): Kala is eternally moving (time) as well as conditional. The conditional one is related to disorder while the eternally moving one to seasonal suitability.
Upyogsamstha: This denotes the rules of dietetics.
Upyokta : It is the person who consumes the food. On him depends the “ok-satmya’ (suitability developed by practice).

31. Various metallic and nonmetallic utensils are used- For cooking
V) Utensils
Various metallic and nonmetallic utensils are used-
For cooking
For serving
For storage.
  Utensils does have desired or undesired effects on
food substances which are cooked in them. 31

32. Utensils

33. Utensils & their Effects on body
Type of Utensil
Beneficial effect on the Body
Gold
Best from medicinal point of view
Silver
Promotes Liver Functions
Zinc
Improves Intelligence & Appetite
Brass
Promotes Vata and Agni but cures Kapha
Steel
Useful in Jaundice
Glass
Cooling effect
Plates made from plant leaves
Antidote against poison. 33

34. Specific Use of Utensils for various foods
Name of the Food item
Type of utensil best for storage
Ghee
Steel vessel
Curd preparations
Stone utensils
Juices and fruit syrups
Glass and crystal ware
Fruits and confectionary
Leaves
Boiled and cooled milk
Copper vessels
Wines, Beverages
Earthen pots
Peyas (Porridge), Edible fluids
Silver bowl 34

35. Incompatibility/ Antagonistic
(Viruddha -Aahara) - 1
Definition :
Substances which are contrary to physiological tissues, behave with antagonism to them are called Antagonistic or incompatible (Viruddha- Aahara). 35

36. Food Incompatibility - 2 (Viruddha Aahara)
The substances which are contrary to physiological tissues (Deha Dhatus) or behave with antagonism to them are called antagonistic or incompatible. (Viruddha Ahara)
This antagonism may be in terms of properties, combination, processing, place, time, Dosha etc. or natural composition.
Many food combinations are given in the texts as incompatible with proper explanation For e.g.
1) One should not take fish along with milk because this combination is Abhishyandi (great obstructer for channels), it vitiates blood.
2) After eating raddish, garlic, basil one should not take milk because of the risk of skin disorders.
3) All sour liquids are antagonistic to milk.
4) Hot honey taken by a person induces toxicity and lead to death.
5) Likewise honey and ghee in equal quantity, hot water after taking honey are antagonistic.

37. Food Incompatibility - 3
The diet which is antagonistic with respect to
Place
Time
Agni
Dose
Suitability
Dosha
Processing
Potency
Bowels
Health conditions
Order
Contra-indication
Cooking
Combination
Palatability
Richness (in properties)
Rules of eating
is not wholesome for the person.

38. Food Incompatibility - 4
Examples of Incompatibility/ Antagonistic (Viruddha -Aahara)
1) Veerya viruddha- (potency incompatibility)-Fish + milk
2) Sanskar viruddha- (Processing incompatibility) Heated Honey
3) Matra viruddha- (dose incompatibility) - Honey + Cow’s ghee - mixed in equal proportion.
4) Krama viruddha - Hot water after taking honey
5) Kala viruddha- (Time incompatibility) Pungent substance in summer & Cold substances in winter
6) Krama viruddha-(Order incompatibility)-Consuming curd at night.
7) Samyoga viruddha- (Combination incompatibility)- Fruit Salad / Milk+ Banana
8) Parihar viruddha (contraindication incompatibility)-Consuming cold water immediately after having hot tea or Coffee.

39. If one consumes above kind of Incompatible diet-
Frequently &
In excess quantity
one definitely suffers from -
Blood Disorders
Skin Disorders
Digestive Disorders 39

40. NIDRA (SLEEP) 40

41. Nidra – (Sleep) Definition When srotas of the body obstructed by
Kapha Dosha,
When the body fatigued by exertion,
When the sense organs (Indriya)- not
functioning due to exertion,
sleep manifests in the body. 41

42. Merits & Demerits Happiness and Misery Nourishment and Emaciation
Strength and Weakness
Potency and Impotency
Knowledge and Ignorance
Life and Death
Depend on Sleep. 42

43. One of the 14 Adharaniya Vegas
Nidra (Sleep)
One of the 14 Adharaniya Vegas
(Natural Urges)
of the body
Being an Adharniya Vega
(Natural urge which should not be controlled)
- Should not be controlled when manifests
- Should not be taken forcefully when not
manifested. 43

44. Abnormal patterns (modes) of the Nidra (Sleep)
Atinidra (Excess Sleep)
     Anidra (Less Sleep)
     Deewaswapa (Day Sleep)
Akalanidra (Not on appropriate time)
- Leads to diseases if followed regularly 44

45. Brahmacharya (Celibacy)45

46. Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
Brahmacharya or Celibacy’ - a topic which is not much or is adversely discussed.
Definition - Brahmacharya or celibacy, means abstinence from physical relationship.
This statement seems very stern and unrealistic in ordinance with reality. Well, as the myth goes, this word is generally defined in an incorrect manner. 46

47. Ayurved defines the word ‘Brahmacharya’ with much greater depth.
Brahmacharya is composed of two words -‘Brahma’ & ‘Charya’
Brahma = Optimum knowledge
and Charya = The behavior.
Brahma also means ‘Tapa’, which means ‘Dedicated devotion’. 47

48. Importance of Brahmacharya Brahmacharya norms help to
maintaining a good health
maintaining a satisfied mind
keeping in level with the spiritual development thus maintaining the health of the society. 48

49. Phases of Life
Four phases of human life – Brahmacharyashram Gruhasthashram  Vanaprasthashram Sanyasashram
The concept of Brahmacharya passes through these phases with varying descriptions. 49

50. 1. Brahmacharyashram phase
Brahmacharya means dedication towards acquiring knowledge.
The education or knowledge required by a person to attain his future means e.g a job, business, trade etc., needs to be pursued during this phase.
Here abstinence from any other distractions is defined as Bramhacharya. 50

51. Marriage and family life
2. Gruhasthashram phase
Marriage and family life
Here abstinence from any partner, other than your own spouse is considered within Brahmacharya. 51

52. Important rules to maintain in Gruhasthashram
Coitus should be done with one’s own wife. Nowadays there is a trend to enjoy a multi-partner relationship. Abstinence from such is suggested.
Coitus should be preferred at night.
There is natural coolness and quietness at night, which helps to relax the mind naturally. 52

53. Coitus should not be done in the morning, afternoon and past midnight
Coitus should not be done in the morning, afternoon and past midnight. Morning - a prime work time. There should not be distractions during it. Afternoons - are warmer, and it is the Pitta Kala. Past midnight - also the Pitta Kala, besides the time to rest for revival.
Body heat during the Pitta Kala is higher, while heat is not as much favorable for survival of the sperms, it can also make conception difficult. 53

54. Important rules to maintain in Gruhasthashram
Do not have coitus while menstruation, while ill , during pregnancy, a partner other than your spouse.
This is said so, as to avoid infections. Failing which one suffers from sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS being very predominant today.
Abnormal, awkward positions should be avoided. Other than causing strain, it could also hamper conception. 54

55. Important rules to maintain in Gruhasthashram
Coitus must not be done while suppressing the natural urges of defecation or urination, while hungry, when either partner does not have the desire etc.
Suppression leads to the elevation of the Vata Dosha, which can not only cause dryness, pain, also disturbs the harmony between the other Doshas. 55

56. In accordance with the seasons
Important rules to maintain in Gruhasthashram
In accordance with the seasons
Hemant and Shishir rutu - One can have a relation more frequently.
Hemant and Shishir are winter months. Climate is cool, pleasant. Mind is relaxed and the health is at optimum. 56

57. Important rules to maintain in Gruhasthashram
In accordance with the seasons
Vasant and Sharad rutu - Frequency should be 2-3 times a week.
The climate starts getting warmer.
Varsha and Grishma rutu - Abstinence, for about 15 days needs to be maintained.
The climate is very hot, humid and stuffy. Health is not so sound, so frequency can cause weakness. 57

58. Regime after having coitus
After coitus, clean the genital organs. Cleaning is for a good hygiene.
Have milk or milk products. Milk helps to revive the energy.
Use cool and scented herbs. Cool herbs give solace to the mind. 58

59. Point to ponder
Total abstinence may also cause mental stress, and physical illness.
Like any others, this too is a natural urge. Thus one must keep a realistic approach.
These rules about Brahmacharya, have been framed, keeping in mind the natural requirements of the Gruhasthashram phase.
Following these gives absolute safety, at the same time one can enjoy the fullness of life.
It rewards in better health of the individual and also the entire society.
These are basically simple norms, which have been very thoughtfully framed in interest of the society. 59

60. The age factor has progressed, the family duties are quite fulfilled.
3. Vanaprasthashram
The age factor has progressed, the family duties are quite fulfilled.
Here one should learn to slowly detach oneself from family bonds, emotional attachments, physical requirements etc. 60

61. 4. Sanyasashram
One is now prepared to totally abstain from all enticements of life. It includes both physical & emotional attachments.
One is in a totally detached state from the worldly pleasures and seeks enlightenment, about the almighty, as he prepares for Moksha. 61

62. The untoward effects of changing trends
The trend to choose a multi-partner relationship. Not just an individual threat, but a threat to the entire society.
The occurrence of diseases like AIDS perked up. Transmission of this disease from mother to the foetus.
We can therefore conclude that such liberal activities not only harm the current generation, as well as the next generation. The society by and large is affected. 62

63. THANK YOU