Fundamentals of Personality in Ayurveda

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Each and every individual is unique and behaves in a certain way. For centuries many philosophers, sages and intellectuals all over the world tried to find the answer on why the people behave in a different way. Psychology was a part of philosophy in many cultures throughout the history. Ancient Greeks were credited for their comprehensive knowledge and development of psychology as a scholarly study of the mind and its utilization in the field of medicine.

Personality is a unique pattern of psychological and behavioral characteristics that distinguishes each of us from everyone else. There are certain similarities and differences between western thinking and ancient traditional system of medicine.

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, explains the individuality of a personality by means of Prakriti. Prakriti is the psycho-somatic constitution of an individual, as Ayurveda believes that human organism behaves in a wholesome manner and physical and mental factors of personality cannot be isolated.

Prakriti is the psycho-somatic constitution of an individual which is determined at the time of conception by the predominance of dosha, which imparts the person with a characteristic physical, psychological and behavioural pattern. It gives a comprehensive picture of an individual including strengths and susceptibilities. It serves as a foundation stone on which all clinical decisions like prognosis, selection of drug, treatment methods, diet and food regimen etc. are based. Not only in treatment aspect, but Ayurveda provides personalized diet, daily, seasonal regimen and lifestyle modifications.

This book promises to provide comprehensive knowledge about the fundamentals of psychology, personality formation, development, influencing factors, detailed description of types, strengths, weaknesses, susceptible diseases, preventive measures, food recommendations and personalized daily routines.

Study of personality is an interesting topic that has attracted many intellectuals since vedic period. Many sages, philosophers keenly observed human nature and contributed to the field of psychology with their theories.

Personality is the combination of behavior, emotion, motivation and thought patterns that define an individual. It is a characteristic way of thinking, feeling and behaving, which distinguish one person from another.

According to Ayurveda, A person is said to be healthy when the body humors and bodily elements are balanced and harmonious, when the digestion is normal, when the excretion of waste products is unimpaired and when he is endowed with tranquility and clarity of soul, mind and senses. This way Ayurveda recommends comprehensive and multidimensional outlook of person. Ayurvedic view of personality is based on tridosha, triguna and panchabhautika theories. It explains personality, its formation, determinants, influential factors like racial peculiarities, familial predisposition, demographical, seasonal effects, natural changes according to age, personal habits, individuality and idiosyncrasy.

By understanding Ayurvedic perspective of personality, is bound to enhance and deepen the understanding of conventional western medicine. Subsequently it will help to focus on the factors, which need further research and exploration like demographic, racial, familial dispositions, climatic seasonal adaptation and genetical/ chromosomal mutations etc.

In some ways we are all the same, sharing the same thoughts and feelings, yet in other ways we are all completely different and unique. No two people are truly alike. Each person possesses his or her own identity. Somewhere between these two our common humanity and our unique individuality-lies personality. Personality is the distinctive personal character that makes each person who they are.

Personality is defined as a relatively stable set of characteristics that influences an individual's behavior. The literal meaning of personality derived from the Greek word "persona" which means a large mask used by actors in ancient Greek drama. Personality is the science of describing and understanding persons. Since ancient times, the study of personality has attracted the attention of many philosophers and they have developed enormous knowledge and personality as a science has got lot of practical utility now a days.

Ayurveda the ancient Indian science of life which has been evolved thousands of years ago, explained individuality of a person by means of prakṛti. Assessment of a person by means of prakṛti is one of the fundamental principles in Ayurveda. It serves as a foundation stone on which all clinical decisions are taken.

Prakrti is the psycho-somatic constitution of an individual which is determined at the time of conception by the predominance of fundamental body humors, väta, pitta and kapha, which governs all the function of the body at physical, mental and emotional levels. Prakṛti is a unique combination of all three of these energies, one usually being inherently predominant in the individual. This inherent predominance of dosa imparts the person with a characteristic mental, emotional and physical make up, which gives a whole picture of an individual.

Personalized medicine and prakṛti is an interesting and developing area of research and there have been several interesting studies including identifying genetic basis for prakrti to development of multipurpose software tools.

Considering, the vast applicability and utility of personality in health and disease, an attempt is made to study prakṛti in comparison with the descriptions of personality. This book will discuss about the formation of prakṛti, genetical aspects, the factors which help in formation, influential factors, prakṛtitypes, its role in health and disease etc. with relevant modern science for quick revision.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages