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Shareera: Formation Of Human Body, Ayurvedic

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Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, BAMS

Shareera or human body and its formation is a beautiful concept explained in Select Language
Ayurvedic embryology i.e. Garbha Shareera. The whole process including the
ingredients needed to create a new life, the involvement and amalgamation of
Prakriti, Vikiritis and Atma (life element or soul), the qualities adorned by atma,
the factors invovled in the development of garbha (fetus) and the monthly
growth, maturation and birth of the child (masanumasika garbha vriddhi) has
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What is Shareera?

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Word meaning of Shareera:

Sheeryate anena iti shareeram
That which constantly undergoes destruction is called shareeram.

This meaning looks so appropriate because our physical body is constantly

getting destroyed and degenerated, in race and pace with time and ageing
process. This definition points towards the wear and tear phenomenon taking
place in our body at a constant pace. It also defines the body with a catabolic
angle.

Shrayante trayaha agnayaha, Jgnaanaagnihi, Darshanaagnihi, Koshtaagnihi

asmin iti shareeram.
Another definition of shareera defines it as an abode of 3 agnis or fires i.e.
Jgnana agni (the fire of knowledge), Darshana agni (the fire of vision) and
Koshta agni (the fire located in belly, the metabolic fire).

Synonyms of Shareera

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Deha
Kaaya
Vapu
Kalevara
Tanu
Yashti etc

Dihyate vardhate iti deha

Deha is a synonym of shareera. It is defined as that which is constantly
growing. This is also true, because the body is constantly in a process of
growth and development supported by food and other life elements. This
definition is an anabolic description of shareera and mainly explains the Connect With Dr JV Hebbar
construction process.

Cheeyate annaadibhihi iti kaayaha

That which is constantly nourished by anna (food) etc factors is called kaya.
Thus Kaya, being a synonym of Shareera, defines the body in an anabolic
language, just like deha.
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In short, Shareera or deha or kaya is one which is constantly undergoing

construction and destruction in tandem. Recent Posts
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Essential Elements For Conception

Garbha Sambhava Samagri

Conception And Formation Of Fetus

As Per Ayurveda

Definition of shareera:
Categories
Shareeram naama chetanaa adhishthaana bhootam pancha mahaabhoota
vikaara samudaayaatmakam (Ref Charaka Shaareera 6/4) Ashtanga Hrudaya
According to Charaka, the combination of chetana (soul or life element) and
Ayurveda
pancha mahabhuta vikara (derivatives of 5 basic elements of nature) is called
Shareera. Ayurvedic Herbs
Read related: Monthly Development Of Fetus Ayurvedic perspective
Ayurvedic Home Remedies

Ayurvedic Medicine

According to Sushruta Ayurvedic Skincare

Garbha (embryo, fetus) is formed by the combination of sperm (shukra), ovum
(shonita), atma (soul), prakriti (primordial substance) and vikritis (derivatives of Basic Principles
primordial substance) in the garbhashaya (uterus, womb). Panchamahabhutas
Bhaishajya Kalpana Pharmaceutics
i.e. 5 elements of nature act upon the garbha, helps it to mature and develop.
When this Garbha as a result of development process attains different body
Brain And Mental Health
parts like hasta (hands), pada (lower limbs), jihwa (tongue), ghraana (nose),
nitamba (butts) etc, it will acquire the name of Shareera. Child Health

Daily Life Solutions Through Ayurveda

The term Shareera is often used interchangeably with the term Purusha
explained in Ayurvedic texts. Though their meanings are proximal, they are
Dairy Products
entirely different terms. Below mentioned are definitions of Purusha.
Digestive Health
Chetanaa dhaatuH api ekaha smritaha purushaha samgnakaha (Ref Charaka
Shaareera 1/16) Dravyaguna Herbs Pharmacology

Asmin shaastre pancha mahaabhoota shareeri samavaayaha purusha iti ucyate,

Female Health And Ayurveda
Tasmin kriyaa so adhishthaanam (Ref Sushruta Sutra 1/22)
Khaadinyaha chetanaa shashthaa dhaatavaha purushaha smrutaha (Ref Immune System
Charaka Shaareera 1/16)
Joint Disorders

Charaka tells that the Chetana Dhatu or the life element alone is called
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Purusha (whereas Shareera is a combination of different elements and is
composed of different organs). He is also of the opinion that the combination Male health
of Akasha (ether, space), Vayu (air), Teja (fire), Jala (water) and Prithvi (Earth) in
combination with chetana (atma, soul, life element) is called Purusha. Thus Obesity Health

Purusha is composed of 6 elements, i.e. 5 elements of nature and soul.

Text Books
Sushruta also opines the same concept.
Read related: Conception And Formation Of Fetus As Per Ayurveda Therapies

Formation of Shareera, Ayurvedic concept Uncategorized

According to Ayurveda, the Shareera is formed based on the below said

factors

Read related: Essential Elements For Conception Garbha Sambhava

Samagri

For the plant to come into existence 4 factors are essentially necessary. They
are Rutu (ideal climate for seeding and for the plant to grow), Kshetra (fertile
land, ideal for the plant to grow), Ambu (water and other essential nutrients
for the plant to grow) and Beeja (healthy seed). Similarly the below mentioned
elements are very much essential for the formation of Garbha.

Stree Purusha Samyoga (the sexual union of man and woman, the
intercourse) & Shukra Shonita Samyoga (mixing of sperm and ovum)
Sexual intercourse or coitus is another essential element or event needed for
formation of garbha.

The act of Sex is brilliantly explained by Sushruta. During stree purusha

samyoga (mythuna, coitus), the heat generated by medhra and yoni (penis and
vagina) leads to vata prakopa. This further melts the shukra (semen) present
all over the body and brings it to the reproductive system. From there, the
further act of coitus results in Shukraskalana (ejaculation of semen).

The shukra or semen thus melted by the virtue of ushma (heat generated by
sex) and motivated and propelled (ejaculation) by vayu, the shukra enters the
yoni (vagina) of the woman. Here the shukra and shonita (sperm and ovum)
get amalgamated with the entry of sperm into the ovum) in the garbhashaya
(uterus, womb). Later, the kshetragna or atma (soul) enters the zygote.

The relationship between a man and woman in the act of sex is compared to
that of ghee and fire equation. Immediately when the woman comes into
physical contact with the male in the act of coitus, she pours down her
aartava into the yoni (squirting of copious fluid with slimy mucous into the
vagina from the uterus), so as to facilitate easy and painless coitus and to
enable the sperms to move upwards.

Shukra Pravartana or ejaculation of semen is described in 3 steps

Vileenam ghrutavat vyavaaya ooshmanaa

The shukra present in the entire body (sarva shareera gata shukra) gets oozed
out like ghrita (ghee) that melts out through the pores of Nava Kumbha (new
earthen pot). According to Charaka, the shukra is chiefly present in the majja
dhatu (marrow) which is enclosed in the hardest asthi dhatu or bone tissue.
But still the Shukra comes out of it through the fine pores of the bone as the
water oozes from an earthen pot.

Jalam aardraat pataat iva
Shukra comes out of the body on ejaculation just as the water comes out of a
wet cloth when it is squeezed.

Sthalaat nimbi divodakam
Shukra comes out of the medhra or penis just as the water flows from a higher
level to the lower level (gravity).

Chetana Dhatu Pravesham (entry of life element)

After the shukra-shonita samyoga or amalgamation of sperm and ovum, the
zygote, embryo and fetus are formed. The maturity and development of the
fetus takes place only after it being impregnated with the spark of life called
chetana dhatu or atma. The chetana dhatu or purusha enters the shukra-
shonita (fertilized ovum) along with its purusha gunas (satva, raja and tama) or
qualities, dyasura bhavaas (noble and evil qualities) and bhootatma (soul)
carrying the vasanas (impressions) of previous birth. This chetana dhatu (life
spark) is the one who can know his field of operation, i.e. body endowed with
knowledge of touch, smell, vision, hearing, taste etc. He can create his own
requirements capable of movements, organization of speech etc.

Purva Janma Guna-Bhava (Inheritance of qualities of Purva Janma or

previous incarnation)
All the ancient Indian schools of thought including Ayurveda have
unanimously proclaimed that the life is a continuous stream of events on
which the bodies appear like the waves on the ocean. The present body is
accrued as a result of the previous birth.

Chetana Dhatu while leaving out the previous body carries along with him the
impressions in the form of 5 sense organs and manas (mind), which when
combined together is called Purusha. Charaka also states that the Jeevatma
or individual soul carries this sukshma shareera (subtle microscopic body or
blue-print of this body) and its movements.

This is why; we find certain extra-ordinary qualities in some persons which

cannot be explained by any other physical means.

Pancha Maha Bhuta Prakriya (Influence of five elements of nature in

the development of garbha and shareera)
We are all made up of pancha mahabhutas i.e. 5 basic elements of nature.
Thus, each and element or bhuta has a role in the formation of certain parts of
garbha and shareera.

Garbha is formed by the combination of

Shukra semen (sperm, male reproductive cell)

Shonita ovum (female reproductive cell)
Aatma soul (life element, the self consciousness)
Prakriti Primordial substance (substance used in the creation of an
organism, in fact all organisms of the body)
Vikara or Vikriti derivatives of primordial substance (including Pancha
Maha Bhutas or 5 basic elements of nature)

The union of all the above said factors in the Garbhashaya (healthy womb,
uterus) is called Garbha.
This Panchamahabhuta (5 elements of nature) act upon Garbha and
participate in its development.

Vayu Mahabhuta is involved in Vibhajana Karya It divides the Garbha

into different fragments (cell division)
Teja Mahabhuta is involved in Pachana Karya It helps in processing and
bringing about maturity of Garbha
Apa Mahabhuta is involved in Kledana Karya It helps in nourishing the
Garbha and its components (foetal nourishment)
Prithvi Mahabhuta is involved in Samhanana Karya It helps in bringing
about integrity and maintains the grouping and compactness of cells
under division
Akasha Mahabhuta is involved in Vivardhana Karya It helps in
coelomicity of foetus. This provides space or cavities for different organs,
vessels, ducts, tubes etc.

Pitrujadi Bhava Agamana (Inheritance of Pitruja etc factors in the

Garbha and Shareera)
The characters and inborn qualities of a man may be from different sources.
These are

Pitruja Bhavas (from father) hard and stable structures like scalp hair,
moustache, skin hair, bones, nails etc
Matruja Bhavas (from mother) delicate and soft tissues like muscle,
blood, fat, and soft organs like heart, liver etc
Rasaja Bhavas (from mothers food, foetal circulation) like growth of all
the tissues, complexion, life, decay, death etc
Atmaja Bhavas (ones own) sense organs and their perceptivity, spiritual
knowledge, material knowledge, life, pressure, pain etc
Satvaja Bhavas (from the mind of sookshma shareera) constitutional
qualities gained by the predominance of one or more mental qualities viz,
Satva, Raja, Tama gunas
Saatmyaja Bhavas (from acclimatization and habits) stamina, health,
strength, complexion, intelligence etc

The Shareera thus formed, will go through different phases of development

during its stipulated stay period in the womb (masanumasika garbha vriddhi
karma) until it is fully formed and matured enough, embedded with all the
organs, limbs and organ systems, to get delivered and be born at the term.

Shareera, the physical body Garbha gets the name of shareera (physical
body) when when the amalgamation of shukra, shonita, atma, prakriti and
vikriti in the garbhashaya (uterus or womb), after the action of
panchamahabhutas and after acquiring (inheriting) the qualities of purva
janma and matrujadi bhavas, start developing hasta (hands), pada (lower limbs),
jihwa (tongue), ghrana (nose), karna (eyes), nitamba (butts, pelvis), etc organs.
This means to tell that, garbha will be called as shareera once the organs start
getting manifested in a visible and clear way.

Just before Finish

The description of shareera, its formation, its ingredients and the
methodology involved shows the knowledge and vision the ancient Ayurvedic
seers had about the embryology. We can also see a part of spirituality and a big
cosmic theory involved in the description of shareera. Ayurveda believed that
each shareera is a small representation of a big cosmos; the panchamahabhuta
theory explains and justifies this aspect. The garbha and shareera concepts
explained in the Ayurvedic texts might be the first ever references of human
embryology explained in a scientific, systematic and comprehensive way.
Salutations to the ancient wisdom of Ayurvedic medical science for having
passed on these basics through many generations!!
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu), through email

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Comments
Ravi says:
February 17, 2017 at 9:57 pm

What a deep thinking our seers had. We are saying our though we dont
deserve it as we havent been trying enough to develop this further. They must be
looking down upon us as what Indians are after!!!!!!!!
Thanks doc.

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