What Does
Svastha Mean?
Sanskrit for 'health,' Svastha is an Ayurvedic term, used to refer to the state of being in which body, mind, soul and senses are in blissful equilibrium. Svastha is determined primarily by assessing balance between the three doshas (functional energies), the seven dhatus (bodily tissues), Agni (digestive fire) and the pathways of elimination.
Yogapedia Explains Svastha
The term Svastha is comprised of two Sanskrit roots: swa (self) and stha (abide). It can be understood as a self-abiding state, in which body and mind are at ease in natural equilibrium. In Ayurveda, health is determined not only by the physical body; mental, emotional, spiritual and energetic tendencies must also be taken into consideration.
According to the Ayurvedic text Sushruti Samhita, an individual must have the following qualities in order to achieve Svastha:
- An established sense of Self
- Balance between the three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Properly formed dhatus
- Efficient elimination of malas (waste products)
- Well functioning bodily processes
- A blissful mind, soul and senses
As such, the Ayurvedic perspective on health is truly holistic, treating body, mind, spirit and senses as inextricably interconnected. Ayurvedic treatments therefore take all of these aspects into account when working towards Svastha.
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.