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The term Vishesha is one of the six Padarthas described in Vaisheshika Darshana.
It denotes individuality, distinctive quality, and differentiation.
Vishesha is responsible for specific identity and differentiation among similar substances or entities.
It plays a vital role in diagnosis, treatment, and drug selection in Ayurveda.
Contemporary sciences like Systems Biology, Molecular Biology, Genomics, and Immunology help elucidate and expand the understanding of Vishesha by demonstrating how subtle variations result in specific outcomes.
DEFINITION AND CLASSICAL EXPLANATION OF VISHESHA
Visheshastu nityadravyanam bhedakah
(Vaisheshika Sutra 2/2/4)
विशेषस्तु नित्यद्रव्याणां भेदकः
– Vishesha is the differentiator among eternal substances.
In Ayurveda, Vishesha is understood through:
Desha Vishesha – specificity of place
Kala Vishesha – specificity of time
Roga Vishesha – specificity of disease
Dravya Vishesha – specificity of drugs
VISHESHA IN AYURVEDIC PRACTICE
Desha Vishesha – treatment varies with regional climatic and environmental conditions.
Roga Vishesha – understanding the unique manifestation of disease in each individual (Vyakti).
Dravya Vishesha – each drug has a unique set of Rasa, Guna, Virya, Vipaka and Prabhava which distinguishes it from others.
SANSKRIT REFERENCES
Na hi sarveshu sarvesam ekarupatvam asti
(Su. Su. 1/26)
न हि सर्वेषु सर्वेषां एकरूपत्वमस्ति
– Not everything is the same in every individual.
Bhesaja visheshaat roga visheshaapahati
(Cha. Su. 1/64)
भेषजविशेषात् रोगविशेषापहति
– Specific treatment is necessary for specific diseases.
MODERN SCIENCE PERSPECTIVES PARALLEL TO VISHESHA
SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
Systems Biology integrates biological components (genes, proteins, metabolites) as a networked system rather than isolated parts.
Like Vishesha, it highlights how minor differences in elements lead to major functional changes.
Helps understand:
Individual responses to drugs
Disease heterogeneity
Personalized treatment
GENOMICS AND PROTEOMICS
Every individual has a unique genetic code (Genomic Vishesha) leading to:
Specific traits
Disease predisposition
Drug metabolism (Pharmacogenomics)
Proteomics reveals unique protein structures and expressions, accounting for the functional diversity in the body.
IMMUNOLOGY
Immune responses vary individually due to HLA typing, antigen recognition, and memory cell formation – signifying Vishesha in body defense.
Vaccination, autoimmune diseases, and transplant rejections are based on understanding this individual-specific immune behavior.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Minute molecular differences lead to different phenotypic expressions.
Enzyme specificity, receptor binding, and molecular docking are based on Vishesha.
Explains why drugs act differently in different patients despite same diagnosis.
PHARMACOLOGY (PHARMACODYNAMICS & PHARMACOGENETICS)
Pharmacodynamics explains how a drug affects an individual based on specific receptor types and enzymatic pathways.
Pharmacogenetics is the study of how genetic variations influence individual drug response.
This is the contemporary analogy to Dravya Vishesha.
CLINICAL MEDICINE (PERSONALISED MEDICINE)
Modern medicine is moving towards Precision Medicine or Personalized Therapy – treating patients based on individual-specific data.
This aligns with Ayurvedic concept of Roga and Rogi Pariksha, considering Prakriti, Desha, Kala, Satmya etc.
EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATING VISHESHA IN MODERN SCIENCE
Genetic Mutation in BRCA1/2 – Predisposes individual to breast cancer.
G6PD Deficiency – Specific people are sensitive to certain drugs (e.g., Primaquine).
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy – Tailored based on cancer receptor markers (e.g., HER2 in breast cancer).
Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 vs Type 2 – Though same clinical condition, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment differ (Roga Vishesha).
Rasaushadhi (Bhasma) in Ayurveda – Shows Vishesha Prabhava i.e., specific therapeutic effects unique to their nano-structural properties.
