MANASIKA DOSHA

MANAS DOSHA (मनस दोष)

🔶 INTRODUCTION

• Manas (mind) is one of the trividha sharira components — Sharira (body), Indriya (senses), and Manas (mind).

• The concept of Dosha applies not only to the Sharirika (bodily) level (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), but also at the Manasika (mental) level.

• Manas doshas are Rajas and Tamas — these are the factors responsible for mental imbalance or disease.

• These two are considered as Doshas because:

  • They get vitiated.

  • They cause vitiation of Manas (mind) and lead to Manasika rogas (mental diseases).

  • They lead to improper functioning of mind, intellect, and sense faculties.

🔶 TYPES OF MANAS DOSHAS

• Only two doshas are accepted in Manas:

  • RAJAS (रजस्)

  • TAMAS (तमस्)

• Sattva (सत्त्व) is the balanced state of mind, not considered a dosha.

🔶 REFERENCE FROM ASHTANGA HRIDAYA – SUTRASTHANA

अत्र त्रयो दोषाः शरीरे सत्त्वं मनसि च –
रजस्तमः सत्त्वं मनसि स्वस्थे।
(A.H. Sutrasthana 1/20)

• Translation:

  • In the body, there are three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha).

  • In the mind, Sattva is the state of equilibrium.

  • Rajas and Tamas are considered the doshas of the mind.

🔶 CHARACTERISTICS OF MANAS DOSHAS

➤ RAJAS (रजस्)

• Represents activity, movement, restlessness.

• Qualities (Gunas):

  • Anuddhatva (excitability), Ashuchi (impurity), Spandana (vibration), Chapala (fickleness).

• Rajas leads to:

  • Anger, desire, jealousy, pride, ego, greed, attachment.

• Vitiated Rajas causes:

  • Overthinking, aggressiveness, arrogance, hatred, etc.

➤ TAMAS (तमस्)

• Represents inertia, darkness, ignorance.

• Qualities (Gunas):

  • Avarana (covering), Pramada (negligence), Aprakasha (lack of light), Manda (dullness).

• Tamas leads to:

  • Delusion, depression, confusion, fear, sleep, laziness, ignorance.

• Vitiated Tamas causes:

  • Mental dullness, forgetfulness, low motivation, hallucinations.

🔶 FUNCTIONS OF MANAS DOSHAS IN NORMAL STATE

• In a balanced state, Rajas enables:

  • Drive, enthusiasm, initiation of action, focus.

• In a balanced state, Tamas allows:

  • Rest, sleep, relaxation, grounding.

• Only when these are in excess or deficiency, they become pathogenic.

🔶 CAUSES OF MANAS DOSHA VITIATION (मनस दोष विकृति हेतु)

• Asatmya Indriyartha Samyoga – Improper contact with sense objects.

• Prajnaparadha – Intellectual blasphemy / misuse of wisdom.

• Parinama – Effects of time and season.

• Asatmya Ahara Vihara – Improper diet and lifestyle.

• Uncontrolled emotions – Excessive fear, anger, attachment, etc.

🔶 EFFECTS OF MANAS DOSHA IMBALANCE

• Disturbance in mental faculties like:

  • Buddhi (intellect), Smriti (memory), Sañjnā (consciousness).

• Leads to Manovaha Srotodushti – vitiation of the mind-carrying channels.

• Manifests as Manasika rogas (mental disorders) like:

  • Unmada (insanity), Apasmara (epilepsy), Chittodvega (anxiety), Vishada (depression), etc.

🔶 ROLE OF SĀTVIKA GUNA (सात्त्विक गुण)

• Sattva is not a dosha but the ideal state of mind.

• It promotes:

  • Clarity, peace, wisdom, understanding, balance, harmony.

• A Sāttvika mind resists vitiation by Rajas and Tamas.

तत्र मनः सत्त्वं च ज्ञेयम्।
(A.H. Sutrasthana 1/23)

• "Among them (body and mind), Manas and Sattva are to be understood (as significant components)."

🔶 TREATMENT PRINCIPLES (चिकित्सा सिद्धान्त)

• Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa – Spiritual therapies (mantra, japa, daana, etc.)

• Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa – Logical therapies (medicines, diet, lifestyle, rasayana, etc.)

• Satvavajaya Chikitsa – Mind control therapies (psychotherapy in modern terms)

  • Includes:

    • Replacing negative thoughts.

    • Developing self-control and discrimination.

    • Promoting positive habits and lifestyle.