Concept Of Manas In Ayurveda

Abstract

The mana (mind) is the major concept in the learning process and cause of entanglement or attachment (bandha). It is a connection between the soul and sense organs. When the mind is distracted from the five sense organs then no knowledge is gained because the information is not reached to the soul. The mind is a seat for various diseases as well as a seat for happiness and well functioning health. The mind contains its own functions and qualities. It has dimension that is beyond atoms in its minutest aspect. So today we will read about the concept of manas (mind) in ayurveda in brief.

Manas, Mind, Brain, Ayurveda, Concept of Manas

Introduction

Ayurveda separate the body organs into two categories:-

Organs Of Perception (Jnanendriyas)

These are five in number: ears, eyes, nose, skin and tongue.

Organs Of Action (Karmendriya)

These are also five include hands, legs, rectum/excreting, organ of speech and genitals. The feet are responsible for movements from one place to another, anus and genitals are meant for discharging, hands for receiving and holding. Tongue represents the organ of speech. The true speech is light while the false speech is darkness.

मन्यते अवबुध्यते ज्ञायते अनेन इति मन:। 
चित्तन्तु चेतो हृदयं स्वान्त हृन्मानसं मन:। (अमरकोष)

According to the above shloka:- That thing which helps in learning about something is known as manas. That thing which helps in gaining knowledge about something is known as manas. That thing which has the ability to think is known as mana or manas.

Mind is described as a ubhayendriye which means a blend of both organ action and perception. This is an extraordinary functional and sense organ. Each and every sense organ has their actions related to their related objects. But the manas related to the things of all the functional and sense organs. One can only receive the information when manas in connection with that particular sense organ. The mind is fully responsible for many functions like thinking, learning, perception, understanding the wrong and right decisions etc.

Synonyms Of Manas (Mind)

  • Chitta 
  • Maanasa
  • Hrit 
  • Cheta
  • Hridaya
  • Sattva
  • Mana

Characteristics Of Mind

लक्षणं मनसो ज्ञानस्याभावो भाव एव च।
सति हृयात्मेन्द्रियार्थानां सन्निकर्षे न वर्तते।।
वेवृत्यांमनसो ज्ञानं सान्निध्यातच्च वर्तते। (C.Sharirsthana 1/18)

According To The Above Shloka

Mind is defined as the entity which, even on contact with self, sense organs and sense objects, is responsible for production or otherwise of knowledge by its attending or non-attending respectively.

Qualities Of The Mind

अणुत्वमथ चेकत्वं  द्वौ गुणो मनस: स्मृतो।। (C. Sharira Sthana 1/19)

According To The Above Shloka

Subtleness and oneness are known as two qualities of mind.

Subject Matters Of The Mind

  • The object of thinking about many substances (chintya),
  • Analysis about the good and bad thing (vicharya),
  • Reasoning or making inference and guess (uhyam),
  • Meditating on something with focussed mind (dhyeya),
  • Determination or decision between good and bad (sankalpam) and whatever, is to be perceived by mind is its object.

Functions Of The Mind

इन्द्रियाभिग्रह: कर्म मनस: स्वस्य निग्रह:। 
ऊहो विचारश्च, तत: परं बुद्धि: प्रवतर्ते।। (S. Sharirsthana 1/21)

According To The Above Shloka

Action of mind consists of:-

  • Control over senses (indriyabhigraha),
  • Self-restraint (swasya nigraha),
  • Reasoning (uha),
  • Analysing (vichara). Beyond that is the jurisdiction of buddhi (intellect).

Origin Of Knowledge Together Order Of Speech And Action

According to the Charaka Sharira Sthana 1/22-23 shloka:-

The sense object is received by sense organs along with the mind. Then the mind analyzes it in forms of merits or demerits and forwards it to buddhi (intellect) which produces decisive knowledge by which one proceeds to speak or to do something with full knowledge.

Predominance Of Particular Mahabhuta In Each Sense Organ

According to the Charaka Sharira Sthana 1/24 shloka:-

The five sense organs are composed of five mahabhutas (Akash, Vayu, Agni etc) with predominance of one in each. They are known by inference through their actions and it is they on the basis of which intellect proceeds.

Kinds Of Intellect And Reasons For Various Types Of Intellect

The intellect is recognized by the sense organ based on which it emanates. That emanated through mind is known as manobhava (emanated through mind). Due to contact of each of the self, sense organs, mind and sense object and according to the difference of the act, sense organs and objects, there are numerous products of intellect. As the sound produced by the contact of finger and the surface of the thumb and also by that of wiry violin and nails varies numerously so is the product of intellect emanated from the contacts.

Manas Location

It is described that the heart and brain are the places of manas.

Manas Is A Place For Diseases

The mind (manas) and body are the two places of manifestation for diseases. The mental disorders are developed in mind firstly then later affect the whole body.

Doshas Of Manas

There are three doshas in the mind that is Raja, Tama and Sattva. In which the sattva is the great quality of the mind. If a person possesses a positive attitude, happiness, lightness, righteousness, spiritual connection, truthfulness then he is known as sattvic person. It has a stimulant effect on the sense organs and is an organizer of intellect and information. Rajas are characterized by stimulation and motion. The main concerns of rajas are passion and wish to achieve. Tamas is characterized by resistance and heaviness. It has a stimulant effect on the false or negative attitude of the manas that leads to induce lethargy, apathy and sleep.

The primordial un-manifest holds the conjunction of intellect, sense organ, mind and sense objects. The aggregate of twenty four entities is known as purusha (the person). The person associated with (predominant) rajas and tamas has endless conjunctions of this type but when these two are subdued with the predominance of sattva, the conjunction ceases to exist.

Manas Vikara

The manas vikara is the clinical manifestation which normally affects the weak psyche person.

Causes Of Manas Vikara

  • Vitiation of shareera dosha (vata, pitta and kapha) and manshika dosha (raja and tama)
  • Vitiation of mano vaha srotas
  • Disturbance in mental capacity

Samprapti Ghataka Of Mano Vikara

  • Dosha:- Both sareera and manasika dosha (raja and tama)
  • Dushya :- Dhatu (Rasa-plasma), updhatu-dhamani (arteries)
  • Srotas:- Sangyavaha srotas, Rasavaha srotas

Pathogenesis Of Manas Vikara

Consumption of etiological factors such as unclean food, infliction of rajas and tamas, anxiety, fear, anger, grief, etc are the factors causes aggravation of doshas (shareer and manasika) and reaches sangyavaha srotas via dhamani (arteries) and get localized in the sangyavaha srotas and amalgamation of doshas and dushyas in the localized area developed the manas vikara.

Some Of The Manas Roga Mentioned In Ayurveda Are

  • Insanity
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Mental retardation
  • Chronic alcoholism
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Insomnia

Atatvabhinivesa In Mano Vikara

One who consumes dirty food, suppressing natural urges, excessive indulgence of diet which are cold, hot, unctuous etc as a result of which doshas reaches heart and affect the channels connected with mind and intellect and get seated there because person is already shrouded with rajas and tamas. Due to predominance of rajas and tamas occluding the intellect and the mind and the aggravated doshas disturbing the functions of the heart, the person who is ignorant and mentally weak, makes perverted judgements regarding eternal and non eternal events and wholesome and unwhole-some objects. It is known as Atatvabhinivesa by experts.

Criteria For Maintain Good Mental Health

  • Free from fear, anxiety and shy
  • Be modest, ethusiatic and intelligent
  • Accept both success and failure confidently
  • Have daily bath, trim your hair, nails and mouthaches
  • Do not suppresses the natural urges
  • Follow bramacharya
  • Control your sense organs
  • Suppressed the undesirable qualities of mind
  • Take proper amount of sleep
  • Avoid laziness
  • Do yoga regularly
  • Do meditation
  • Behavioral therapy to calm mind

Conclusion

In this article we read about manas (mind) which is the place of healthy living as well as the seat for many diseases. Mano vikar is developed in manas which hinders the health of the person. In ayurveda, we can manage mental disorder with various herbs like brahmi (bacopa monnieri), patola (trichosanthes dioica), vastuka (chenopodium murale), mandukparni (gotukola), etc. These all herbs are very beneficial in mental disorders. Other behavioral therapies are also helpful.