What is Prakriti or Constitution?
According to Ayurveda each individual
is different from other by physical, mental, social
and spiritual qualities and characters. The combination
of these characters and qualities will vary from one
to another and is considered as the constitution or
Prakruti of a person, which is developed during fertilization
or formation of embryo in the womb and is influenced
by factors like Genetic inheritance, Time, Climate etc
prevailing at that time.
The basic Constitution of a person remains
unchanged from birth to death due to the proper balance
of three basic constituents - humors - of body namely
VATHA, PITHA and KAPHA. But imbalance of these constituents
from time to time by the influence of improper lifestyle,
food and climate etc lead to Vikruti or disease.
Why should one know his Prakriti?
Knowing your constitution will help you to plan your
life by choosing the right food and activities which
will suit your Prakriti, and to avoid those which will
lead to deviation of basic constitution and ill health.
Types of Prakriti
According to the predominance and combination of Vatha,
Pitha and Kapha in the individual Prakriti is classified
into seven types. They are
1.Vatha Prakriti 2.Pitha Prakriti 3.Kapha Prakriti
4.Vatha Pitha Prakriti 5.Pitha Kapha Prakriti 6.Vatha
Kapha Prakriti
7. Sama Prakriti
Using Prakriti Test in the right way
To know your Prakriti in the true sense, one has to
provide answers in the best sincere way. The end result
will come like a score sheet with marks given to all
three constituents – VATHA, PITHA and KAPHA. The
more percentage of marks for each of these constituents
you are more likely to fall in that category. For e.g.:
If the score sheets reads as follows:
Vata = 52
Pitha = 38
Kapha = 10 - Your Constitution is Vata predominant with
Pitha as substitute.
Or if the reading is
Vata = 42
Pitha = 38
Kapha = 20 – Your constitution is Vata Pitha predominant.
Once you understand your Prakruti or Basic constitution,
you may choose the right food and activities and avoid
that are not suiting your health from the given List.
In case of Prakriti with combination of two constituents,
one may go with a balanced type of diet and activity.
