Importance of Triguna in Healthy Lifestyle

Abstract

Ayurveda the most ancient science of life, practiced in India for thousands of
years based on its own unique fundamental principles such as prevention of
disease, maintenance of health and promotion of health. Trayopasthamba
consists of Ahara (food), Nidra (Sleep) and Brahmacarya (good conducts). Each
Upasthamba has its own importance in prevention of disease. Various ancient
texts of Yoga, Ayurveda and Puranas talk about the Gunas related to health,
behaviour and its effect of the personality in different ways. The concept of Guna
dates back to AtharvaVeda, it was discussed in Bhagawad Gita. The concept of
Triguna has been utilized to explain the concept of personality in modern era as
well. The development of consciousness is apparently rooted in this concept of
Triguna. These are known as sattvacalled as stability; Rajas called as activation
and Tamas called as inertia. By quantifying those differences in thoughts, one
can come to a conclusion where Gunas as a part of personality trait can be studied
as aetiology for being diseased or disease free. It helps in building an individual’s
personality, depending upon the predominance of Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and
Tamas). Ancient Yogic science classified food in to three basic categories called
the Satvik Ahara, Rajasic Ahara and Tamasic Ahara based on their influence on
Triguna of mind. In equilibrium, the three Gunas preserve the mind (and
indirectly the body), maintaining it in a healthy state or in a state of equilibrium.
Any disturbance in this equilibrium results in various types of mental disorders.