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Img source: "Online Herbal Medicine"
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Ayurveda is based upon the three doshas,
Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which make up our unique constitutional body type (prikriti).
This can be determined from the Ascendant which is the prime significator of our physical body, unique characteristics, complexion, psychological make-up, general well-being, sense of self-worth etc..
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Vata: Corresponds to air and is defined as windy by temperament. This dosha governs bodily functions concerned with movement and is especially involved in the movement of electrical activity up and down the nerves and therefore has a major function in the nervous system and brain. The flow of food through the digestive tract and the circulation also are controlled by the function of Vata, as are the senses of hearing and touch.
Pitta: Corresponds to fire and is defined as bilious. This dosha governs bodily functions concerned with heat, metabolism and energy production. Pitta's main activities are to control the chemical transformation processes associated with digestion and metabolism. Pitta controls the sense of sight.
Kapha: Corresponds to earth and water and is defined as phlegmatic. Kapha governs bodily functions and is mainly concerned with fluid balance and the buildup of the gross structure of the body including fat, tissues and muscles. Kapha controls the senses of taste and smell.
Joan Aronowitz, speaking on TM and Ayurveda, was my first TM teacher.
She initiated me and my family in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) 1975.
Click on each dosha (and their tastes) for more information
The three doshas can be seen in all cycles of nature.
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Vata
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Kapha
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Pitta
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Time of Day
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2:00AM - 6:00AM
2:00PM - 6:00PM
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6:00AM - 10:00AM
6:00PM - 10:00PM
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10:00AM - 2:00PM
10:00PM - 2:00AM
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Seasons
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Late Autumn - Winter
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Spring - Early Summer
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Midsummer - Early Autumn
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Methods used to determine the Prikriti from birth chart
Some follow the line that lagna/lagnesh, representing the constitution/body-type, determines the Prikriti at birth. Others maintain that Prikriti is determined by considering the nakshatras of Chandra, Lagna and Surya.
Readers are encouraged to compare both methods with as many charts as possible before reaching a conclusion. I have found the first method to be most reliable...
If determining from lagna, as an example; say the ascendant is Virgo (a vata sign) and the lord of the Ascendant (Mercury) is in Capricorn (a vata sign), it will point to a strong vata influence. Conjunctions and/or aspects to either Ascendant or its lord can add additional qualities.
NB: Parashara describes the temperament of the Planets in BPHS >Ch 3: 23-30<
Click on chapters (above) to read.
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Nakshatra
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Dosha
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Nakshatra
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Dosha
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Nakshatra
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Dosha
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Lord
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1
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Ashwini
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Vata
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10
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Magha
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Kapha
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19
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Mula
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Vata
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Ketu
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2
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Bharini
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Pitta
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11
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P.Phalguni
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Pitta
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20
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P.Shadha
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Pitta
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Venus
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3
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Krittika
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Kapha
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12
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U.Phalguni
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Vata
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21
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U.Shadha
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Kapha
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Sun
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4
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Rohini
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Kapha
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13
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Hasta
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Vata
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22
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Shravana
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Kapha
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Moon
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5
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Mrigasira
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Pitta
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14
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Chitra
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Pitta
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23
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Dhanishtha
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Pitta
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Mars
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6
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Ardra
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Vata
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15
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Swati
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Kapha
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24
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Satabhisha
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Vata
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Rahu
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7
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Punarvasu
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Vata
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16
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Vishaka
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Kapha
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25
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P.Bhadra
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Vata
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Jupiter
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8
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Pushya
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Pitta
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17
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Anuradha
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Pitta
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26
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U.Bhadra
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Pitta
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Saturn
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9
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Aslesha
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Kapha
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18
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Jyeshtha
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Vata
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27
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Revati
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Kapha
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Mercury
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Sign
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Dosha
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Ruling Planet
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Dosha
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Co-Ruler
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Dosha
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Aries
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Pitta
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Mars
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Pitta
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Taurus
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Vata
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Venus
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Kapha/Vata
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Gemini
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Vata/Pitta/Kapha
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Mercury
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Vata/Pitta/Kapha
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Cancer
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Kapha
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Moon
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Vata/Kapha
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Leo
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Pitta
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Sun
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Pitta
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Virgo
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Vata
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Mercury
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Vata/Pitta/Kapha
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Libra
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Vata/Pitta/Kapha
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Venus
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Kapha/Vata
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Scorpio
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Kapha
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Mars
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Pitta
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Ketu
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Vata
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Sagittarius
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Pitta
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Jupiter
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Kapha
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Capricorn
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Vata
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Saturn
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Vata
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Aquarius
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Vata/Pitta/Kapha
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Saturn
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Vata
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Rahu
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Vata
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Pisces
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Kapha
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Jupiter
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Kapha
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It's most common that the physiology (specifically) expresses the traits of more than one dosha i.e., the prikriti can be said to be vata/kapha, pitta/kapha, vata/pitta or whatever. It's not so common to be a pure vata, pitta or kapha type. Neither is it common to have a perfect balance of all three dosha's (known as Sama or Tridosha)...see examples below.
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Chart 1. South Indian Style
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Chart 2. South Indian Style
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In this chart Scorpio (kapha) rises with Ascendant lord Mars, in the vata sign of Virgo, conjunct Moon and Rahu. Moon, classified as vata/kapha, expresses more kapha when waxing (moving towards Sun) and more vata when waning (traveling away from Sun).
Rahu possesses the temperament of vata and, as he's tightly conjunct Moon in the vata sign of Virgo, the influence of vata on Ascendant lord Mars is strong. Jupiter, exalted in Cancer, aspects the ascendant from 9th house, imparting a strong kapha influence on the constitution. Therefore the native's prikriti is deemed to be either kapha/vata or vata/kapha depending on fluctuations.
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In this chart Capricorn (vata) rises with Ascendant lord Saturn in the sign of Gemini who possesses all three humors so none really dominate. The Ascendant is occupied by Ketu (vata) and is aspected by Jupiter (kapha) from the kapha sign of Cancer. This native's physiology (constitution) strongly expresses the qualities of kapha/vata.
Jupiter, exalted in sign of Cancer, is obviously the stronger influence, therefore the native's prikriti is deemed to be kapha/vata rather than vata/kapha. However the dosha's do fluctuate and often it may be that vata is stronger. As we get older, vata increases in everyone. This dosha also increases naturally during late autumn/winter season.
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Chart 1. Vedic Wheel Style
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Chart 2. Vedic Wheel Style
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Chronic dosha imbalance (vrikriti) can develop when planets get afflicted in 8th house of vulnerability. A native with kapha/vata prikriti for instance can also have a strong pitta imbalance (vrikriti). Prikriti is kept in balance with diet and lifestyle - Vrikriti with rasayanas (good medical treatment/intervention). Afflictions to Moon can also indicate a strong imbalance (vrikriti) as is seen in chart 3. below.
Knowing our prakriti is a step towards good health, and certainly tells us a great deal about the native's innate nature. I'm therefore mystified why this important area of jyotish is so neglected.
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Chart 3. North Indian Style - Vata imbalance (vrikriti) disturbing Moon
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In this chart Aries (pitta) rises with Ascendant lord Mars in the kapha sign of Pisces. The Ascendant is occupied by Venus who has the temperament of kapha/vata, and the aspect of Jupiter from Sagittarius adds more kapha influence (although not so strong as if placed in a kapha sign). So the influence of kapha and pitta being the stronger suggests that this native's constitution is kapha/pitta.
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Some vata present due to Venus and if this dosha were to become imbalanced it could certainly disturb the other two. Vata is known as the king of doshas as, when in balance, it leads the others into balance as well.
Vrikriti (imbalance):
Moon is badly afflicted by the aspect of (vata) Saturn and the conjunction of (vata) Ketu, resulting in mental/emotional disturbances that can develop into severe mental illness if not kept in check. A vata pacifying diet and a nightcap (rasayana) made with scalded milk, vata churna and a little ghee would go a long way in pacifying this affliction.
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Sign and Physiology
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The part of the body represented by the sign/bhava can be afflicted if it's occupied by a malefic and/or if it's lord is afflicted. This manifestation will be even more likely if that sign has become the eighth house (vulnerable point).
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Sign / House
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Body Part
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Additional physiological indications/ Disease
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Aries - Mesha
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Head, Brain, forehead
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Digestive fire
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venereal or bilious disease, constipation, deafness, headache, insomnia, mental tension, stammering.
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Taurus - Vrishabha
- 2 -
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Face, Neck
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All organs of Face and Neck
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reproductive vigour, production of semen, female barreness, disease of bronchial tube.
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Gemini - Mithuna
- 3 -
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Shoulders, Arms, Hands
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Palms, Wrists, Nipples, Ears
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indecision, asthma.
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Cancer - Karka
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Heart, Chest, Lungs
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worried mind, heart disease, impurity of blood, cold.
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Leo - Simha
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Stomach
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Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen, Navel, Pancreas, Kidney
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indigestion, enlargment of liver, reduced fertility, anger, greed
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Virgo - Kanya
- 6 -
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Hips
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Back, Waist, Small intestine
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Indigestion, pain in back.
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Libra - Tula
- 7 -
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Space below navel
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Abdomen, Belly, Bladder, Large intestine, Buttocks
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urinary disease, diabetes.
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Scorpio - Vrischika
- 8 -
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Privy parts
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Generative and Excretory organs
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venereal disease, water in stomach, restlessness, anger, over-sensitiveness.
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Sagittarius - Dhanu
- 9 -
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Thighs
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problems due to weather changes, greed, restlessness.
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Capricorn - Makara
- 10 -
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Knees
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reluctance, cold, skin disease, hypertension.
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Aquarius - Kumbha
- 11 -
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Calves, Ankles
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rheumatism, heart trouble, heat in body, self-indulgence.
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Pisces - Meena
- 12 -
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Feet
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diseases related to urine, stomach or skin, pain in joints, dysentery.
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Graha (Planet) and Physiology
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Organs mentioned can be diseased or sickness may occur if related graha is weak, afflicted, or in dusthana...
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Graha
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Physiology / Disease
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Sun - Surya
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Bones
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Head, Brain, Right eye, Bile, Organ of voice, Physical heart, Arteries, Veins
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fever, cholera, blood pressure.
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Moon - Chandra
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Blood
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Face, Lungs, Lymph, Left eye, Glands, Tonsils, Womb, Breasts, Blood circulation, Stomach, Kidneys
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phthysis, cold, cough, lunacy, colics.
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Mars - Mangala
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Marrow
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Bile, Muscles, Sinews, Nose, Digestive fire, Reproductive organs, Intestine
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dysentry, piles, typhoid, pox, boils, accident.
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Mercury - Budha
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Skin
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Tongue, Bronchial tube, Bowels, Sensorium, Nerve centres, Gastric juice, Hands
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epilepsy, loss of memory or speech, dyspepsia, vertigo.
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Jupiter - Guru
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Fat (adipose tissue)
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Liver, Ears, Navel, Hips, Physical development, Palate, Throat
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dyspepsia, cough, cold, phthysis, sinus congestion, asthma, allergies, thrombosis, diarrhoea.
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Venus - Sukra
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Semen / Ovula
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Reproductive organs, Bladder, Kidneys, Pancreas, Fluids, Secretion, Emission.
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venereal disease, asthma, diabetes, phthysis, cough, cold.
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Saturn - Sani
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Muscles
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Knees, Feet, Legs, Gall bladder, Respiritory system, Nerves
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gout, indigestion, dyspepsia, rheumatism, rickets, insanity, consumption.
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Rahu - Dragon's head
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Alimentary canal, Excretory system
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indigestion, gas accumulation in stomach or intestines, skin disease (swelling) insect bite, hiccough.
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Ketu - Dragon's tail
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Nervous system, Spine
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poisoning, plague, consumption, fever, wounds, snake bite.
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