The term purusha literally means a man, male, human being or a member or representative of a race or generation.[1] This word also represents the soul of the universe.[2] A proper knowledge about all the elements of a particular purusha is very essential for the successful treatment.
Etymology and derivation
Purusha is derived from two words. 'Pure shareere' meaning 'inside the body'and 'shete' meaning ' which resides'. So the word ‘purusha’ means that which resides in body. (amarakosha)
Definition
An aggregate of soul, senses, psyche and sense objects can be considered as Purusha in general. [Chakrapani on Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 25/04)
Contextual meanings
In Charak samhita the word purusha denotes these following meanings:
- Person /individual
- Male
- Aatma, Self , Consciousness alone
- One’s actions (deeds) in this life”( purushakara)
- Corporeal entities (पुरुषे मूर्तिमन्तो)
- Holistic human being (Rashipurusha)
Types
- Having one element
The element of consciousness alone could be considered as purusha. ( Cha. Sa. Sharira Sthana 1/16)
- Having six elements
Purusha comprises of six dhatu (elements), viz. five mahabhuta (in their subtle form) and consciousness. (Cha.Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/16) Imperishable Atma and perishable Panchabhautik body are the two main constituents of the Purusha. They are mentioned in Yajurveda in question-answer manner as “combining and mutually supporting during life and disintegrating and uniting with elements of the universe at the time of death.” The same concept is established more clearly as Shad-dhatuka Purusha and Pancha mahabhoot Shareeri Samavayh Purusha, and Panchatwa prapti at death by Charaka and Sushruta respectively.[3]
- Having twenty four elements
Purusha comprises of twenty four dhatu, i.e. mind, ten indriyas (sensory and motor organs), five objects of sense organs and prakriti (consisting of eight dhatus, viz. five mahabhuta (in their subtle form), ahamkara (ego), mahan (intellect) and avyakta (primordial element) (Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 1/17)
Discussion
The word Purusha simply denotes a holistic human being. The definition also says combination of soul, senses and psyche is purusha, which means a living human being. The physical body which is made up of flesh and blood when combines with atma (soul) becomes a human being. So it is the atma which gives life to the physical body. So here atma or chetana dhatu (the element that which gives life) is considered as purusha at the same time the material body is also considered as purusha. As far a physician is concerned, he is giving more importance to the body which is a combination of mind, soul, senses, mahabhuta, intellect and ego. So that complete entity (holistic human being) is also called as purusha and further it is clarified that it should be focused for treatment.
As per the Indian philosophy, whatever happening to a person is due to the effect of his own deeds(karma) in this life or in the previous life. Ayurveda believes that rashipurusha is responsible for all deeds in life and has to face the consequences of these deeds. It is also responsible for the (creation/gaining of) knowledge, pleasure, sorrow, and joy Since purusha refers mainly to living human being, his deeds can also be called as purusha or purushakara because it defines that person.
Purusha without a beginning, neither have an end also. But the purusha with a beginning is ephemeral.(Cha.Sa. Sharira Sthana 01/059) The eternal purusha can be considered as the absolute soul and that with a beginning and end suggests the combination of soul with other elements.
Importance of Knowledge of Purusha
- For treating a person one has to know about the human body as a whole (rashipurusha).
- The person who knows this rashipurusha in its true sense also understands the whole process of the genesis and destruction of life.
- Such an intellectual person becomes well aware of chikitsa and nothing else remains for him to be learnt.
- The life span of all living beings depends on the proper coordination of two factors, namely, daiva (divine/pre-determined) and purushakara (human effort). Daiva means one’s own deeds in the previous life while purushakara stands for one’s actions (deeds) in this life. So proper knowledge of purusha is essential for understanding lifespan.
- In order to attain salvation, purusha is to be freed from rajas and tamas. If freed from the influence of rajas and tamas, the purusha is free from its association with the tattva and is said to be liberated.
Current researches
Purusha is considered as Atman (self). Therefore knowing purusha leads to knowledge about self. It is directly related to spiritual health. World Health Organization included spiritual dimension of Health in assessment of quality of life.[4] Some researchers state that Purusha is a state of self existence which is static, undifferentiated and universal. It is a super conscious state which encompasses all other three states of consciousness-the ‘Jagrat’(awake), ‘Swapna’ (dream) and ‘Sushupti’ (deep sleep). There is no object-subject polarity (duality) in this universal state and it is unitary or singular. Thus Purusha is merged with the universal consciousness.[5]
References of Purusha in Charak Samhita
| Sr. No. | Person/individual | Aatma | Corporeal entities | Holistic human being | Male | One’s actions (deeds) in this life |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutra sthana | ||||||
| 1 | Chapter 1 verse 123 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2 | Chapter 4 verse 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 3 | Chapter 7 verse 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 4 | Chapter 7 verse 65 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 5 | Chapter 8 verse 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 6 | Chapter 8 verse 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 7 | Chapter 10 verse 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 8 | Chapter 11 verse 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 9 | Chapter 11 verse 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 10 | Chapter 12 verse 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11 | Chapter 13 verse 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 12 | Chapter 13 verse 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 13 | Chapter 14 verse 46 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 14 | Chapter 15 verse 8-10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 18 verse 1 | -- |
| 16 | Chapter 21 verse 03 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 17 | Chapter 21 verse 38 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 18 | Chapter 21 verse 60 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 19 | Chapter 24 verse 24 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 20 | Chapter 25 verse 01 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 21 | Chapter 25 verse 04 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 22 | Chapter 25 verse 06 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 23 | Chapter 25 verse 08 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 24 | Chapter 25 verse 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 25 | Chapter 25 verse 17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 26 | Chapter 25 verse 19-21 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 27 | Chapter 25 verse 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 28 | Chapter 25 verse 30-32 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 29 | Chapter 25 verse 51 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 30 | Chapter 28 verse 07 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Nidana Sthana | ||||||
| 31 | Chapter 03 verse 06 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 32 | Chapter 04 verse 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 33 | Chapter 04 verse 17 - 19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 34 | Chapter 04 verse 21 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 35 | Chapter 06 verse 04-06 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 36 | Chapter 06 verse 08 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 37 | Chapter 06 verse 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 38 | Chapter 07 verse 04 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 39 | Chapter 07 verse 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Vimana Sthana | ||||||
| 40 | Chapter 01 verse 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 41 | Chapter 03 verse 23 - 24 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 42 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 03 verse 29-33 |
| 43 | Chapter 03 verse 36 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 44 | -- | -- | Chapter 05 verse 03 | -- | -- | -- |
| 45 | Chapter 03 verse 36 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 46 | Chapter 05 verse 04 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 47 | Chapter 06 verse 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 48 | Chapter 06 verse 14 - 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 49 | Chapter 07 verse 03 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 50 | Chapter 07 verse 31 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 51 | Chapter 08 verse 03 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 52 | Chapter 08 verse 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 53 | Chapter 08 verse 30-32 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 54 | -- | Chapter 08 verse 37 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 55 | Chapter 08 verse 43 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 56 | -- | Chapter 08 verse 52 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 57 | -- | Chapter 08 verse 61 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 58 | Chapter 08 verse 87 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 59 | Chapter 08 verse 102 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 60 | Chapter 08 verse 111 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 61 | Chapter 08 verse 114 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 62 | Chapter 08 verse 116 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 63 | Chapter 08 verse 119 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sharira Sthana | ||||||
| 64 | -- | Chapter 01 verse 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 65 | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 01 verse 17 | -- | -- |
| 66 | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 01 verse 35 | -- | -- |
| 67 | -- | Chapter 01 verse 39-42 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 68 | -- | Chapter 01 verse 46-47 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 69 | -- | Chapter 01 verse 51 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 70 | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 01 verse 53 | -- | -- |
| 71 | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 01 verse 59 | -- | -- |
| 72 | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 01 verse 67 | -- | -- |
| 73 | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 01 verse 85 | -- | -- |
| 74 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 02 verse 24 | -- |
| 75 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 03 verse 03 | -- |
| 76 | Chapter 03 verse 04(2) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 77 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 03 verse 04(5) | -- |
| 78 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 03 verse 08 | -- |
| 79 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 03 verse 11 | -- |
| 80 | Chapter 03 verse 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 81 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 04 verse 07 | -- |
| 82 | -- | Chapter 04 verse 08 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 83 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 04 verse 10 | -- |
| 84 | Chapter 04 verse 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 85 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 04 verse 14 | -- |
| 86 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 04 verse 31 | -- |
| 87 | Chapter 05 verse 03-06 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 88 | Chapter 05 verse 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 89 | Chapter 05 verse 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 90 | Chapter 06 verse 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 91 | Chapter 06 verse 21 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 92 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 08 verse 04-06 | -- |
| 93 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 08 verse 09 | -- |
| 94 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 08 verse 17-19 | -- |
| 95 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 08 vesre 50 | -- |
| Indriya Sthana | ||||||
| 96 | Chapter 01 verse 04-05 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 97 | Chapter 01 verse 07 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 98 | Chapter 03 verse 05 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 99 | Chapter 05 verse 42 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 100 | Chapter 09 verse 05 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 101 | Chapter 12 verse 83 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 102 | Chapter 12 verse 88 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Chikitsa Sthana | ||||||
| 103 | Chapter 02/01 verse 03 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 104 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 02/01 verse 18 | -- |
| 105 | Chapter 02/04 verse 32 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 106 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 02/04 verse 47 | -- |
| 107 | Chapter 03 verse 324 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 108 | Chapter 03 verse 329 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 109 | Chapter 09 verse 18-19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 110 | Chapter 09 verse 83 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 111 | Chapter 23 verse 04 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 112 | Chapter 27 verse 19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 113 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Chapter 30 verse 126 | -- |
| 114 | Chapter 30 verse 315 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Kalpa Sthana | ||||||
| 115 | Chapter 01 vesre 08 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Siddhi Sthana | ||||||
| 116 | Chapter 03 verse 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
More information
References
- ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier-Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary, 1st edition; Oxford University Press, Purusha, Page 637
- ↑ Monier-Williams, Monier-Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary, 1st edition; Oxford University Press, Purusha, Page 637
- ↑ Thakar VJ. Historical development of basic concepts of Ayurveda from Veda up to Samhita. AYU. 2010 Oct-Dec; 31(4): 400–402.
- ↑ Reddy P S. Spiritual health in Āyurveda: A review through Charaka Samhitᾱ. Yoga Mimamsa 2018;50:37-40
- ↑ H. R. Aravinda Prabhu, P. S. Bhat. Mind and consciousness in yoga – Vedanta: A comparative analysis with western psychological concepts Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jan; 55(Suppl 2): S182–S186.