Veerya

Veerya (also spelled as Virya) means potency or active components. The ayurvedic pharmacological principles include five factors, viz. rasa (taste), guna (qualities), veerya (potency), vipaka (post-digestive effect), and prabhava (significant effect). These are commonly known as rasa-panchaka or dravyagat pancha padartha. Veerya is one of the crucial factors in constituting the pharmacology of drug. In pharmacology, as per Ayurveda, the word Veerya [SAT Code- F.22] is envisaged as the potential factor of the drug by which it performs specific actions in the body. This broad term is employed to explain lesser or greater potential drug factors concerning different processes and procedures to achieve the desired effect in the body.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Veerya
Authors	Bhojani M. K. 1, Joglekar Aishwarya 2, Joshi Sumedh 3
Reviewer	Basisht G.4,
Editor	Deole Y.S.5
Affiliations	1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Department of Samhita Siddhant, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 3Department of Dravyaguna, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 4 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 5 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence emails	meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	Febraury 04, 2023
DOI	10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.127

Etymology 

The term ‘Veerya’ is derived from the grammatical Sanskrit root ‘Veer’ or ‘Vri’ meaning ‘Vikranti’ or specific power to express vigour, strength etc. Monnier Williams dictionary mentions veerya means vigour, strength, power; heroism, prowess, valour, fortitude, courage, firmness; virile energy, virility; dignity, consequence; splendour, lustre, vigour, energy and virility. It also synonymous with terms like shukra dhatu (reproductive components including semen, virility), param dhatu (ultimate dhatu, nectar of all the dhatu), shakti (potency), dravya karma (drug action), prabhava, parakrama (valour or courage) as termed in Vachaspatyam.

Synonyms 

Shakti, prabhava, samarthya ^{[Dalhana on Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 40/1]} bala, and gunotkarsha ^{[Chakrapani on Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana .40/3]}

Characteristics 

Dravya is classified into two types: rasa pradhana (dominated by rasa) and veerya- pradhana (dominated by veerya). ^{[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 2/17]} The dietary items (ahara dravya) are considered rasa pradhana, while medicines (aushadha) are deemed to be veerya pradhana. The aushadha are again divided into three types based on veerya, namely mild (mrudu veerya), moderate (madhyama veerya) and sharply acting (teekshna veerya) ^{[Chakrapani on Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 2/17]}. This can be summarised in the table given below:

Table 1: Three types of Dravya based on veerya

Veerya wise classification	Examples	Matra (dose) to be used
Teekshna veerya	Shunthyadi (herbs like Shunthi- Zingiber offincinale)	Karsha (12 grams)
Madhyama veerya	Bilva-agnimanthadi (herbs like Bilva- Aegle marmelos and Agnimantha- Premna serratifolia etc.)	Ardhapala (24 grams)
Mridu veerya	Amalakadi (herbs like Amalaki- Phyllanthus emblica)	Pala (48 grams)

Table 2: Opinions of various authors regarding the concept of veerya

Sr. No	Author name	Opinion	Reference
1.	Charak	Considers chintya (explainable) and achintya (unexplainable) veerya.	Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 26/70
		Defines veerya as the potency or power of the drug through which it performs its work or action	Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana.26/65

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