Varna

Varna means colour or complexion and is referred to assess skin colour. It is important biologically, cosmetically, and socially. Modern literature considers that differences in skin colour among individuals is caused only by variation in pigmentation. This is a result of genetics (inherited from one's biological parents and or individual gene alleles), exposure to the sun, natural and sexual selection, or all of these. Apart from these factors, Ayurveda considers other factors too like daily regimen, excxellence of body tissues, constitution (prakriti) of the person, etc as the factors affecting varna.Equilibrium of dosha is essential for healthy varna.Derangement in the homeostasis of dosha often causes discoloration of varna. Bhrajak pitta[Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 21/10] [Ast. Hri. Sutra Sthana 12/14] and udanavayu[A. Hri. Sutra Sthana 12/5] carry the physiological functions for maintaining varna. Several medicinal formulations for the enhancement of varna are mentioned in ayurveda texts. E.g. group of ten herbs for improving colour of skin (varnyadashemani) includes Chandana (Santalum album), Tunga (Calophylluminophyllum), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides), Ushira (Vetiveriazizanioides), Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Payasya (Pueraria tuberosa), Sita (Cynodondactylon) and Lata (Cynodon linearis). [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 4/8] This article describes the physiological and pathological aspects of varna and its importance in healthcare.

Sharira

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts / Varna
Authors	Bhojani M.K.1, Yadav Vandana 1
Reviewer	Basisht G.2
Editor	Deole Y.S.3
Affiliations	1 Department of Kriya Sharira, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat, India
Correspondence email	meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of first publication:	May20, 2023
DOI	10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.139

Classification

Human skin colour ranges from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. Ayurveda scholars have classified varna based on proportions of mahabhutacomposing them as follows:

S. No	Type of Varna	CharakSamhita ShariraSthana	CharakSamhita IndriyaSthana	SushrutaSamhita ShariraSthana	Colour
1	Gaura	✓		✓	White/fair complexion
2	Krishna	✓	✓	✓	Black/dark complexion
3	Shyam	✓	✓		Dark blue/brown
4	Shyamavdata		✓		Bluish white
5	Avadata		✓		White/fair
6	Krishna Shyam			✓	Bluish black complexion
7	Gaur Shyam			✓	Bluish white cmplexion

Varna	Mahabhuta Acc. To Charak	Mahabhuta Acc. To Susruta
Gaura	Agni+Jala+Akash	Jala+Agni
Krishna	Agni+Prithvi+Vayu	Prithvi+Agni
Shyam	Akash+Vayu+Agni+Jala+Prithvi
Gaura Shyam		Jala+Akash+Agni
Krishna Shyam		Prithvi+Akash+Agni

[Cha. Sa. ShariraSthana 8/15],[Cha. Sa. IndriyaSthana 1/8],[Su. Sa. ShariraSthana 2/37]

Inheritance of varna

The disorders of various body systems affect varna. E.g. disorders in rakta dhatu (blood and its components) results in skin discolouration and diseases.[Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 28/11-13] [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 24/11]Skin diseases have detrimental effect on varna. Rakta dhatu in its optimum quantity and quality leads to superior complexion. Similarly,presence of optimum body and scalp hair, cutaneous blood vessels, too affect the varna. The health of liver, spleen and other digestive organs is important to maintain a normal varna. These organs like heart, liver, spleen areoriginated from maternal factors, while some like hair, blood vessels, etc are contributed by paternal factors.[Ast. Hri. ShariraSthana 3/4-5]Thus varna of child is believed to be inherited from parents. Contemporary science believes that three classes of genes contribute to normal human color variation through the production of hypopigmented phenotypes or by genetic association with skin type and hair color. The MSH cell surface receptor and the melanosomal P-protein are the two most obvious candidate genes influencing variation in pigmentation phenotype, and may do so by regulating the levels and activities of the melanogenic enzymes tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. Varna being regulated by genes may indicate its inheritance from parents.

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