Ayurveda Philosophy and The Sutatva Promise of Purity
Ayurveda is a Sister Science to Yoga that emerged from the sacred texts of ancient India, called the Vedas, meaning “Books of Wisdom.” Ayurveda is not just a popular form of alternative medicine. Rather, It is a holistic healing philosophy. Believed to be over 5000+ years old, Ayurveda teaches us to see the world with respect to three elements—also called as the doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha. According to Ayurveda, each human is born as a mixture of these three elements. The first step towards finding your optimal state of balanced, natural health begins by determining your primary Dosha.
What is Ayurveda?
The word Ayurveda is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Ayu’ which means ‘Life’ and ‘Veda’ which means ‘Knowledge’. Ayurveda therefore translates to “the science of life and holistic well-being”. Believed to be 6000 years Old, it is the oldest documented body of holistic medical knowledge in the world,- a system of herbs, oils and plants. The fundamental philosophy of Ayurveda rests on the concept of harmony – in Ayurveda, true health and wellness can only result from perfect harmony between the mind, body and spirit.
At its very root, it is both a holistic tradition as well a way of living to help each us claim and celebrate wellness. Thus, Ayurveda can help us to:
- Synchronize with our truest inner self
- Help Develop our strengths
- Go Directly towards our challenge areas
- Maintain our physical and mental balance in the face of adversity
Therefore, Ayurveda is not just about taking any herbal formula and waiting for the results. Rather, it encourages one to be an active participant in one’s own journey to healing. This involves learning about one’s relationship with the 5 elements and the unique combinations they create also known as Doshas
History of Ayurveda
Ayurveda was a very popular and prosperous practice during vedic times as the Vedic texts were taught as part of the school education.However in the wake of India’s political struggles with various invading countries—most notably the British Empire , this knowledge was lost as the education system underwent multiple changes by different invading countries. Inspite of this, those who practiced Ayurveda on the fringes of society, kept the tradition alive till India gained independence in 1947. Ayurveda has now resurfaced as a major system of healthcare thanks to many saints and yoga masters.
Principles of Ayurveda- Elements, Qualities and Doshas
- Interpret the very laws of nature
- Identify the different states of health or health imbalances
- Creating a course toward improved well-being
The Five Elements of Ayurveda

Ayurveda identifies five elements as the fundamental building blocks of everything in nature:
- Earth
- Water
- Fire
- Air
- Ether or Space
Each and every substance contains all of these elements. However, in any given substance, one or two elements typically predominate over the others.
Ayurveda And Doshas

Vata

Pitta

Kapha
Each of us is a combination of these three doshas. There is a combination of doshas with which we are born with, also known our constitution, or prakriti in Sanskrit. We also have a state of balance known as vkriti that is the doshas that are elevated within our body at a given time. If these doshas accumulate beyond the healthy limits (those determined by one’s constitution), they can cause havoc on one’s health.