Yogic Concept of Disease

In Anandamaya Kosa a man is healthiest with perfect harmony and balance of all his faculties. At Vijnanamaya Kosa there are movements, but are channelized in the right direction. As such , it is in the Manomaya level the imbalances start, says the yoga texts. These imbalances amplify themselves resulting in mental illnesses called " Adhis ". At this stage there are no symptoms at the physical level. Prompted by the perpetual growth of desires, these mental diseases concealed in us, begin to manifest themselves externally and gradually they percolate into the physical frame.

Preponderance of Ajnana (ignorance about one's real state of bliss) leads one perform wrong actions sucha s eating of unwholesome food, living in unhealthy dwellings, doing things at untimely hours, association with the wicked, evil thoughts etc., these breed physical diseases called Adhija Vyadhis or secondary diseases.

The Adhis (primary diseases) are two fold Samanya  (ordinary)and Sara (essential). The former includes the diseases incidental to the body while the latter is responsible for rebirth to which all men are subject. The Samanya are normally produced during the interactions with the world. These may be termed as psychosomatic ailments.

When dealt with by suitable techniques and congenial atmosphere, Adhis of the ordinary type will vanish. Along with it are destroyed the physical ailments i.e., the vyadhis caused by these Adhis - Adhijah Vyadhayah. The subtler adhis of the essential type (Sara) which cause the birth of the physical body can be destroyed only by the realization of the causal states of mind and a corresponding ability to live in Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya Kosas. In that state, man transcends the cycles of birth and death.

There are two types of diseases :

• Adhija Vyadhi      :   Stress born psychosomatic ailments, hysterical and neurosis ailments.
• Anadhija Vyadhi  :   Somatic ailments, infection, injury, toxins and non stress born.

 There are two types of Adhija Vyadhi :

• Sara Adhija Vyadhi              :      Those which are influenced by heredity.
• Samanya Adhija Vyadhi      :       Those which not inherited.

 Anadhija Vyadhis    :    Those which occur as a result of any external cause such as an accident.


Mechanism of Adhija Vyadhi       :

Stress built up in the Manomaya Kosa make the mind restless which percolates to the Pranamaya Kosa and disturbs the panic flow there and this disturb the digestion in Annamaya Kosa in one of the forms :

• Indigestion, over digestion and improper digestion thus manifesting in the Annamaya Kosa.