According to Ayurveda, the three basic doshas may appear in various combinations resulting in seven composite body types.
Every human has varying degrees of vata, pitta and kapha dosha usually in unequal proportions. Rarely few individuals may have equal proportions of all doshas. Generally, one dosha dominates and is considering as the main dosha. The next dominating dosha is considering as their secondary dosha.
What are Purusha, Prakriti, and Vikriti?
Purusha is a Sanskrit word means original source of the universe (Supreme Being, Supreme Sprit, or Brahman). Purusha was pre-existing before this universe creation; thus, purusha is supreme spirit and soul of the universe.
Prakriti is a Sanskrit word; Pra means the beginning (commencement) and kriti means creation, work & composition. It literally means beginning of creation or natural state of existence; here it is the basic trait. This determines ones suitable diets, exercise and lifestyle to maintain harmony and good health.
Vikriti is a Sanskrit word means change, modification, variation, sickness, agitation, defection, alteration, or disease. The vikriti is the opposite of prakriti; means modified or altered from its natural state.
Liberation for purusha depends on the ability to discriminate between the supreme spirit and the material form. The unbound pure spirit of Purusha is finally separates and liberate from Prakriti as total absorption in God (Samadhi) is experienced.
According to Ayurveda, Prakruti refers to the basic constitution determined at the time of conception, which is permanent throughout the lifetime. Prakruti of an individual is a specific combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Prakruti is unique just like fingerprint and DNA. Thus, it is necessary to determine once Prakruti to understand and heal that person.
Prakruti defines the subtle differences between individuals: why everyone is unique and why two persons react differently when exposed to the same environment.
Available dosha Composites
According to Ayurveda, the three basic doshas may appear in various combinations resulting in seven composite body types. They are:
- Single dosha types: only one dosha predominates in these individuals. They are Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. Only few individual have single-dosha type.
- Dual dosha types: combination of two doshas, one dosha predominates with another one strong secondary dosha. They are Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, or Kapha-Vata. Most of the individuals have dual dosha type.
- Tri dosha type: combination of all three doshas in equal proportions Vata-Pitta-Kapha. Rarely, very few individuals have tri dosha type.
Most of the individuals will have a combination of two of the Ayurveda Body Types. About 80% of us have a dual dosha (such as Vata/Pitta, Vata/Kapha, or Pitta/Kapha). Few of us have single dosha body type (for example pitta dosha). Even very fewer percentages of us have all the three dosha i.e. Vata Pitta Kapha in about the same amount.