Ayurveda Portal, The Knowledge of Life

Vata

' The principle of Movement '

Vata is a very central concept in Ayurveda. This is something which you can find in the classics texts. Vata has been described as having unimaginable potency/power, leader of the doshas, and king of the collective of disease. It is also described as fast, quick i.e., quick acting and one that is constantly moving. It has been said that all the calamities of the world are nothing but the manifestation of the ire of vata

The biological element vata is derived from the combination of Akasha (ether) and Vayu (air). Vata is light, minute, and rough, dry, clear and cold in nature. It can’t be visualized due to its minute character, but perceived only by observing their actions.

Function:

1. Responsible for all the movements of the body, even at cellular level.

2. Controls the metabolic processes. But due to its stimulating action it increases the catabolic processes.

3. Controls the movements of other two doshas Pitta & Kapha.

4. Cell division.

5. Stimulate all the sensory as well as motor centers.

6. Controls respiratory process.

7. Responsible for normal functioning of the intellect.

8. Originator of zeal and joy.

Types of Vata:

There are 5 subtypes of vata. In this table you will find their names, locations and actions.

S. No.	Subtypes of Vata	Locations	Actions
1.	Prana	Mouth, Head, Ear, Tongue, Nose & Chest	Respiration, swallowing, sneezing, spitting etc.
2.	Udana	Larynx, chest, umbilical region	Speech, directing mental activities, physical strength
3.	Samana	Stomach, duodenum	Digestion, sweating etc.
4.	Vyana	Everywhere in the body	Circulation in the body, closing of eyelids etc.
5.	Apana	Region of umbilicus, colon, rectum, bladder, penis, hip joints and thighs	Defaecation, micturation, menstruation, seminal discharge, delivery