Ayurveda : Gurvadi Guna

The gurvadi guna are mentioned below:

1. Laghutva (lightness)

Agni, akasha and vayu mahabhoota is responsible for making things lighter and the guna (property) that makes things lighter is known as laghu (light). This guna suppresses the 'kapha' dosha in the body and aggravates the 'vata' dosha. The purification of the body srotasa (channels) and aggravation of agni (appetiser) in the body is due to this guna. This guna is also responsible for developing vigour and joy in the body.

2. Shitatva (coldness)

This guna is responsible for decreasing the warmth (ushnta) of the body and increasing the coldness. The mahabhootas and rasa that are responsible for shitatva guna are Jala mahabhoota, madhur rasa (sweet taste), Tikta rasa (bitter taste) and Kashaya rasa. This guna has the property of curing Murchha (syncope), Trishna (thirst) and Daaha (burning sensation) in the body. The main function being stambhan it is somatmak and in winter season it increases the strength and immunity power.

3. Ushnatva (Hotness)

Meaning warmth or hotness it is the opposite of shita guna. Agni mahabhoota, Amla rasa (sour taste), Lavan rasa (salt taste) and Katu rasa (chilly taste) are the mahabhootas and rasa responsible for it. The main function of this guna is to sweat besides being able to cure Murchha (syncope), Trishna (thirst), Daaha (burning sensation) and metabolize Rasa, Rakta and Dhatu. Ushnatya (hotness) also increases the body heat and aggravates the pitta dosha while suppressing vata and kapha dosha in the body. It also suppresses the dhatus in the body and help in defecation and sweating.

4. Snigdha (soothing)

Also known as sneha (love) it is the main guna of Jala mahabhoota (water). Snigdha is responsible for s pindibhawan (clinging). It is also responsible for the development of softness & smoothness. Found in the Madhur rasa (sweet taste), Amla rasa (sour taste) and Lavan rasa (salt taste). Aprt form the main function of generating bala this guna generates Mardava (soften), bala (strengthen), Varna (skin complexion), Vajikaran (aphrodisiac) and aggravates kapha dosha while suppressing the vata dosha in the body.

5. Ruksha (dryness)

This guna is responsible for generating dryness, hardness, and roughness over the body. Found in Prithvi & Vayu mahabhoota, Katu rasa (pungent taste), Tikta rasa (bitter taste) and Kashaya rasa (taste as alum) it aggravates Vata dosha and suppresses Kapha dosha in the body. The main function of this guna is shoshan (to absorb) besides developing roughness, hardness, to destroy strength and complexion. This is also an Avrishya (anti-aphrodisiac) and a stambhan (cease secretion).

6. Mandatva (dullness)

Mandatva or dullness is the guna that is responsible for developing dullness or depression in the body. Excess of jala mahabhoota is responsible for the generation of this guna having slow activity and weak strength of action. Mandtva (dullness) also aggravates the kapha dosha and suppress pitta dosha in the body. The main function of this guna is Shaman (suppress) apart from being responsible for gatyavrodha (retardation), Shaithilya (dullness), Alpakriyta (weak action) and Chirkarita (slow action).

7.Tikshnatva (sharpness)

Meaning sharpness it is the opposite of mandtva (dullness) in context of its functioning, property and speed of reaction. This guna is fast in action, helps in shodhan (evacuation) of the body, aggravates pitta dosha, suppresses kapha dosha in the body and is responsible for Daaha (burn), Pak (digest), Stravkar (to secrete) and Lekhan (scraping). Tikshnatva (sharpness) is found in the Agni mahabhoota.

8.Sthiratva (immobility)

Sthiratva (immobility) is the guna responsible for Gatihinata and sthayitva (stability). This guna is the specialty of Prithvi but is also found in Madhura rasa (sweet taste), Tikta rasa (bitter taste) and Kashaya rasa (alum taste). Sthiratva (immobility) aggravates the kapha dosha and suppresses the vata dosha in the body. The main function of of this guna is Dharan (to hold) apart from Gatishaithilya (immobility), Sthirata of Dhatus (stabilize dhatus) and Stambhan (cease secretion). Avrodha (obstruction) is created by this guna.

9.Saratva (mobility)

This guna means mobility and promotes defecation and flatus. The action of this guna is fast and it scraps the dhatus of the body and aggravates vata dosha in the body. It is found in Vayu and Agni mahabhoota and also in Amla rasa (sour taste), Lavan rasa (salt taste) and Katu rasa (pungent). This guna is responsible for breaking the bond (bandhan) and release mala (excretory product) from the body. It is useful in shodhan chikitsa (evacuation therapy).

10.Mrudutva (softness)

This guna is responsible for developing shithila (lax) or softness on the body. Found in the Aakasha (space), Jala (water) mahabhoota and Lavan rasa (salty taste) mrudutva aggravates kapha dosha in the body. The main function of this guna is shlathan (lax) apart from preventing Daha (burn), Paka (supurating), Srava (secretions) and developing mriduta (softness).

11. Kathinatva (hardness)

This guna makes the body firm and hard. Present in the kathinatya guna is present in the Prithvi mahabhoota it increases the dhatu in the body and dries the excreting product. Vata dosha is also aggravated by this guna (property). The main function of this guna occurs to Drudhikaran (make firm), to make dhatus firm and dry the Mala (excretory product).

12.Vishadatva (clearness)

Literally meaning cleanliness this guna of Prithvi, Vayu, Teja and Aakasha mahabhoota has the capacity of Prakshalan (to wash out), which removes pichhilata (stickiness). The main function of this guna is prakshalan (to wash out) apart from Bala- nasha (destroy strength), Asandhan, Kledashoshan and Uranropan (healing). This guna suppresses the vata dosha and the Kapha Dosha in the body.

13.Pichhilatva (sliminess)

Pichhilatva (sliminess) is the guna that act as lepana (to join) and is the Sansidhik Guna of Jala mahabhoota. This guna aggravates kapha dosha and suppresses vata dosha in the body. The joining of two elements, increasing of the dhatus, strengthening of the body and promotion of livelihood are the main functions of Lepan (to join). Other functions of this guna include Jeevan (life), Bala (strength), Sandhan (to join), Uplepa, Shaitya (coldness), Tantul (fibrous) and Gurupaka (difficult to be digested).

14.Shlakshanatva (smoothness)

Sukhada sparsha (pleasant touch) is also know as shlakshna (smoothness). Main function of this guna is Ropa besides the other functions that are mentioned in pichhila guna. Shlakshna (smoothness) is produced when stone or metal are rubbed it. The difference between pichhila guna and shlakshna guna is that former has smoothness due to Sneha (i.e. water) and later have smoothness due to lack of sneha (water).

15.Kharatva (roughness)

Kharatva (roughness) is the synonym of Dukhad sparsha or unpleasant touch. Found in Vayu mahabhoota it aggravates vata dosha in the body and has the main function of Lekhan (to scrap) besides the functions to decrease the quantum of Dhatus.

16. Sukshmatva (minuteness)

The sukshma guna is due to the microscopic parts of the body. Found in Vayu, Agni and Aakasha this guna aggravates vata dosha in the body and has the main function of Vivaran (discoloration). Aprt form discoloration this guna is responsible for Sukshma srotogami (to enter in the microscopic part), absorbing of Mala (excretory product) and laghupaki (easy digestion).

17. Shortva (bulkiness)

The shortva guna is named so due to its large size that obstructs the srotasa (channels) of the body. This guna is the property of Prithvi mahabhoota and aggravates the kapha dosha in the body. Excessive intake of sugar (madhur rasa) increases bulkiness. It is also caused due to the chintarchita (no thinking), Aran-talab Jeevan (luxurious life), Achhi nidra (good sleep) and Shashna prakrup (kapha dosha prakruti). This guna has the main function of samvaran (promote complexion) aprt from the function of Sthoolta (bulkiness), Srotorodha (obstruct channels), Sandhidardhya (strengthen joint), Samvaran (promote complexion), Shakti (strength) and Gurupaka (difficult to digest).

18. Sandratva (solidity)

Literally meaning concentration, any body that is sthoola (bulky) and sthira (stable) is known as sandra meaning solid. This guna is the property of prithvi and aggravates kapha in the body. The main function of this guna is Prasadan (replenishing) and Dhatu vardhan (increase dhatus) apart form sthoolata and Bruhana (growth).

19. Dravatva (fluidity)

This guna prevails in the dravatva and is Aukshana (microscopic) i.e. cannot be seen by naked eyes. It ha the capability of Pravahi (flowing) and increases Rasadi dhatu and the quantum of Mala. The dravatva guna is of two type:

• Sansidhik: it is found in the Jala mahabhoota.
• Naimittika: fopund in the Prithvi & Agni mahabhoota.

The main functions of this guna are vilodan (to dissolve) apart from Kledan and increase the dravavastha.