What is prakriti?

In Ayurveda it is defined as, the biological constitution or the genetic makeup of an individual, confirmed during the process of conception and remains constant through one’s life, is called Prakriti.

Pra-before, beginning,   krithi-creation or to do

Prakriti on overall means the first formed nature or the original form of the being. Prakriti analysis is Ayurveda’s unique criteria of determining a body type of an individual.

Examination is done on objective and subjective basis. Questionnaire includes questions related to lifestyle, physical characteristics and physiological functions such as digestion, excretion, nature, moods, etc.

Factors affecting the formation of prakriti

• Nature of the sperm and ovum
• Nature of uterine cavity
• Role of Panchamahabhuta
• Time/season of conception
• Diet of the mother

Different body types based on prakriti

• Vata
• Pitta
• Kapha
• Vata Pitta
• Pitta Kapha
• Kapha Vata
• Vata Pitta Kapha

Phyysical appearance according to dosha

S.NO	CHARACTERISTICS	VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
1	Face / forehead	Small and irregular	Medium	Large and attractive
2	Body frame/physique	Thin	Medium	Well built/sturdy
3	Body structure	Tall	Medium	Short/dwarf
4	Scalp Hair type	Rough, Dry hair with splits end	Grey, scanty and baldness	Thick and glossy
5	Body hair	Scanty and irregular	Moderate and faint color	Thick and strong
6	Skin	Dry, rough	Soft, more of sweating, prone to acne	Moist and greasy
7	Complexion	Dark or tendency to darken	Pink to red/copper colored	Bright white and attractive
8	Eyes	Small, protruding and few lashes	Sharp eye lashes and colored iris	Thick eyebrows and attractive eyes
9	Eyeball	Unsteady /fast-moving	Slow movement	Steady
10	Teeth	Cracked, irregular and dull white/black	Moderate, yellow, plaque	Big, shinning white and strong
11	Lips	Dry. Thin and discolored	Glossy, medium and copper colored	Thick, smooth and full glossy
12	Tongue	Dry , dark spots	Thin, copper colored	Clean and thick
13	Hands	Short	Medium	Long
14	Nails	Small, blackish and brittle	Small and reddish	Big, smooth and pinkish
15	Joints	Weak and prominent cracking noise on movement	Flabby, healthy with optimal strength	Strong, well defined and compact
16	Chest	Thin, prominent ribs	Medium	Muscular and strong

Physical characteristics

S.NO	CHARACTERISTICS	VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
1	Voice	Fast irritating	Sharp, commanding	Sweet, soft and resonating
2	Pulse	Irregular, quick	Fast, less volume	Slow, voluminous
3	Body odor	none	Foul smell	Oily smell
4	Body strength	Weak	Moderate	Strong
5	Body vessels	Prominent, reticulate	Less prominent, greenish appearance	Deep seated not visible easily
6	Body temperature	Cold, less than normal	Hot, above normal	Normal
7	Perspiration	Rare	Excessive	Normal
8	Walk	Very fast, whirling move	Normal	Slow, steady
9	Performance of activity	Quick acting	Moderate	Stagnant
10	Tolerance for Seasonal Weather	Aversion to cold	Aversion to heat	Aversion to moist, cool and rainy weather

Digestion or metabolism

S.NO	CHARACTERISTICS	VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
1	Digestion power	Irregular	Powerful	Weak
2	Ability to keep up hunger	Irregular	Poor	Very good
3	Thirst	Irregular	Very often	Rare
4	Quantity of food intake	Irregular	Heavy	Normal
5	Desire for the taste in food	Sweet, sour, salty	Sweet, bitter, astringent	Pungent, astringent,  bitter
6	Bowel type	Dry, hard Irregular	Soft, Loose or semi solid	Thick, oily, Regular, well formed stool

Psychic traits

S.NO	CHARACTERISTICS	VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
1	Speech pattern	Very fast, stammering , misplace words during speech	Sharp, provocative	Slow, clear, resonant
2	Sleep	Interrupted ,less	Normal	Deep, excessive sleep
3	Dream	Climbing, flying, sky, wind, moving objects	Violence, fire, light, bright colors	Water pool, garden, romance/good relations
4	Memory	Irregular, short term excellent, long term-weak	Powerful	Weak , long term -good
5	Grasping ability	Grasp quickly	Moderate	Slow
6	Emotions	Wavering, extreme sad or happy	Annoyed	Calm
7	Mood	Frequent mood swings	Slow	Stable
8	Sexual desire	Wavering	Moderate	Excessive
9	Excitability temperament	Quick initiative	Moderate	Passive, lethargic

Dwandvaja prakriti

Individuals having a combination of two doshasand characteristic manifestation of two doshas are seen here.

Samadoshaj prakriti

Individual having all the doshas in a state of equilibrium and characteristic manifestation of all doshas are seen here.

Importance of prakruti analysis 

• Prakriti based guidelines for diet and lifestyle result in healthy tissues and homeostasis of Doshas.
• Vata has similar characteristics which can be compared with psychosomatic functions. Therefore Vata Prakriti is considered to be more prone to malnutrition and stress related disorders.