Concept of Sarata – An Ayurvedic review

Ayurveda have mentioned that Dosha, Dhatu and Mala are the three essential components of Sharir. These three components are very important as per their functions inside the body. The factors which do the function of Dharana of Sharir, Mana, & Prana are called as Dhatu. The basic constructive framework of body is formed by Dhatu. So, the Saptadhatus are the most important factors inside the body. Dhatus have same set of functions in every individual but quality & richness of these functions may vary from person to person, which is decided by excellent state of these Dhatus which is nothing but the Dhatusarta. Sara is the Bala (strength). Sara is fine and excellent part of their Dhatus. The supreme quality of Dhatus with its superb functional aspect is called the Sara of that Dhatus. Little waning or fasting will not hamper the function of Dhatus immediately if Dhatus is Sarwan. So, in Ayurveda, Sara stands for Vishudhatar Awastha of Dhatus. Dhatusarata is the novel concept described exclusively by Ayurveda. As Balwan or Sarwan Dhatus resist the vitiated Doshas, similarly they also resist the external factors from the nature which disturbs the equilibrium of Dosha, Dhatus and Mala. So, for maintaining healthy status of Sharira, the Dhatus must be in their Vishudhatar Awastha which refered as Dhatusarata in Ayurveda.


INTRODUCTION:
Ayurveda have mentioned that Dosha, Dhatu and Mala 1 are the three essential components of Sharir. These three components are very important as per their functions inside the body. The factors which do the function of Dharana 2 of Sharir, Mana, & Prana are called as Dhatu. The basic constructive framework of body is formed by Dhatu. So, the Saptadhatus are the most important factors inside the body. Dhatus have same set of functions in every individual but quality & richness of these functions may vary from person to person, which is decided by excellent state of these Dhatus which is nothing but the Dhatusarta. Sara is the Bala (strength). Sara is fine and excellent part of their Dhatus. The supreme quality of Dhatus with its superb functional aspect is called the Sara of that Dhatus. Little waning or fasting will not hamper the function of Dhatus immediately if Dhatus is Sarwan. So, in Ayurveda, Sara stands for Vishudhatar Awastha 3 of Dhatus. Dhatusarata is the novel concept described exclusively by Ayurveda. As

MATERIALS:
All the description available in different text of Ayurvedic literature.

SARATA:
Sara is the Bala (strength). Sara is fine and excellent part of their Dhatus. The supreme quality of Dhatus with its superb functional aspect is called the Sara of that Dhatus. Little waning or fasting will not hamper the function of Dhatus immediately if Dhatus is Sarwan. So, in Ayurveda, Sara stands for Vishudhatar Awastha of Dhatus.

TYPES OF SARATA-
Individuals have been classified into various categories depending upon the predominance of particular Dhatusara in the body by virtue of its quality and function.
Acharya Charaka, has mentioned eight types of Sara 4 which includes seven Dhatusara and one Satvasara. These are as twak, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, Shukra and Satvasara. Each succeeding one better than its proceeding. Acharya Shushuta also mentioned eight types of Sara but sequence is totally reversed 5 . There is increasing excellence of Ayu (life span) and Saubhagya (fortune) in preceding order.
Acharya Vaghbhata has followed the same sequence and types 6 as mentioned by Acharya Charaka. Acharya Kashyapa has added another types of Sara viz. Oja Sara, in this way; he mentioned nine types of Sara 7 .
 Twak Sara:-Individuals having excellence of Twak or skin are characterized by unctuous, smooth, soft, clear, fine, less numerous, deep rooted and tender hair and lustrous skin.
Such individuals are endowed with happiness, good fortune, power, enjoyment, intellect, knowledge, health, excitement and longevity 8 .
 Rakta Sara:-Individuals having excellence of Rakta Dhatu or blood are characterized by Unctuousness, red colour, beautiful dazzling appearance of ear, eyes, face lips, sole of hands and feet, nails, forehead and genital organs.
Such individuals are endowed with happiness, great genius, enthusiasm, tenderness, moderate strength and inability to face difficulties. Their body and skin remains with slight red tinge 9 .
 Mamsa Sara: Individual having excellence of Mamsa Dhatu or muscle tissues are characterized by stability, heaviness, beautiful appearance and plumpness of temples, forehead, nape, eyes, cheeks, jaws, neck, shoulder, abdomen, axilla, chest and joint of upper and lower limbs being covered with flesh.
Such individuals are endowed with forgiveness, patience, simplicity, health, strength and longevity 10 .
 Meda Sara: Individuals having excellence of Meda Dhatu or adipose tissues are characterized by abundance of unctuousness in complexion, voice, eyes, hair of head and other parts of the body, nails, teeth, lips, urine and feces. Such individuals are endowed with wealth, power, happiness, enjoyment, charity, simplicity and delicate habit 11 .
 Asthi Sara: Asthi sara individuals are endowed with strong and firm body. Even in old age, they are able to walk without taking aid of stick or wheel-chair and they possess upright posture in that age to 12 .
 Majja Sara:-Individuals having excellence of Majja dhatu or bone marrow are characterized by softness of orangs, strength, unctuous complexion and voice and robust long and rounded joints.
Such individuals are endowed with longevity, strength, learning, wealth, knowledge, progeny and honour 13 .
 Shukra Sara:-Individuals having excellence of Shukra dhatu or semen are characterized by gentleness, gentle look, having eyes as if filled with milk, cheerfulness, having teeth which are unctuous, round, strong, even and beautiful, clean and unctuous completion and voice, dazzling appearance and large buttocks.
Such individuals are loved by women; they are strong and endowed with happiness, power, health, wealth, honour and children 14 .

For evaluation of Bala-
The main aim of Sara examination is the assessment of Bala of an individual at the level of Sapta Dhatu. Charaka has clearly mentioned that Bala of an individual should be critically analyzed on the parameter of Sarata. It is fallacious to consider an individual to be strong or to be weak either by his appearance like plump or emaciated body or by large or small sized body. A person having a small sized, emaciated body is seen to be strong. They are like an ant that have small sized body, look emaciated but can carry too heavy load.

Sara examination indicates
Bala of an individual. One cannot function and can't resist without "Bala". For both aims of Ayurved science, namely maintenance of health and if diseased, to cure the disease and come back to homeostatic condition, one needs to know his Bala. Thus one should examine the Individual with reference to the excellence of his Dhatus i.e.Sara.

In Chikitsa:
We can decided Bala of Dhatu by Sara Parikshana. It is very important in treatment i.e. the determination of prognosis of the disease and for the determination of the dose of the drugs. Bala of Avar Sara Dhatu can be increased by Rasayana therapy. The Rasayana therapy is the rejuvenator and revitalizer of the body. In Ayurveda text, Rasayana therapy is mentioned to enhance quality of Dhatu and life as well.

In Vyadhikshamatva-
Concept of Sara has three views about Dhatu i.e. the balanced state of the Dhatu by qualitatively, qualitatively as well as functionally, which resist for any abnormal vridhi (increase), Kshaya (decrease) or Dhatu-Pradushaja vikara (vitiation of that Dhatu). Person can easily tolerate the symptom of the same and also easily cure from that. E.g. Rasa Dhatu Sara persons can tolerate fasting easily and frequently.

For better progeny-
In gestational period, Garbhakara bhavas affects the Sara-Asarata of progeny. So that, parent should be examined for their Dhatu Sarata to issue better progeny. By examining them we can advise treatment in Dhatu Asarata for its enhancement. Sara examination is also useful in prevention of hereditary disorders.

5.In occupation:-
Sara examination is also essential for selection of particular occupation. Each occupation must need well qualified person with physical and psychological health. E.g. Rasa and Rakta Sara individuals are having beautiful look, and intolerance for heat and physical strain so that, they will be best for modelling where they can explore their look. Asthi and Mamsa Sara individuals are suitable for the army and the police department, because of their strong and firm body build-up, capacity to face difficulty and enthusiastic, active nature. Majja Sara individual can perform administrative job very well, because of their intelligence, melodious, resonant voice and brotherhood nature.

Conclusion & Discussion:
Dhatusara Parikshan is done for the determination of degree of strength. Also, the immunity of the person can be known and according to the immunity drug therapy can be given which will eventually boost the immunity against diseases. The intensity of the disease depends upon strength of body and mind.
Disorders should be examined in terms of strength of vitiated Dosha, Dushya, constitution, place, time and also by symptoms because the severity of diseases cannot be known without knowing the strength of cause. The diseases having strength similar to that of dushya, constitution, place and time along with great strength of cause and severity of symptoms is taken as severe. The contrary is mild. The moderate disease has similarity in one of the Dosha, Dushya, etc. Dhatusara cannot be determined by physical look, so Acharya Charaka has described Dashvidha Parikshana in which importance of Dhatusarata is also mentioned.
Sometime the physician may take wrong decision only by physical look, such as the person is strong because of possessing huge body and he is weak because of small or lean body. But it is observed that some person having small and lean body are strong like and carrying heavy load as explained before. Hence, physician should examine every individual with respect to Sara.
Sarata also helps in selection of job. Intensity of strength can be found out by type of work the person does on daily basis viz. Eyes are related to Majja Dhatu and the function of Darshan-Rupagrahanadi is done minutely and keenly in Majja Sara person. In such cases we can draw conclusion that person having age of 60 years and above neither wearing spectacles nor having any kind of refractive error can be considered as Majjasara. Likewise, old person having age more than 60 years, walking straight with straight back and neck and without any support can be considered as Asthi Sara. In those person whose Dhatusarata is decreased to some extent, the particular type of Aushadhi-Ahara Yojana can be given. Therefore, we can say that in Sarata, particular type of work according to particular Dhatu is done viz. In Rasa Kshaya, person develop intolerance to noise but person with Rasa Sarata such symptoms does not occur, moreover they can tolerate loud sound.
Person having Twak Sarata are not vulnerable for skin ailments and if it happens so, the severity level is very much low so that they can be treated very easily with faster recovery. Means the particular Dhatu wich is Saravan in particular person, the diseases related to such Dhatu will not affect them easily.