As we know by Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, yoga is Chitta vritti nirodah, and it is achieved by vairagya (Non-attachment) and abhyaas (Practice). Yogis also knew that consciousness operating freely without the irrational attachment to the object of the senses results into healthy and joyful mind. This results in a vibrant healthy body which by itself when left to follow its own path without the corrupting influence. Adhi Vyadhi is the result of a dysfunctional relationship between the mind and body. Let’s learn ahead through our different koshas how and where the disease penetrates our own being.
In Anandamaya Kosha, a man is healthiest with perfect harmony and balance of all his faculties, whereas in Vijnanamaya Kosha, there are movements, but are channelized in the right direction. The imbalances start in the Manomaya kosha which manifest in the form of mental illness called Adhis. But at this stage, there are no symptoms visible at the physical level. Driven by our so called continuous desires, this mental illness hidden in our manomay akosha begins to manifest further externally and gradually penetrate into our physical frame by causing imbalance in the Pranayama Kosha.
Preponderance of Ajnana (ignorance about one´s real state of bliss) leads us to perform wrong actions such as eating of unwholesome food, living in unhealthy dwellings, doing things at untimely hours, association with our bad thoughts, etc., these breed physical diseases called Adhija Vyadhis.
The Adhis (primary diseases) are two fold Samanya (ordinary)and Sara (Subtle and essential).
Samanya Adhis includes the diseases incidental to the body whereas Sara Adhis is responsible for rebirth to which we all are subject. The Samanya are normally produced during the interactions with the world. These may be termed as psychosomatic ailments.
When dealt with by suitable techniques and pleasant atmosphere, Samanya Adhis will vanish. Along with it are destroyed the physical ailments i.e., the vyadhis caused by these Adhis – Adhijah Vyadhayah.
The subtler Sara adhis causes the birth of the physical body and can be destroyed only by the realization of the causal states of mind and a corresponding ability to live in Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya Koshas. In that state, we as being transcend the cycles of birth and death.
There are two types of diseases :
Adhija Vyadhi : Stress born psychosomatic ailments, hysterical and neurosis ailments.
Anadhija Vyadhi : Somatic ailments, infection, injury, toxins and non stress born.
There are two types of Adhija Vyadhi :
Sara Adhija Vyadhi : Those which are influenced by heredity.
Samanya Adhija Vyadhi : Those which not inherited.
Anadhija Vyadhis : Those which occur as a result of any external cause such as an accident.
Sometimes they arise together, sometimes they cause each other, and sometimes they follow each other.
Physical malady is known as Vyadhi, and psychic disturbance caused by psychological conditioning (neuroses) is known as Adhi.
Both these are rooted in ignorance and wickedness.
They end when self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is attained.
Ignorance gives rise to absence of self-control, and one is constantly assailed by likes and dislikes, and by thoughts like ´I have gained this, I have yet to gain that´.
All this intensifies delusion; all these give rise to psychic disturbances.
Physical ailments are caused by ignorance, and its concomitant, total absence of mental restraint, which leads to improper eating and living habits.
Other causes are untimely and irregular activities, unhealthy habits, evil company, wicked thoughts.
They are also caused by the weakening of the nadis, or by their being cluttered or clogged up, thus preventing the free flow of life-force.
Lastly, they are caused by unhealthy environment.
All these are of course ultimately determined by the fruits of past actions, performed either in the near or in the distant past.
Upadhi is self imposed suffering
Eg.If it is raining, and we need to go some where and we now have a car. We get in the car but it does not start as we did not put any fuel in the car . This is Upadhi.
