Ojas

Ojas is very important substance present in the body. It is the sap of one's life energy which is equated with immunity. Ojas is predominantly Apya in nature and resembles Kapha.

Qualities of Ojas:
    * Shita [Cold]
    * Snigdha [Unctuousness, Viscidity]
    * Shlakshna [Smoothness]
    * Picchila [Slimy]
    * Mrudu [Softness]
    * Bahala [Thickness]
    * Guru [Heavy]
    * Madhura [Sweet]


What are the types of Ojas?
   1. Para Ojas : Present in Heart. The loss of Para ojas leads to loss of life, hence it is considered as one of the Pranayatana [Supports of life].
Quantity- 8 bindus [drops]. Colour- Slightly red or yellow.
   2. Apara Ojas : Present in each of the dhatus as their saara Rasojas, Raktojas and so on, depending upon the name of the dhatus.
Apara Ojas is responsible for the;

• Bala [Strenghth]
• Sthiratwa [Stability]
• Upacita mamsata [Good development of the muscles]
• Svaravarna prasada [Bestowing of good voice and complexion]

Bala [Strength] of the body is of two kinds;
Karya shakti [Capacity to do physical and mental work] and Vyadhikshamatwa [Capacity to resist diseases].


Vyadhikshamatwa: There are two kinds of Vyadhikshamatwa [Resistance and Immunity];

• Vyadhyutpada pratibandhakatwa - Capacity to prevent the onset of a disease.
• Vyadhi balanirodhakatwa - Capacity to restrain the severity of a disease.

It is also devided as;

• Sahaja [Inborn]
• Kalaja [Tmely] - Related to season, periods of life eg: Childhood, middle age, old age.
• Yuktikrta [Artificially produced] - By use of potent drugs, amulets, gems or administration of vaccines in the present day.

Features of the Increase of Ojas [Ojas Vrddhi]:

• Tushti [Contentment / Satisfaction]
• Pushti [ Nourishment]
• Balodaya [Improvement of strength to resist diseases]
• Prolonged life

Features of the decrease of Ojas [Ojas kshaya]:

• Weakness of the body  
• Short lifespan 
• Death 

What are the causes of Ojas Kshaya?

• Too much of physical activity
• Absence of food
• Very little food intake
• Intake of dry food and alcoholic beverages
• Hunger
   
• Too much of thinking, worry, grief, anger, fear
• Keeping awake
• Injury
• Micro-organisms eg: bacterias
• Depletion of Dhatus [Tissues]
• Too much of elimination of Kapha, blood, semen and waste products
• Ingestion of poisons

 So long as Ojas is present in sufficient quantity in the dhatus, it does not allow the doshas to cause abnormilities of the dhatus. It prevents dosha-dushya sammurchana [union of abnormal doshas and dhatus], offers resistance to any cause which brings about abnormalities in the dhatus, defends the body and prevents the onset of the diseases.

Dr. Indunil Weerarathne