As we’ve discussed in our article on the Ayurvedic Perspective on the inner intelligence - we find Ayurveda presenting a nuanced “personality” for this inner intelligence: a 3 - fold intelligence.
One way to understand how an Ayurvedic assessment occurs - is in the context of an assessment of the condition of these 3 fundamental intelligences. These intelligences, as we will explore together in these articles, have many manifestations, associated organs, specific functions, and an altogether nuanced relationship with many facets of our existence.
This short series on the 3 Doshas is looking primarily at the nature & function of these intelligences. There will be other other articles contextualizing their manifestations in individuals as constitutions and also one’s discussing their relationship with imbalances more thoroughly.
For now, let’s explore the first of the 3 Doshas:
Kapha Dosha:
This intelligence - associated with the Water & Earth elements - this is the more structural intelligence found in multiple layers of our existence - but most clearly seen in the tissue and musculoskeletal level of our physiology.
Structure
Cohesion
Lubrication
All structure, all cohesion, all lubrication - biochemically, neurologically, hormonally, cardiovascularly, respiratorily, mentally, spiritually - nearly all dimensions of your being where any of these 3 functions have a role - are handled by this subtle, energetic intelligence that we call Kapha Dosha.
We find this intelligence functioning primarily in the structural elements of our mind/body system - or the Dhatus in sanskrit. We can think of this intelligence as the product of our Pitta functions (transformation) - what are we transforming things into? Into pure and healthy structures, both subtle and manifest. This intelligence oversees the quality of our structural values (our physical body, our relationship connections, our belief systems etc.) Most imbalances related to this intelligence - depression, heaviness, sluggishness, being overweight etc. - can often be related to the condition of Kapha Dosha.
With this view on the primary functions of this intelligence, let’s see what the literature has to say about the predicted outcomes of a balanced state of Kapha Dosha:
“The effects of Kapha in its normal state are (balanced) oiliness, cohesion, heaviness, virility, strength, forbearance, patience, and absence of greed.”
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthan, 18.49
Form
Let’s take a look at the locations of the 3 Doshas in the human physiology. This will further along our sense of and relationship with these subtle, energetic intelligences.
Kapha Dosha is generally located in the chest area - from the heart upwards. Specifically, we find its expression in the following parts of the human physiology:
Chest
Head
Neck
Joints
Stomach
Adipose Tissue
Of these locations, the chest is said to be the main “house”. This brings up a few revealing insights into the operation of these intelligences. Firstly - each of the Doshas is said to have a main “home” in the human physiology. This indicates a level of organization in the functioning of these intelligences. The chest, neck, head and fat tissue all have very important functions related to Kapha Dosha. These parts of the human physiology are necessarily protecting some of the most important organs and structures in the body - namely the heart, respiratory system and brain. Furthermore, the functions of Kapha Dosha - Structure, Cohesion & Lubrication, are naturally found here in the form of a protective bone and muscle structure, lubrication of the respiratory system, brain and heart and cohesion of all these structural elements. The condition of all these physiological and anatomical aspects mentioned here are in some way directly related to the condition of the non-material intelligence which we refer to as Kapha Dosha in Ayurveda.
These locations of Kapha Dosha - the chest, head, neck etc. are places where the value of the functions of Kapha Dosha are seen clearly. The structural integrity, which we can see in terms of the level of cohesion and purity of the lubrication value, of these areas of the body are especially significant.
We find the following expression in the Ayurvedic literature:
“Though present all over the body, Vata is found mainly below the umbilicus; Pitta is found mainly between the heart and umbilicus; and Kapha is found above the heart.”
Asthanga Hridayam, Sutrasthan, 1.7
This description shows us that while these intelligences are indeed beyond the physical, they do have what we might consider as “anchors” in the physiology which give expression to their core functions.
For Kapha Dosha specifically - we can look to the structural value of the entire mind-body mechanism. The actual building blocks, cohesiveness of those building blocks and the overall structural frame of the different dimensions of your mind-body system can be understood as manifestations of this energetic intelligence we know as Kapha Dosha. Kapha Dosha and its condition are directly related to the condition of our anatomical nature, both energetic and physical. Issues with anatomical structures, with levels of cohesion and with the quality of lubrication throughout our mind-body system are all reflective on the condition of Kapha Dosha.
Nature
Looking more deeply into the nature of this Intelligence - we can start to explore the textural aspect of it. According to Ayurveda there are a series of universal qualities - or Gunas in sanskrit - that are associated with each of the 3 Doshas. These qualities are more than associations, though, and give us a textural insight into the form and function of this intelligence.
Let’s explore exactly what this means for Kapha Dosha:
Kapha Dosha is said to have the following Gunas (qualities):
Heaviness
Coldness
Softness
Oiliness
Sweetness
Stability
Stickiness
These are the qualities which allows us to have a textural experience of the form and function of this intelligence. Thinking back to the 3 main functions of Kapha Dosha - Structure, Cohesion and Lubrication - we can begin to associate particular qualities of Nature with those functions. For structure to be integrous, heaviness and stickiness - lightness and brittleness - would be suited to fluid movement; dryness - as opposed to the encumbering influence associated with oiliness - would be a useful quality.
Kapha handles Structure, Cohesion and Lubrication in the countless structures of our mind-body mechanism. What is the primary thing that is structured? Energetic and physical anatomies. On the gross level we find more manifest compounds being structured, on the subtle we find the more subtle, energetic bodies being structured.
The truth is that to really know the relationship between the Doshas and their qualities, one must practice the Ayurvedic Pulse Reading technique. But intellectual study can also be useful - for that, let’s take a look at the expression of these qualities in the human physiology.
Quality /Manifestation in the Physiology
Heaviness / Heaviness, feeling heavy
Coolness / Coolness in the body / temperature
Softness / Softness in the body, skin, personality
Oiliness / Oiliness in the skin, hair, joints
Sweetness / Sweetness in the body, taste in mouth, personality
Stability, steadiness / Stability and steadiness in the body and personality (habits)
Stickiness / Stickiness in skin, hair, mouth, stool
Remember that even though Kapha is primarily understood as the structural value of your mind/body system - it is still first and foremost a subtle and abstract intelligence! This points to the cosmic value of Ayurveda as working with and addressing the underlying intelligence of our mind-body system.
