- Indriyas means sense organs.
- Sense organs are the tool to attain knowledge as per Ayurveda.
- The term Indriya is derived from the root word ‘Indra’ – meaning Atma or soul.
- Therefore, it is the Soul or Atma that gains the knowledge with the help of sense organs.
- Indriyas is the source or the means through which the Atma or Soul experiences the knowledge of sense objects.
Classification of Indriyas
- Five Gnaana Indriya (Sensory function)
- Five Karma Indriya (Motor function)
- One Ubhaya Indriya or Ubhaya Atmaka – Manas ( Both sensory and motor function)
Gnaana Indriyas (Sensory organs)
- Gnaana Indriyas are also called Buddhi Indriyas because knowledge (Buddhi) is embedded in these Indriyas.
- They help in perceiving the knowledge of sense objects from the environment.
1. Shrotra (Ears):
- Responsible for hearing.
- It helps in communication and understanding sounds.
2. Tvak (Skin):
- Responsible for the sense of touch
- Enables to perceive temperature, texture, and pressure.
3. Chakshu (Eyes):
- Responsible for vision
- Enables to perceive light, colors, and shapes.
4. Jihva (Tongue):
- Responsible for the sense of taste perception.
- Enables to experience flavors like sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent, and pungent.
5. Ghrana (Nose):
- Responsible for the smell.
- Enables to detect odours and influences our tastes and emotions.
Karma Indriyas (Motor Organs)
These are the organs of action that enable us to interact with the environment.
- Vak (Speech): The ability to speak and communicate.
- Pani (Hands): Responsible for grasping, holding, and manipulation.
- Pada (Feet): Facilitate movement and support our body.
- Payu (Excretory Organ): Involved in elimination and waste management.
- Upastha (Reproductive Organs): Responsible for reproduction and sexual functions.
Ubhaya Indriya or Ubhaya Atmaka (Manas-Mind)
- Ubhaya means both.
- Ubhaya Indriya is both sensory and motor in function.
- It is associated with sensory organs when sensory perception takes place and associated with motor organs when motor activities take place.
- It is one in number and it is ‘Mind or Manas’
- The mind plays a pivotal role in cognition, emotions, and decision-making.
- It integrates the information received from the sense organs and helps in interpreting experiences.
Relationship between five major elements and Senses [Boutikatwa of Indriyas]
Each Indriya is made up of 5 major elements but predominant of one Mahabhuta.
- Eyes (Chakshu) – FIRE (Agni Mahabhuta)
- Ears (Srotra) – ETHER (Akasha Mahabhuta)
- Nose (Ghrana) – Earth (Prithvi Mahabhuta)
- Tongue (Jihva ) – Water(Jala Mahabhuta)
- Skin (Twak) – Air (Vayu Mahabhuta)
Summarization
- Indriyas is the medium through which we see, feel, and sense the whole creation.
- They are the tools through which one can attain knowledge of the sense objects.
- There are 11 senses in total (5 sense organs, 5 motor organs, 1 dual role)
- Each Indriya is made up of 5 fundamental elements with a predominance of 1 element.
- In essence, the eleven senses in Ayurveda offer a comprehensive understanding of human perception, cognition, and consciousness.
- They highlight the interconnectedness of the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the individual and emphasize the need for balance in our perceptions and actions.
- Maintaining the health of these senses is vital for overall well-being, enabling us to engage fully with our environment and experience life to its fullest potential.