Vatha, Pitha and Kapha

Our cells are batteries generating power all the time. It uses the food that we eat to generate the bulk of its power. The generated difference in the electrical potential is conveyed outside the cell as an electric current. This current travels through various channels and in that process, gets modified,becoming carriers of information. This information can be modified and manipulated.

The information generated  by one cell might be miniscule, but when trillions of cells are working in unison, the toto of generated information organizes into an operating system, where functions are delineated. Ancient medical systems recognized this fact and touted the existence of a governing system of the body. This system is said to have many subsystems. Siddha Vaidya, the ancient medical system of India recognizes 96 subunits of which the most important are Vatha, Pitha and Kapha known to Siddha teachers as Vali, Azhal and Ayyam..

This operating system becomes the basis by which the body governs itself and becomes a layer over which some softwares runs, giving it added capabilities without adding on any hardware capacity.The operating system also gives the body the ability to change the hardware as required by the software needs. This is the level where the structure affects the functions and the functions affect the structure.

Vatha is the subsystem that regulates mobility, microscopically and macroscopically. This is a space where external circumstances affect the internal functions and indirectly the structure. It is said that living in a windy climate can affect the psyche of those living there. For a calm life one needs to seek a calm living milieu. Vatha pertains to everything that is mobile. Both mobility by body parts as well as internal mobility such as the blood circulation are manifestations of mobility. Even intracellular mobility can be an extension of Vatha.

Pitha is the subsystem that pertains to metabolism. Its function is to convert food energy to energy that we can use to do our daily functions. Its other task is to generate raw materials that the body can use to rebuild itself. Essentially the same cycle generates both. When energy production is affected by any reason, raw material production is also affected. Vatha affects Pitha according to ancient wisdom. 

Kapha is the governing system that controls the infrastructure of the body. The raw materials and energy created by the metabolic process, ie, Pitha is assembled in the four dimensional space by Kapha. When Kapha is affected, the structure is affected. 

There are many other governing pathways that have multiple inputs and outputs into life. These subsystems interact with each other and with the multiple layers that constitute life to help a lifeform live. The concepts of earth, water, fire, air and space as part of the subsystems are also important. We will discuss more in upcoming blogs.