Planetary Aspects and Ayurvedic Constitution

Doshas in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, dosha refers to the three fundamental energy principles—Vata (movement), Pitta (energy), and Kapha (stability)—that govern how the body and mind function. While the Sanskrit word dosha literally means “fault” or “something that can go wrong,” in Ayurveda it does not mean a personal mistake. Instead, it describes functional imbalances in the body–mind system. 

Ayurvedic context: Here, dosha refers to biological energies or functional states that arise from the five elements (air, water, fire, earth, space).

Types of doshas:

• Vata (Air/Wind): Governs movement, circulation, and nervous system activity.
• Pitta (Fire/Bile): Governs metabolism, digestion, and transformation.
• Kapha (Water/Phlegm): Governs structure, lubrication, and stability.

Each person has a unique balance of these three, called their Prakriti (constitution). Health in Ayurveda means keeping these energies in balance.

Ayurveda and Jyotish Together

The aim of Ayurvedic Astrology is to correlate the mind-body constitutions of Ayurveda with the planetary types of Vedic astrology. The determination of a person’s individual constitution (Prakriti) is considered the most important factor behind correct physical and psychological treatment. The overall birth chart relates primarily sharira or the physical body and is the baseline of persons’s basic health and balance.

The Prime Factors for Individual Type (Prakriti)

Primary Indicators

For determining the Ayurvedic type of a person through the birth chart, the following factors are considered the most important:

1. The Ascendant (Lagna) and its Lord: The Ascendant and its ruling planet are the primary indicators of the bodily self and the overall personality. Determining Prakriti from this factor involves assessing:
   • The dosha ruling the Ascendant sign itself.
   • The dosha of the planet ruling the Ascendant.
   • The dosha of the sign where the Ascendant lord is placed.
   • The dosha of planets that aspect the Ascendant or its lord.
2. The Moon Sign and the Moon: The Moon sign and the Moon represent the individual’s psychology and hence significantly impact their physiology. The Moon has a greater impact on a woman’s constitution, owing to the connection between the feminine nature and the Moon.
3. The Sun Sign and the Sun: The Sun sign and the Sun represent the person’s basic vitality and digestive power. Conjunctions with the Sun especially impact both the physical and mental energy. Men reflect more of their Sun just as women tend to reflect their Moon. Sun is naturally important as the significator (karaka) of the first house.
4. The Sixth and Eighth Houses: These are the houses of disease (6th) and death/loss (8th). Their lords, particularly when they impact the Ascendant and its lord, influence the constitution. These factors often hold the key to the constitution when the main astrological factors do not seem to tally.

High Level Dosha Correlation (Grahas and Doshas)

The foundation of this correlation is the three Doshas and their corresponding planetary rulers:

The Dominance of Aspect (Drishti) in Constitution

The overall planetary type is generally determined by the main planet that dominates the constitutional and health factors in the chart, whether this is achieved through rulership or through aspect (Drishti).

Special Full Aspects

In Vedic Astrology, all planets cast a full-strength aspect on the 7th house from their position. However, three planets, which are Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, have full special aspects (Drishti).

These three planets are particularly important in determining the planetary type because they have more full aspects than the other planets, making them more likely to aspect both the Ascendant and its lord:

• Jupiter: Casts full aspects on the 5th and 9th houses, in addition to the 7th.
• Mars: Casts full aspects on the 4th and 8th houses, in addition to the 7th.
• Saturn: Casts full aspects on the 3rd and 10th houses, in addition to the 7th.

Determining Prakriti via Dominant Aspect

The dominance of a special aspecting planet usually determines the final dosha classification:

• If Mars (a Pitta planet) aspects both the Ascendant and its lord, it will usually create a Pitta type person.
• If Jupiter (a Kapha planet) aspects both the Ascendant and its lord, it will usually create a Kapha type person.
• If Saturn (a Vata planet) aspects both the Ascendant and its lord, it will usually create a Vata type person.

In this case, the influence of a planet’s aspect is considered to have the same intensity and value as the planet occupying a house. While the Ascendant and its Lord are the primary factors defining the constitution, the special aspects of the major planets actively inject their own characteristics, thus dominating the determination of the final Prakriti.

What Happens during a Period of Disease

When the primary doshas are in their baseline states, they give life to the body. However, in their disturbed or out-of-balance states, they become the cause of the disease. Unbalanced doshas are dosas that are aggravated due to external factors, lifestyle, or the progression of a chronic condition

If you visit an Ayurvedic practitioner during this stage of unbalanced dosha, he/she will examine the Nadi (pulse) and find out what dosha is aggravated. Based on the diagnosis, a regimen of Ayurvedic medicines, abhyangas and tailored Ayurvedic diet is prescribed to pacify and ground the disturbed energy, i.e., aggravated dosha. Although the Ayurvedic practitioner tries to gauge your (i.e. the patient’s) base prakriti, it helps a lot if the practitioner is aware of the base prakriti as per the horoscope. Then the regimen will not just be about pacifiying the aggravation but to optimise healing efforts by distinguishing between temporary disturbances and your fundamental nature.