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The term “indriya” refers to the sensory faculties (jnanendriya) (SAT-B.192)<ref name=sat>Available from http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/sat</ref>  and motor faculties (karmendriya) (SAT-B.186)<ref name=sat/> along with the internal system of perception of knowledge. Ayurveda describes the concept of indriya in a broader perspective than the structural presence of sense organs like eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue. Each sense has a capacity to connect with the consciousness and develop as a super sense in the presence of mind and soul. Intellect is also involved in the process of perception. This article describes the holistic concept of indriya and its contemporary utility in the preservation of health.  

The term “indriya” refers to the sensory faculties (jnanendriya) (SAT-B.192)<ref name=sat>Available from http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/sat</ref>  and motor faculties (karmendriya) (SAT-B.186)<ref name=sat/> along with the internal system of perception of knowledge. Ayurveda describes the concept of indriya in a broader perspective than the structural presence of sense organs like eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue. Each sense has a capacity to connect with the consciousness and develop as a super sense in the presence of mind and soul. Intellect is also involved in the process of perception. This article describes the holistic concept of indriya and its contemporary utility in the preservation of health.  

 

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==Etymology, derivation, and synonyms ==

==Etymology, derivation, and synonyms ==

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The word indriya is denoted by synonyms like hrushikam, vishayi, aksham, karanam, and grahanam. All these terms refer to the sensory and motor faculty along with their internal processing system.<ref>Jha Srujan. Shabdakalpadruma online application</ref>

The word indriya is denoted by synonyms like hrushikam, vishayi, aksham, karanam, and grahanam. All these terms refer to the sensory and motor faculty along with their internal processing system.<ref>Jha Srujan. Shabdakalpadruma online application</ref>

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== Meanings in different contexts: ==

 

== Meanings in different contexts==

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*The term indriya is also used to denote the semen virile ([[shukra]]). It also indicates any powerful act or bodily power.<ref>Monier-Williams, available from -Jha Srujan. Amarkosha online application</ref>

*The term indriya is also used to denote the semen virile ([[shukra]]). It also indicates any powerful act or bodily power.<ref>Monier-Williams, available from -Jha Srujan. Amarkosha online application</ref>

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Indriya are mainly classified into three categories:

Indriya are mainly classified into three categories:

 

'''a) Five sensory faculties (pancha jnanendriyani)''' - which include

===Five sensory faculties (pancha jnanendriyani)===

 

These include

*Auditory faculty (shrotrendriya)

*Auditory faculty (shrotrendriya)

*Tactile faculty(sparshanendriya)

*Tactile faculty(sparshanendriya)

*Olfactory faculty(ghranendriya)[Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 8/8]

*Olfactory faculty(ghranendriya)[Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 8/8]

'''b) Five motor faculties (pancha karmendriyani)'''-which include

===Five motor faculties (pancha karmendriyani)===

 

These include

*Upper limbs and faculties regulating activities accomplished by it (hasta)

*Upper limbs and faculties regulating activities accomplished by it (hasta)

*Lower limbs and faculties regulating activities accomplished by it (pada)

*Lower limbs and faculties regulating activities accomplished by it (pada)

*Tongue with peripheral speech apparatus and associated faculties (vagindriya)[Cha. Sa. [[Sharira Sthana]] 1/25-26]

*Tongue with peripheral speech apparatus and associated faculties (vagindriya)[Cha. Sa. [[Sharira Sthana]] 1/25-26]

'''c) Internal faculty (antah karana)''' - internal system of perception and cognition. It includes the inputs from the sensory faculties and their processing by the mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), and ego (ahamkara).

===Internal faculty (antah karana)===

 

Internal system of perception and cognition includes the inputs from the sensory faculties and their processing by the mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), and ego (ahamkara).

Mind (manas) is known as supreme faculty (atindriya) or dual faculty (ubhayendriya) which is having control over both sensory as well as motor faculties. [A.S.Sharira Sthana 5/44]

Mind (manas) is known as supreme faculty (atindriya) or dual faculty (ubhayendriya) which is having control over both sensory as well as motor faculties. [A.S.Sharira Sthana 5/44]

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==Formation of indriya==

==Formation of indriya==

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===Panchchabhautika constitution===

===Panchchabhautika constitution===

Indriya are formed from the five greater elements ([[panchamahabhuta]]). So, each of them has an affinity towards a particular sense of perception in an object which is having a similar elemental constitution. [Su.Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/15]  

Indriya are formed from the five greater elements ([[panchamahabhuta]]). So, each of them has an affinity towards a particular sense of perception in an object which is having a similar elemental constitution. [Su.Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/15]  

E.g.: visual faculty (chakshurindriya) have an affinity towards the visual aspect of an object. So, it receives the signals about colour, size, and shape of an object and transmit this information to the respective higher center (chakshurindriya budhi)

E.g.: visual faculty (chakshurindriya) have an affinity towards the visual aspect of an object. So, it receives the signals about colour, size, and shape of an object and transmit this information to the respective higher center (chakshurindriya budhi)

In the human body, each sensory faculty (indriya) is located in a particular area with a predominance of the particular [[mahabhuta]].

In the human body, each sensory faculty (indriya) is located in a particular area with a predominance of the particular [[mahabhuta]].

The only exception for this is tactile faculty (sparshanendriya) which is spread all over the body.

The only exception for this is tactile faculty (sparshanendriya) which is spread all over the body.

===Pentad of senses (Indriya pancha-panchaka)===

===Pentad of senses (Indriya pancha-panchaka)===

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==Difference between sense (indriya) and organ (indriya adhishtana)<ref>Aniket A. Shilwant, Indriya Shaarir. Life Sciences Medical Publisher, Mumbai. 1st Edition, 2018.</ref>  ==

==Difference between sense (indriya) and organ (indriya adhishtana)<ref>Aniket A. Shilwant, Indriya Shaarir. Life Sciences Medical Publisher, Mumbai. 1st Edition, 2018.</ref>  ==

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To know physiological process of sensation, it is important to know the difference between sense and sense organs.  

To know physiological process of sensation, it is important to know the difference between sense and sense organs.  

'''Sense (indriya):'''

===Sense (indriya)===

It is a  subtle instrumental form responsible for the manifestation of consciousness in a living being in the presence of mind (mana) and soul (atma). It communicates messages of the external world to the internal world in the physical body.  It denotes the presence of vital force (prana) within a living body.  

It is a  subtle instrumental form responsible for the manifestation of consciousness in a living being in the presence of mind (mana) and soul (atma). It communicates messages of the external world to the internal world in the physical body.  It denotes the presence of vital force (prana) within a living body.  

'''Sense organ (indriya adhisthana):'''

===Sense organ (indriya adhisthana)===

It is a structural, materialistic entity with particular dimensions. It is the physical abode to express the sensation.  

It is a structural, materialistic entity with particular dimensions. It is the physical abode to express the sensation.  

'''Table: Difference between sense and sense organs  

===Difference between sense and sense organs===

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==Functioning of indriya==

==Functioning of indriya==

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As per ayurvedic perspectives, the process of cognition starts from within a person. The soul expresses will for the perception of knowledge through the mind. The mind then connects with the particular sense to fulfill the will. The sense searches and connects with the source to know about that particular object. The sense organ-specific intellect plays an important role in deciding good/bad, correct/incorrect things for the living being. Thus, the process of perception of knowledge is completed by coordination of sense organ, sense, intellect, mind, and soul. The knowledge gained by the soul is ‘self-knowledge’. It is stored in the memory and reminded whenever required.  

As per ayurvedic perspectives, the process of cognition starts from within a person. The soul expresses will for the perception of knowledge through the mind. The mind then connects with the particular sense to fulfill the will. The sense searches and connects with the source to know about that particular object. The sense organ-specific intellect plays an important role in deciding good/bad, correct/incorrect things for the living being. Thus, the process of perception of knowledge is completed by coordination of sense organ, sense, intellect, mind, and soul. The knowledge gained by the soul is ‘self-knowledge’. It is stored in the memory and reminded whenever required.  

The vitiated [[dosha]] affecting indriya can result in two types of pathology.

The vitiated [[dosha]] affecting indriya can result in two types of pathology.

a)Mild or temporary damage (upatapa)

a) Mild or temporary damage (upatapa)

b)Complete and permanent damage (upaghata) [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 28/20]

b) Complete and permanent damage (upaghata) [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 28/20]

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===Weakness of indriya (indriya daurbalya) ===

===Weakness of indriya (indriya daurbalya) ===

Studies have shown that dietary intake of green leafy vegetables, glycaemic index, and omega-3 fatty acid, as well as overall dietary pattern, can influence the risk factors of visual impairment.<ref>Broadhead, G. K., Hong, T., Bahrami, B., Flood, V., Liew, G., & Chang, A. A. (2020). Diet and risk of visual impairment: a review of dietary factors and risk of common causes of visual impairment. Nutrition Reviews.https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa100</ref> Low intakes of fat and protein have been associated with hearing discomfort.<ref>Kim SY, Sim S, Kim HJ, Choi HG. Low-fat and low-protein diets are associated with hearing discomfort among the elderly of Korea. Br J Nutr. 2015;114(10):1711–7</ref>  

Studies have shown that dietary intake of green leafy vegetables, glycaemic index, and omega-3 fatty acid, as well as overall dietary pattern, can influence the risk factors of visual impairment.<ref>Broadhead, G. K., Hong, T., Bahrami, B., Flood, V., Liew, G., & Chang, A. A. (2020). Diet and risk of visual impairment: a review of dietary factors and risk of common causes of visual impairment. Nutrition Reviews.https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa100</ref> Low intakes of fat and protein have been associated with hearing discomfort.<ref>Kim SY, Sim S, Kim HJ, Choi HG. Low-fat and low-protein diets are associated with hearing discomfort among the elderly of Korea. Br J Nutr. 2015;114(10):1711–7</ref>  

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===Complete functional loss of indriya ===

===Complete functional loss of indriya ===

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*When the poison (visha) gets accumulated in the large intestine (pakwashaya), it produces disorders in the functioning of sensory faculties. [Su. Sa. Kalpa Sthana 1/42]

*When the poison (visha) gets accumulated in the large intestine (pakwashaya), it produces disorders in the functioning of sensory faculties. [Su. Sa. Kalpa Sthana 1/42]

*Excessive administration of nasal errhines (nasya) results in dysfunction of sensory faculties. [Su. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 40/ 40]

*Excessive administration of nasal errhines (nasya) results in dysfunction of sensory faculties. [Su. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 40/ 40]

*In diseases due to excessive nourishment (santarpanottha vyadhi), due to aggravation of [[kapha]] [[dosha]], diminished functioning of sensory faculties is seen. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 23/17]It is advised to perform therapeutic emesis (vamana) in case of [[kapha]] predominant fever (jwara) for correcting the functions of sensory faculties. [ Su. Sa. Uttara Tantra 39/129]

*In diseases due to excessive nourishment (santarpanottha vyadhi), due to aggravation of [[kapha]] [[dosha]], diminished functioning of sensory faculties is seen. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 23/17] It is advised to perform therapeutic emesis (vamana) in case of [[kapha]] predominant fever (jwara) for correcting the functions of sensory faculties. [ Su. Sa. Uttara Tantra 39/129]

==Improper indulgence in sensory and motor activities (asatmya indriyartha samyoga) ==

==Improper indulgence in sensory and motor activities (asatmya indriyartha samyoga) ==

Improper, less or excess indulgence in sensory and motor activities is an important fundamental cause of any disease. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 8/15] The diseases related to indriya (aindriyaka vyadhi) are caused by non – utilization (ayoga), excessive utilization (atiyoga) and malpractice (mithya yoga) of sense or motor faculties. [ Cha. Sa. [[Sharira Sthana]] 1/128]

Improper, less or excess indulgence in sensory and motor activities is an important fundamental cause of any disease. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 8/15] The diseases related to indriya (aindriyaka vyadhi) are caused by non – utilization (ayoga), excessive utilization (atiyoga) and malpractice (mithya yoga) of sense or motor faculties. [ Cha. Sa. [[Sharira Sthana]] 1/128]

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== Effect of aging on indriya ==

== Effect of aging on indriya ==

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===Daily regimen===

===Daily regimen===

 

Various procedures are included in the daily regimen ([[dinacharya]]) to preserve the health of indriya and manage diseases if they occur. [Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 5,6] The main objective of observing code of conduct (sadvritta) includes control over sense organs. [Cha.Sa.[[Sutra Sthana]] 8/18]  

Various procedures are included in the daily regimen ([[dinacharya]]) to preserve the health of indriya and manage diseases if they occur. [Cha.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 5,6] The main objective of observing code of conduct (sadvritta) includes control over sense organs. [Cha.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 8/18]  

The following table summarizes local procedures that help in this regard.  

The following table summarizes local procedures that help in this regard.  

'''Table: Procedures for prevention and management of diseases related to sense and motor organs'''

===Procedures for prevention and management of diseases related to sense and motor organs===

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===Diet and beverages===

===Diet and beverages===

Among dietary factors, the sweet taste (madhura rasa) is mentioned as the one which is pleasing and nourishing to all the sensory faculties. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 26/43], [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 42/10] Researches have shown pieces of evidence that sweet taste receptors are ubiquitous throughout the body, including in the gastrointestinal tract as well as the hypothalamus.<ref>Lee AA, Owyang C. Sugars, Sweet Taste Receptors, and Brain Responses. Nutrients. 2017;9(7):653. Published 2017 Jun 24. doi:10.3390/nu9070653</ref>  

Among dietary factors, the sweet taste (madhura rasa) is mentioned as the one which is pleasing and nourishing to all the sensory faculties. [Cha. Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 26/43], [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 42/10] Researches have shown pieces of evidence that sweet taste receptors are ubiquitous throughout the body, including in the gastrointestinal tract as well as the hypothalamus.<ref>Lee AA, Owyang C. Sugars, Sweet Taste Receptors, and Brain Responses. Nutrients. 2017;9(7):653. Published 2017 Jun 24. doi:10.3390/nu9070653</ref>  

The fermented preparations especially those prepared from sugarcane have the property to enhance the efficiency of sensory faculties. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 42/10], [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 45/ 183] Various studies have established that self-generated alcohol directly activates the gustatory receptors and central neural substrates for sweet taste. Researchers have found the efficacy of ethanol to directly and immediately stimulate complex chemosensory circuits linked to motivationally relevant limbic and cortical areas.<ref>Brasser SM, Castro N, Feretic B. Alcohol sensory processing and its relevance for ingestion. Physiol Behav. 2015;148:65-70. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.09.004</ref>Evidence suggests that meat and seafood consumption could potentially protect against hearing loss.<ref>Peneau S, Jeandel C, Dejardin P, Andreeva VA, Hercberg S, Galan P, Kesse-Guyot E; SU.VI.MAX 2 Research Group . Intake of specific nutrients and foods and hearing level measured 13 years later. Br J Nutr. 2013;109(11):2079–88.</ref>  

The fermented preparations especially those prepared from sugarcane have the property to enhance the efficiency of sensory faculties. [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 42/10], [Su. Sa. Sutra Sthana 45/ 183] Various studies have established that self-generated alcohol directly activates the gustatory receptors and central neural substrates for sweet taste. Researchers have found the efficacy of ethanol to directly and immediately stimulate complex chemosensory circuits linked to motivationally relevant limbic and cortical areas.<ref>Brasser SM, Castro N, Feretic B. Alcohol sensory processing and its relevance for ingestion. Physiol Behav. 2015;148:65-70. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.09.004</ref>Evidence suggests that meat and seafood consumption could potentially protect against hearing loss.<ref>Peneau S, Jeandel C, Dejardin P, Andreeva VA, Hercberg S, Galan P, Kesse-Guyot E; SU.VI.MAX 2 Research Group . Intake of specific nutrients and foods and hearing level measured 13 years later. Br J Nutr. 2013;109(11):2079–88.</ref>  

===Physical exercise===

===Physical exercise===

Walking for a comfortable distance in a particular manner(chamkramana)is also good for all sensory faculties.[Su. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 24/80].  

Walking for a comfortable distance in a particular manner(chamkramana)is also good for all sensory faculties.[Su. Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 24/80].  

#[[Indriyopakramaniya Adhyaya]]

#[[Indriyopakramaniya Adhyaya]]

#[[Indriya Sthana]]

#[[Indriya Sthana]]

==References==

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