Abstract

Dr. Prakash Choudhary, Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sharma and
Dr. Mukesh Saini*

ABSTRACT

Humans spend almost a third of their lifetime sleeping. Good sleep is essential and advantageous to the quality of life. A number of vital physiological changes occur during sleep and help people stay healthy and function at their best. Ayurveda regards nidra (sleep) as one of the most essential factors responsible for a healthy and fulfilling life. It is one of the Trayopastambhas (three great subsidiary pillars) on which a person's health is firmly balanced. According to Ayurvedic concepts, body is made up of three types of Doshas, viz. Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Balancing between Doshas leads to health whereas the imbalance leads to disease condition. At specific time in each day, or seasons or at given age the balance between Tridosha is in constant flux. Balancing of Doshas is possible with ‘Dinacharya’ and ‘Rutucharya’, which will lead to syncing of the inner biological clock.[6] As per Ayurvedic science, nidra is one among most essential factors responsible for a healthy life. It is one of the tryopstambha i.e., three basic supporting pillars on which the health of a person depends.[7] Nidra is a very important regimen of day to day life, which if not taken properly can cause severe pathological manifestation, which will affect somatic, psychological and sexual health as well. The life style changes of recent era i.e., not following dincharya, ritucharya etc. have led to various disorders. Nidra plays an important role in all of them. In Ayurvedic literature, sleep is one of the four basic, natural instincts, and is considered as the pioneer for health; the remaining three being the desire to eat, drink and have sexual contact. In almost all Samhitas, there is detail description of Dinacharya, Ratricharya, Ritucharya, Ahara Vidhi, Adharaniya and Dharaniya vega, Sadvritta etc. is given which are very helpful to an individual for healthy life and prevention of diseases. Nidra is part of lifestyle and may cause many diseases.[21]