CONCEPT OF MANAS IN AYURVEDA AND ITS ROLE IN PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATION: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Ayurveda describes health as a dynamic balance of body, sensory and motor systems, mind, and conscious self, with the mind central to disease origin and recovery. Classical texts identify hyperarousal (Rajas) and hypoarousal (Tamas) as mental regulatory patterns and impaired insight, unhealthy sensory exposure, and time-dependent biological change as fundamental disease factors. Modern research in psychoneuroimmunology, stress physiology, gut-brain interactions, and neuroplasticity helps explain how mental states influence neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, and autonomic functions. The review explains key Ayurvedic concepts through established physiological mechanisms including HPA axis activity, limbic-prefrontal regulation, autonomic balance, inflammatory signaling, and microbiome-brain communication. Strengthening the mind through cognitive regulation, ethical conduct, daily routines, neurocognitive enhancers, and contemplative practices emerges as a biologically sound approach for managing stress-related disorders.

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Abstract

Ayurveda describes health as a state of dynamic balance between Sharira(body), Indriya (Sensory and motor systems), Manas (Mind), and Atma (Conscious self), and places strong emphasis on the role of Manas in both the origin and recovery of disease. Classical texts identify Rajas (Hyperarousal) and Tamas (Hypoarousal) as manasika dosha (mental regulatory patterns) and explain Prajnaparadha (impaired insight), Asatmyendriyartha Samyoga (unhealthy sensory exposure), and Parinama (Time-dependent biological change) as fundamental factors responsible for disease development. Modern research in psychoneuroimmunology, stress physiology, gut–brain interactions, and neuroplasticity helps us understand, in measurable biological terms, how mental states influence neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, and autonomic functions. This review explains key Ayurvedic concepts such as Manas (Mind), manoguna (Qualitative mental functioning), manasika bhava (mental–emotional states), Agni (Metabolic efficiency), Ojas (Systemic resilience), Bala (physiological resilience), Medhya Rasayana (Neurocognitive enhancers), Dinacharya (daily routine), and Sattvavajaya (Cognitive-behavioural and emotion-regulation therapy) through established physiological mechanisms, including hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity, limbic–prefrontal regulation, autonomic balance, inflammatory signalling, and microbiome–brain communication. By understanding these concepts through modern physiology, the article highlights how psychological disturbances contribute to psychosomatic disorders and how mind-centred Ayurvedic interventions can restore psychophysical balance. Strengthening Manas through cognitive regulation, ethical conduct, structured daily routines, Medhya Rasayana, and contemplative practices emerges as a biologically sound and evidence-consistent approach for preventing and managing modern lifestyle- and stress-related disorders