A CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF NIDRA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN AYURVEDA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21952883Keywords:
Nidra, Trayopastambha, Nidranasha, Divaswapna, Ratrijagarana, SwasthavrittaAbstract
Nidra is one of the essential physiological requirements of human life and occupies an important position in Ayurveda. Classical texts describe Ahara, Nidra, and Brahmacharya as Trayopastambha, the three supporting pillars responsible for maintaining health and longevity. Proper sleep provides physical strength, nourishment, happiness, knowledge, fertility, and stability of the body and mind, whereas inadequate, excessive, or untimely sleep may disturb normal physiological and psychological functions. According to Ayurveda, sleep occurs when the mind and sensory organs become exhausted and withdraw from their respective objects. Tamas and Kapha have an important role in the initiation and maintenance of sleep. Classical texts also describe different types of Nidra, physiological benefits of normal sleep, harmful effects of Nidranasha, excessive sleep, daytime sleep, and night awakening. The present conceptual review evaluates the classical understanding of Nidra, its mechanism, types, factors affecting sleep, consequences of disturbed sleep, and its significance in maintaining health. The study indicates that maintenance of appropriate quantity, quality, and timing of sleep is an important component of Swasthavritta and may support physical health, mental stability, sensory efficiency, digestion, immunity, and quality of life.
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References
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