Importance of Trisutra

Abstract

Maintaining people\'s health is the goal of Ayurveda. The two goals of healing illness in the sick and preventing illness in the healthy are how it is achieved. The Trisutra (three aphorisms) is how Ayurveda presents the knowledge of life for this goal. They are Oushadha (treatments), Linga (symptomatology), and Hetu (etiological causes).Hetu is in charge of determining the causes of health disorders and how to reverse them. In general, illnesses arise from the improper, insufficient, and excessive union of sense objects, activity, and time, whereas health results from their appropriate union. Linga stands for the clinical characteristics of both health and illness. Oushadha consists of medications, treatments, a healthy diet, and a way of living that are meant to heal illnesses and advance well-being. Trisutra and Triskandha, which means \"three pronged,\" are interchangeable terms. Through ongoing study procedures, the Trisutra was deciphered and expanded upon, leading to the current understanding of Ayurveda. For efficient teaching and learning, Ayurvedic compendia were created in the following order: Trisutra, Hetu, Linga, and Oushadha. Trisutra serves as the foundation for Ayurvedic study. These three guiding concepts serve as the foundation for most Ayurvedic fundamental and applied research. Accurate disease diagnosis and the development of efficient treatment plans depend on a thorough understanding of Trisutra.Trisutra and Triskandha, which means \"three pronged,\" are interchangeable terms. Through ongoing study procedures, the Trisutra was deciphered and expanded upon, leading to the current understanding of Ayurveda. For efficient teaching and learning, Ayurvedic compendia were created in the following order: Trisutra, Hetu, Linga, and Oushadha. Trisutra serves as the foundation for Ayurvedic study. These three guiding concepts serve as the foundation for most Ayurvedic fundamental and applied research. Accurate disease diagnosis and the development of efficient treatment plans depend on a thorough understanding of Trisutra.Trisutra Ayurveda gets its name from the fact that the complete system of Ayurveda is encoded in these three sayings.

Introduction

Importance of Health in Achieving Life’s Goals

Ayurveda emphasizes that good health is essential for fulfilling the four goals of life (Purusharthachatushtaya):

• Dharma (righteous living)

• Artha (wealth)

• Kama (desires)

• Moksha (liberation)

Diseases hinder one's ability to live virtuously, learn, and progress spiritually. A healthy lifestyle is fundamental for achieving these objectives.

2. Trisutra of Ayurveda

The core framework of Ayurvedic knowledge is based on three foundational principles (Trisutra):

• Hetu (cause of disease)

• Linga (symptoms/signs)

• Oushadha (treatment)

These were derived using Ayurvedic methods of knowledge: Pratyaksha (direct observation), Anumana (inference), and Aptopadesha (authoritative testimony).

3. Goals of Trisutra Ayurveda

• Svasthya Rakshana: Maintaining the health of a healthy individual.

• Vikara Prashamana: Treating disease in a sick individual.
  This system focuses on maintaining balance (Dhatusamya) in the body and mind.

4. Hetu (Causes of Disease)

"Hetu" refers to the various causative factors of disease, classified as:

• Viprakrishta Hetu: Distant or delayed causes.

• Vyabhichari Hetu: Contributing factors that only cause disease in certain conditions.

• Pradhanika Hetu: Primary and strong causes.

• Dosha Hetu: Causes that imbalance the doshas.

• Vyadhi Hetu: Specific causes for particular diseases.

• Ubhaya Hetu: Affect both doshas and diseases.

• Utpadak Hetu: Initiate disease onset.

• Bahya Hetu: External causes like food or weather.

• Vyanjak Hetu: Aggravating factors.

• Prakrut Hetu: Natural, inherent causes.

5. Linga (Symptoms and Signs)

Linga refers to observable and felt symptoms, which help in diagnosing health or disease. These include:

• Doshaja Lakshana: Symptoms related to dosha imbalance (e.g., burning sensation from Pitta).

• Avasthanusara Lakshana: Symptoms depending on disease stage.

• Atura Samvedya Lakshana: Patient-experienced symptoms (not physically observable).

• Vaidya Samvedya Lakshana: Doctor-observed signs (e.g., redness, swelling).

6. Oushadha (Treatment and Therapies)

Oushadha covers therapeutic measures and medications, divided into:

• Samana: Pacification therapy (to balance doshas).

• Shodhana: Purification therapy (to remove toxins/vitiated doshas).

Types of Oushadha Dravyas (based on function):

• Dosha Prasamana: Balances doshas.

• Dhatu Prasamana: Restores tissues.

• Dhatu Pradoshana: Corrects tissue vitiation.

• Swasthavritta: Maintains health and prevents disease.

Sources of Oushadha:

• Jangama: Animal-based

• Oudbhida: Plant-based

• Parthiva: Mineral/metal-based

Effective medicines are safe, abundant, palatable, adaptable, and help restore balance without harmful side effects.

Conclusion

The three core aphorisms of Hetu, Linga, and Oushadha form the basis of Ayurveda, the age-old science of life. The foundation of Ayurveda is laid by these few statements, which capture the sum of its wisdom.This idea provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and using Ayurvedic concepts, making it easier to use them effectively to manage illnesses and promote health. Linga describes the clinical characteristics seen in both health and disease stages, whereas Hetu includes both immediate and underlying causative causes. Oushadha also offers advice on healthy meals and lifestyle choices in addition to therapeutic treatments. In addition to aiding in disease detection, the Triskandha idea offers a suitable treatment strategy to mitigate illnesses.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Megha Yadav. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.