DIET (Viruddha Ahara:The Unique Concept of Ayurveda)

The second meaning of Viruddha indicates about the combination of two or more substances which are not having an affinity for each other.

It has been stated that in a combination of so many opposite qualities, the majority of the power packed qualities overpower the weaker qualities.

So far this interpretation of Viruddha is concerned, it has been applied in Ayurveda in the context of dietetics & various combinations having such affinity for each other have been discussed at length. On this basis it may be concluded that such type of Ahara or foodstuff which is composed of substances having no affinity at all may be defined as Viruddha or Viruddhahara

In the literature various other terms are also used such as –

1. Ananukula or Pratikula (Shabda Kalpadrum) –which is  having an adverse effect or unfavorable

2. Anapayukta – which is unpropitious

3. Pratisiddha – prohibited

4. Apathya – incompatible diet

Types of Viruddha Ahara:

Ayurveda literature has described various types of Viruddha, which run as under :

1. Desha (place)Viruddha : To have dry and sharp substances in dry region, unctuous substances in Marshy      land.

2. Kala Viruddha: (Time) :  intake of cold and dry substances in Winter, Pungent and hot substances in      Summer.

3. Agni(digestive power) Viruddha : intake of heavy food when the power of digestion is low, intake      of light food when the power of digestion is  sharp and intake of food at variance with irregular and normal power of digestion.

4. Matra (quantity) Viruddha :  intake of honey and ghee in equal quantity

5. Satmya (wholesome) Viruddha  :  intake of sweet and cold substance by person accustomed to pungent and hot      substance.

6. Dosha Viruddha  : utilization of drugs, diets and regimen having similar qualities with Dosha, but at      variance with the habit of the individual.

7. Sanskar (mode of preparation) Viruddha : drugs and diets which, when prepared in a      particular way produced poisonous effects. E.g. meat of peacock roasted on a castor spit.

8. Veerya (potency) Viruddha : Substances having cold potency in combination with those of hot potency.

9. Koshtha Viruddha: to give less quantity with less potency and less stool forming food to a person of      costive bowel. Administration of more quantity heavy and more stool forming food to a person having laxed bowel.

10. Avastha (State of health) Viruddha : intake of Vata aggravating food by a person after exertion      sexual act, physical exertion or intake of Kapha aggravating food by a person after sleep or drowsiness.

11. Kram (sequence) Viruddha : if a person takes food before his bowel and urination or when he doesn’t have      appetite or after his hunger have been aggravating.

12. Parihar Viruddha : Intake of hot things after taking pork etc.

13. Upachar (treatment)Viruddha : cold things after taking ghee.

14. Paak (cooking) Viruddha :   preparation of food with bad or rotten fuel and under cooking, over      cooking or burning during the process of preparation.

15. Samyoga (combination) Viruddha : intake of sour substance with milk

16. Hriday Viruddha: intake of  unpleasant food

17. Sampad (Richness of quality) Viruddha : intake of substance that are not mature, over matured or      putrified

18. Vidhi (rules for eating) Viruddha : taking meals in public place

Many food combinations are given in the texts as incompatible with proper explanation for e.g.

1. One should not take fish along with milk because this combination is Abhishyandi (great  obstructer for channels), it vitiates blood.

2. After eating raddish, garlic, asil one should not take milk because of the risk of skin disorders.

3. All sour liquids are antagonistic to milk.

4. Hot honey taken by a person induces toxicity and lead to death.

5. Likewise honey and ghee in equal quantity, hot water after taking honey are antagonistic.