The concept of “dosha” is unique to Ayurveda. Dosha means stain or impurity. Dosha are the bio energetics that are behind every function in ones body. To get a basic understanding of the dosha one can taking an online quiz from any of the many sites on the internet. To get a more complete and profound understanding of your doshic make up , and how to live in accordance with who you really are , it is important to see a trained and certified Ayurveda practitioner.
Prakriti
(from Sanskrit प्रकृति, prakṛti) means “nature”. It is, according to Hinduism, the basic nature of intelligence by which the Universe exists and functions. It is described in Bhagavad Gita as the “primal motive force”. It is a key concept in Hinduism, formulated by its Samkhya school, and refers to the primal matter with three different innate qualities (Guṇas) whose equilibrium is the basis of all observed empirical reality.
The prakruti of a patient is given a lot of importance in Ayurveda. Often translated as a person’s constitution, the term actually means “original creation.” The Sanskrit prefix “pra” means “original” and “kruti” means “creation”. A person’s prakruti is the inherent balance of the three doshas at the moment of their creation. It is at this moment that a person’s physiological and psychological tendencies become fixed.
Vikriti
Vikruti means “after creation.” The Sanskrit root “vi” means “after” and the root word “kruti” means “creation.” A person’s vikruiti is the state of the three doshas after the moment of conception.
In Ayurveda, when we talk about the vikriti of a patient, we are referring to the current state of the three dosha and how they are expressing themselves in the body and mind. Due to the less than optimal environment most of us find ourselves in, our vikriti are important to help us to understand the imbalances or symptoms that we are experiencing. However, it should be understood that in an optimal environment, the vikriti and the prakriti are the same. In this state, tendencies exist in the body and the mind but they are not expressing themselves in a manner that is causing a disturbance.