Effect of Deha Prakruti on Intelligence - An Appraisal

are in a state of dominance in their physiological limits to form Prakruti . (5) Persons of different Prakruti get influenced by Dosha and Dosha Guna. Abstract Ayurveda lays great emphasis on the concept of Prakruti (body constitution) in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Panchamahabhoota (five basic elements of the universe) in different permutation and combination form Tridosha (three humors of the body). Prakruti is formed depending on the predominance of any one or two or three Dosha at the time of conception. Prakruti is of two types: Dosha Prakruti or Deha Prakruti and Gunamayi Prakruti or Manasa Prakruti . Deha Prakruti is of 7 types. Vataja, Pittaja, Sleshmaja, Samsargaja [combination of two Dosha ] i.e., Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Sleshma, Sleshma-Vata and Sannipataja [combination of three Dosha ] i.e., Vata-Pitta-Sleshma. The person of each Prakruti is mentioned to be endowed with different characteristic features which includes physical and psychological features, abilities etc. Medha (intelligence), Smruti (memory) are psychological factors differentiating one person from other with respect to ability to perform any task. Prakruti is the deciding factor of various psychological characters including Medha . This article aims at studying the effect of Deha Prakruti on intelligence.


Introduction
The concept of Prakruti is a unique contribution of Ayurveda. Great emphasis has been laid on the examination of Prakruti which is the natural state of an individual. This is very important because only by understanding the original state of the body function one can understand the possible derangement in the functioning. The primary aim of Ayurveda is also to maintain health in healthy person (1) and hence knowledge of Prakruti is imperative. Prakruti is further categorized into two i.e. Deha Prakruti and Manasa Prakruti. Deha Prakruti is categorized into 7 types i.e. 3 Ekadoshaja, 3 Dwidoshaja/ Samsargaja and 1 Tridoshaja/ Sannipataja. Different Deha Prakruti individuals are endowed with variations in their psychological as well as physical features. (2) Intelligence is the aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally and to deal effectively with his environment (Wechsler, 1944, p.3). (3) A universally accepted uniform definition of intelligence has yet not evolved by the psychologists.
Intelligence quotient (IQ) is the measure of intelligence. It is the ratio of individual's mental age to his or her chronological age. An individual's I.Q.
indicates the rate of mental development or the degree of brightness. If the mental development keeps pace with one's life age, the quotient is 100. (4)

Aim and Objective
This article aims at studying the effect of Deha Prakruti on intelligence.

Materials and Methods
Ayurvedic classical texts and online sources are referred for the better understanding of the concept of Deha Prakruti and its effect on intelligence.

Abstract
Ayurveda lays great emphasis on the concept of Prakruti (body constitution) in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Panchamahabhoota (five basic elements of the universe) in different permutation and combination form Tridosha (three humors of the body). Prakruti is formed depending on the predominance of any one or two or three

Prakruti
Physique, personality, Agni, Bala, mental faculties, Koshta, progeny, Swapna etc., differs from one person to another. Structure/ Shape of the body, attitude of the person not only depend on Aahaara Prakara (type) or Vihaara (lifestyle) etc., but also depend on Prakruti of the person. (7)(8) Prakruti is decided at the time fertilization.

Classification of Prakruti
Prakruti is classified into two types: Deha Prakruti and Manasa Prakruti. Deha Prakruti is of 7 types with involvement of one or two or three Dosha.

Factors influencing Prakruti
Dosha that is predominant in the Shukra and Shonita at the time of union, food and activities of the pregnant women, uterus and season influences the Prakruti. (14) (15) Other factors influencing Prakruti includes inherited characters from father (Pitruja), mother (Maatruja), Soul (Aatmaja), mind (Sattvaja), diet (Rasaja) and homologation (Satmyaja). (16) (17) Medha It is specific part of Buddhi (intellect/ discriminative power) which has the power of retaining the knowledge for a long period. Due to Medha a person will be able to obtain the knowledge of existing objects and hence person becomes learned. (18) Practically the word 'Medha' is used to denote higher intellect. The word 'Medhavi' is used for the person who is the knower of various Shastra (literature) and having Pratyutpanna Mati. Sometimes 'Medha' is also used for extraordinary recollection power. Acharya Dalhana defines 'Medha' very clearly as the capacity to retain knowledge of various texts. (19) In nutshell it can be concluded that Medha is the faculty of Buddhi which has the power to grasp (20) the experiences or knowledge and when needed it recalls that retained knowledge as it is. (21). Smruti means remembrance of things directly perceived, heard or experienced (22), Dhruti means patience which can retrain the mind from its harmful object (23), Medha is assessed by Dharana Shakti (grasping power). (24)

Intelligence
The capacity for logic, understanding, self awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving is called as intelligence. Generally

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
It is the measure of intelligence derived as a total score from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence. There are various tests available for the assessment of IQ, common tests being Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale etc. (26)

Measurement of IQ
Indian adaptation of Wechsler 's Adult Intelligence Scale, Version-IV (WAIS-IV) composed of 10 core subtests and five supplemental subtests can be utilized for yielding scaled scores that sum to derive the Full-Scale IQ. Scores of Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working Memory Index (WMI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI) gives rise to Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ).

Medha vis-à-vis Intelligence and IQ
Medha is the ability to grasp the information and retain it as the knowledge which can be correlated with intelligence i.e. the capacity to perceive the information and retain it as knowledge. Intelligence quotient being the measure of intelligence can be utilized for measuring Medha too.

Relation between Deha Prakruti and Intelligence • Vatala and Intelligence: In the characteristics of Vata
Prakruti individuals because of predominance of Vata Dosha,Vata Guna Amshaamsha influence is seen in them. According to Acharya Charaka, due to the Sheeghra Guna they seems quick in understanding (grasping) but weak in recalling things means they have good short term memory but poor long term memory. (

Discussion
Prakruti and IQ Pragnyaparadha (intellectual blasphemy) is responsible for aggravation all the Dosha. (38) The indulgence in Pragnyaparadha is due to impairment of intellect, patience and memory which are different in different Prakruti individuals. Health and mortality depend on IQ. Higher IQs in early life are associated with lower mortality and morbidity rates in later life. (39) VCI (assessing the ability to understand spoken language) and PRI (assessing the ability to think and reason) must be more in Pittala persons because of Teekshna Guna and Laghu Guna of Pitta Dosha. VCI

Genetics, Environment and IQ
Environmental and genetic factors play a role in determining IQ. Their relative importance has been the subject of much research and debate. (40) Applied Ayurveda concept i.e. "Ayurgenomics" can contribute vastly in this avenue. Utilization of Prakruti concept can guide the researches in the right direction.

Physiology of Intelligence and Prakruti
High IQ is associated with combinations of neurological parameters which determine an intermediate degree of "arousability" in the cerebral cortex and related structures. This relationship is accounted for in terms of the generally optimal effect that an intermediate degree of arousability would have on different neuro-physiological processes mediating the acquisition, retention and utilization of information. (41) Prakruti wise differences in abilities such as discriminative, grasping, retaining, recollection of things etc. can be inferentially correlated with these neuro-physiological processes responsible for variations in intelligence.

Applicability of the Concept
Prakruti based intelligence can be utilized in Cognitive Epidemiology. It is field of research that examines the associations between intelligence test scores and health. Intelligence assessment through Prakruti can be an important predictor of later health and mortality differences at early age. It can even help in testing school performance of a student, predicting job performance of an employee, personalized medicine, determining suitability of profession according to Prakruti and expecting earning abilities etc. (42)

Conclusion
By knowing Prakruti one can understand different physical and psychological attributes and behavioral changes. Intelligence can be inferentially assessed based upon the Prakruti of an individual. Pitta Prakruti persons are endowed with more intelligence, Kapha Prakruti persons with moderate and Vata Prakruti persons with least intelligence. Knowledge of Intelligence in accordance with Prakruti can contribute a lot in research thrust areas like Personalized Medicine and Ayurgenomics etc.