A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF VATA DOSHA IN INTRA-UTERINE LIFE, EXTRA-UTERINE LIFE AND LIFE PROCESSES

Vata Dosha is considered as the most important among the three Doshas because it is responsible for movement, initiation, and regulation of all physiological activities in the body. From the Ayurvedic perspective, Vata plays a major role throughout the human life, beginning from intra-uterine life to extra-uterine life and continuation of all life processes. During intra-uterine life, Vata Dosha is responsible for fertilization, division and differentiation of cells, formation of organs, growth of the foetus, and initiation of foetal movements. It supports circulation of nutrients from the mother to foetus and helps in the proper development of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. At the time of birth, Vata is the primary force that initiates labour and expulsion of the fetus, marking the transition from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life. In extra-uterine life, Vata Dosha governs essential physiological functions such as respiration, circulation, digestion, excretion, speech, locomotion and sensory–motor activities. It also regulates higher mental functions like perception, cognition, enthusiasm, and adaptability. All voluntary and involuntary movements in the body are under the control of Vata. Throughout life processes such as growth, maintenance, aging, and death, Vata continues to play a dominant role. Balanced Vata ensures normal physiological functioning, while its imbalance leads to various functional and degenerative disorders. Thus, understanding the role of Vata Dosha in intra-uterine life, extra-uterine life, and overall life processes provide a comprehensive insight into human physiology from an Ayurvedic viewpoint and thereby highlights its fundamental importance in maintaining health and life.