Introduction

Ayurveda provides a preventive and holistic approach to maintaining psychological balance through lifestyle, diet, and ethical conduct. One of the key concepts in Ayurveda that contributes to mental health is Sadvritta, a set of ethical and moral guidelines that promote righteous living. The term Sadvritta is derived from Sanskrit, where ‘Sat’ means good or virtuous, and “Vritta” refers to conduct or behaviour. It encompasses physical, verbal, mental, and social ethics, which together help in maintaining mental stability, emotional resilience, and overall psychological well- being.

Ayurveda emphasises that mental health is influenced by the three Gunas - Satva, Rajas, and Tamas. An imbalance in these qualities can lead to stress, anxiety, and emotional disturbances. Practicing Sadvritta helps enhance Satva (clarity, wisdom and depression).

Acharya Charak highlights the importance of ethical conduct (Aachara) is its foundation. Therefore, by adhering to Sadvritta, one can maintain both physical and mental health.

The Ashtanga Hridaya reinforces importance of Sadvritta attains harmony in body, senses, and mind, which acts as a shield against disease. The Sushruta Samhita emphasizes mental discipline as conquering mind through Satva (self discipline and ethical behaviour) helps pacify mental disturbances.

Materials and Methods

This is conceptual type of research. All sorts of references has been collected and compiled from various available Ayurvedic texts like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtang Haridyam and available commentaries on it. Research articles are also searched from various websites related to similar matter. All matter is analyzed for the discussion and attempt has been made to draw some conclusions.

Types of Sadvritta

These codes of conduct are classified in to following groups:-

1. Vyavaharika Sadvritta (Ethical codes of conduct)
2. Samajika Sadvritta (Social codes of conduct)
3. Manasika Sadvritta (Mental codes of conduct)

It refers to good conducts which are beneficial in improving the social health.

• Actively participating in social welfare activities.
• Helping the needy, supporting society, and engaging in charitable acts.
• One should avoid unnecessary arguments and maintain harmony in relationship.
• One should always respectful towards elders, teachers, and guests and treat everyone with kindness.
• Collaborate harmoniously with others, promoting teamwork and cooperation for common objectives.
• Host guest and show hospitality. Be first to greet and start conversation.
• Avoid harming any living being physically, Verbally, or Mentally.

3. Manasika Sadvritta (Mental Codes of conduct)

Ayurveda recognises that the mind (Manas) plays a crucial role in health and disease.

• Always think and speak truthfully. Avoid falsehood, deceit and manipulation as they disturb mental peace.
• Develop patience in stressful situations.
• Focus on positive and meaningful thoughts. Avoid overthinking, anxiety, and unnecessary worries.
• Accept success and failure with a balanced mind. Avoid extreme emotional reactions to external situations.
• Be kind and empathetic towards others. Compassion fosters inner happiness and mental well- being.
• Regular self- reflection and studying wisdom texts help in mental growth and clarity of thought.
• Do not let sensory pleasure control the mind. Practicing self- restraint helps maintain focus and inner peace.
• Avoid negative thoughts about oneself and others. Mental violence, such as jealousy, hatred, and is as harmful as physical violence.

• One should not be engaged in other works while urge for the natural urges. One should pass natural urge first and then do other works.
• Footwear should be wearied as per physical structure, season and type of job. Footwear should be selected as per our physical structure, geographic conditions.
• One should not spit out sputum, pass faeces and urine in front of the winds, fire, the moon, the sun, Brahmins and the preceptors.
• Sharirika Sadvritta promotes physical health, prevents diseases, and enhances longevity.

Codes regarding study

• One should not study without being initiated by a teacher (preceptor).
• One should not study, if there is unseasonal lighting, during an outbreak of fire, nor during earthquake, nor during important festivals, during the solar or lunar eclipse and during Sandhyas (dawn and dusk).
• One should use Medhya Rasayanas like Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, and Guduchi in diet for enhance intellect and memory.
• One should avoid unhealthy habits, excessive sleep and indulgences to keep the mind sharp.
• While studying one should not recite words incomplete in sounds nor in high voice nor in hoarse voice nor without proper accents nor without proper morphological symmetry, neither too fast, nor too slowly nor with excessive delay, nor with too high nor too low pitch.
• These codes of study help students maintain discipline, mental clarity, and ethical behaviour.

Codes towards women and copulation

• Always avoid sexual intercourse with women at the time of her menstrual period, because person copulating with menstruating woman loses his vision, life span and valiance.
• One should not indulge in sexual intercourse with a woman who is not friendly or has no passionate or is passionately attached to somebody else or is married to somebody else.
• Avoid the sexual intercourse with woman who is impure, a woman with an ugly appearance, with bad conducts or manner and also with the women who is suffering from disease,

• Because Ayurveda has explained that almost all diseases are created due to stopping (not attending) to these urges or by enforcing them.

Discussion

Following Sadvritta referring to good conducts not only helps in treating diseases but also promotes good physical and mental health.

The Manasika Sadvritta helps to have control over sense organs so that the individual will be able to make judicious decisions at appropriate time.

One who follows the code of good conduct for the maintenance of positive health lives for a hundred years without any abnormality. Such persons, praised by the noble ones, earn fame all over the world, attain virtue and wealth, friendship of all living beings and at the end, with holy acts, attains the excellent abode (virtuous world) of good souls after the death.

The Sharirika Sadvritta helps in detoxify the physical body externally as well as internally.

There by helps in proper absorption of nutrients and leads to proper nourishment of the body.

The Samajika Sadvritta helps and Vyavaharika Sadvritta helps to build confidence in one self to cop up with the challenges of society and lead a better-quality life.

Dharmika Sadvritta helps the individual to become stronger from within by understanding purpose of life. Hence this code of conduct should be followed by everybody.

Conclusion

Principles of Sadvritta laid down in Ayurveda highlights the importance of sociocultural factors in the maintenance of mental and social health.

A stable and harmonious equilibrium between Mana (mind) and his environment is needed to reduce man’s vulnerability to mental disease and to lead a more productive and satisfying life.

By following the Sadvritta that is the code of good conducts, one can prevent the occurrence of diseases through promotion of positive health lives.