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The Channels of the Mind - The Manovahasrotas
An important part of Ayurvedic theory concerns the channels of the body and mind called srotamsi. Srotamsi is the plural of the Sanskrit word Srotas, which means channel.
The srotamsi or channels carry substances such as blood, water, food, energy; anything that has to be distributed from one part of the body to another. Each channel has a root, a mouth and a passage. These channels must be maintained in good health so that the individual parts of the body can communicate with each other over long distances.
There are three types of channels:
- External channels, of which there are nine.
- Internal channels, of which there are thirteen.
- The mental channel system, of which there are ten, is called the Manovahasrotas (‘srotas’ means channel, ‘vaha’ means carries, ‘mano’ means mind).
In Ayurveda, the manovahasrotas (ten channels of mind) run through the heart. In Eastern thought the seat of the mind is in the heart. The ten channels carry doshas (biological forces), prana (breath & energy), sensory information, and other subtle substances to the organs of the mind. These organs are fully described in Samkhya philosophy, and include the intellect, thinking, emotion and memory systems.
Though the Manovahasrotas (ten channels of mind) are significant and important there is little information about them in classical Ayurvedic texts. Ayurvedic theory gives more emphasis to describing the physical rather than mental channels, and the manovahasrotas is only alluded to. Ayurveda simply states that the channels of mind exist. Ayurveda draws on texts from Yoga, Tantra, Samkhya (philosophy) and other disciplines to address and describe the structure of the mind and its operation.
An analogy of this situation exists in western orthodox medicine, where the family physician may know the rudiments of psychology, yet in-depth study is relegated to the allied professions of psychiatry and psychology.
Similarly, if the Ayurvedic physician desires to plumb the depths of psychological study, it is essential to study classical tantra and other eastern psychological and philosophical systems that deal more completely with mind and consciousness.
The gift of Ayurveda is that it describes the doshas and allows us to analyze our individual constitution so that we can balance our individual needs. By understanding the manovahasrotas (channels of mind), a more complete and holistic picture of the body-mind can be illustrated.
This more complete knowledge reveals how to influence the mind through various doorways and passages, through the breath and diet, and so on. It offers evidence as to how the mind, circulatory system, the body’s fundamental tissue and humors are so integrated that it is impossible to affect one without affecting the others. This allows us to adjust diet, lifestyle and other factors in order to fine tune our body-mind and live a healthier happier existence.
To understand more about the Manovahasrotas see
Secrets of the Mind ~ the 10 channels revealed, an illuminating
and groundbreaking academic work by Dr Claudia Welch.
About the Author(s):
Dr Swami Shankardev Saraswati is an eminent yoga Acharya (authority), medical doctor, yoga therapist and internationally acclaimed author. As a direct disciple of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, he lived in the Bihar School of Yoga India for 10 years (1974-1985), where he trained to teach the highest practices of yoga-tantra.
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