A Confluence of Eight Dietetic Principles (Ashta Ahara Vidhi Visheṣa Ayatanani) and Meal Timing in Ayurveda

Abstract

Introduction: In Ayurveda, digestion is not merely the breakdown of food but a complex, regulated process governed by agni, doṣas, and appropriate dietary conduct. signs of complete digestion are emphasized as objective indicators of successful digestion and metabolic readiness for subsequent food intake. Their assessment prevents ajīrṇa and ensures proper maintenance of health.

Materials and Methods: This study adopts a qualitative, conceptual analytical approach based on classical Ayurvedic texts. Signs of complete digestion are examined in correlation with Aṣṭa āhāra vidhi viśeṣāyatanāni (Eight Dietetic Determinants) and āhāra pariṇāmakara bhāvas. Conceptual mapping is performed to relate these principles to digestive physiology, including motility, enzymatic activity, absorption, and elimination.

Results: The analysis reveals that proper adherence to Aṣṭa āhāra vidhi viśeṣāyatanāni ensures balanced stimulation of agni and maintenance of doṣic harmony. The āhāra pariṇāmakara bhāvas collectively facilitate the transformation of food into āhāra rasa and successive dhātus.

Discussion: Dietary principles of Ayurveda demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of digestion as a dynamic interaction between food qualities, processing, individual adaptability, and internal metabolic forces. Signs of complete digestion function as practical clinical tools for regulating food intake and preventing digestive pathology. The integrative framework aligns closely with modern concepts of digestive regulation, metabolic efficiency, and gut homeostasis.