Kala (काल)

Kala means 'time'. In Ayurveda, time is a crucial factor that influences health and disease. This is considered in sever.

Ayurvedic Principles (Siddhanta Kosha) 1 min read
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Sanskrit Verse

कालः परिणामः।

— (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 1/26 - part of definition of time)

Explanation

Kala means ’time’. In Ayurveda, time is a crucial factor that influences health and disease. This is considered in several contexts: the time of day (Dinacharya), the season (Ritucharya), the age of the patient (Vaya), and the stage of the disease (Kriya Kala). Kala is the force of transformation (Parinama).

Clinical Importance

Treatment is always administered with respect to Kala. For example, Kapha-aggravating foods are avoided at night, specific purification therapies are done in specific seasons, and the prognosis of a disease depends on how long it has been present.