Heavy

Understanding Guru (Heaviness) in Ayurveda

Guru is the Ayurvedic property of heaviness associated with Earth and Water elements. It increases Kapha while decreasing Vata and Pitta. Heavy substances promote strength and nourishment but can slow digestion. They affect waste elimination and may cause channel blockage when consumed excessively. Typically sweet in taste with cooling potency, guru substances are important for tissue building but should be consumed mindfully, especially by those with weak digestion.

🌟 Definition

Guru is the property responsible for the heaviness of matter in Ayurvedic science.²

🌍 Elemental Association²

Guru attribute is primarily linked to two elements:

• Earth (Prithvi)
• Water (Jal)

When a substance is described as having a heavy attribute (guru guna), it is understood to contain high quantities of earth and water elements.

🔄 Relationship with Dosha¹

• Increases: Kapha dosha ⬆️
• Decreases: Vata and Pitta doshas ⬇️

💩 Effect on Malas (Waste Products)²

Substances with heavy attributes are mala vardhana - they increase both:

• The quantity of waste products
• The movement/elimination of waste products (stool, urine, and sweat)

🩸 Impact on Channels (Srotas)²

• Excessive consumption of heavy substances can cause coating or deposition inside the body's channels
• These substances are referred to as srotopalepa (channel blockers)
• Such coating diminishes the flow of doshas, dhatus (tissues), and malas

🌡️ Taste Associations²

• Rasa (Taste): Sweet
• Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): Sweet Vipaka
• Veerya (Potency): Most heavy substances have cold potency (sheeta veerya)

✨ Key Properties

• Increases physical heaviness and body weight
• Provides bulk nutrition
• Promotes physical strength and stamina
• Functions as a restorative agent
• Can create dullness and lethargy when excessive
• Nourishes the seven dhatus (body tissues)²
• Heavy to digest and may cause delayed digestion²
• Can cause indigestion and lethargy if digestive fire (Agni) is weak²

🌿 Examples

Black Gram and similar dense foods

💊 Pharmacological Properties²

• Possesses purgative action (promotes elimination)
• Balya - Strength-Promoting
• Brimhana - Nourishment-Promoting to tissues
• Vrishya - Aphrodisiac properties, nourishes reproductive tissues

👤 Manifestation in Kapha-dominant Individuals

• Firm and steady gait
• Heavy, slow digestion

References

Primary Source: Acharya Balkrishna's A Practical Approach To The Science of Ayurveda: A Comprehensive Guide for Healthy Living.

1. Ayurveda - The Science of Self-Healing - Dr Vasant D Lad - Pg 50
2. School of Ayurveda and Panchkarma - Lectures and Notes