Volume III · Part I · Chapter 3
Prakriti — Knowing Your Constitution
Foundations of Ayurvedic Living
About 2 min read
Prakriti is the unique proportion of the three doshas fixed at conception. It does not change over a lifetime; what changes is the current state (vikriti). Most people are a combination — Vata–Pitta, Pitta–Kapha and so on — and a few are balanced in all three. Knowing one's prakriti explains why the same meal suits one person and disagrees with another.
The questionnaire below is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnosis. Answer for how you have been for most of your life, not how you are this week. Tick one column per row and count the ticks.
| Feature | Vata | Pitta | Kapha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body frame | Thin, light, prominent joints | Medium, muscular | Broad, solid, heavy |
| Weight | Hard to gain | Gains and loses easily | Gains easily, hard to lose |
| Skin | Dry, rough, cool | Warm, oily, freckles, prone to rashes | Thick, smooth, moist, cool |
| Hair | Dry, frizzy, thin | Fine, early greying or thinning | Thick, wavy, lustrous |
| Eyes | Small, active, dry | Sharp, penetrating, sensitive to light | Large, calm, moist |
| Appetite | Irregular — sometimes hungry, sometimes not | Strong; irritable if a meal is missed | Steady but can skip meals easily |
| Digestion | Gas, bloating, constipation tendency | Fast; acidity, loose stools tendency | Slow; heaviness after meals |
| Thirst | Variable | High | Low |
| Preferred climate | Warmth; dislikes cold and wind | Coolness; dislikes heat | Warm and dry; dislikes damp cold |
| Sleep | Light, interrupted, 5–6 h | Moderate, sound, 6–8 h | Deep, long, hard to wake |
| Energy | Bursts, then fatigue | Purposeful, intense | Steady, enduring, slow to start |
| Speech | Fast, talkative | Sharp, precise, persuasive | Slow, calm, melodious |
| Mind | Quick, creative, restless | Focused, analytical, critical | Calm, methodical, steady |
| Memory | Learns fast, forgets fast | Sharp, clear | Slow to learn, never forgets |
| Under stress | Anxious, worried | Irritable, angry | Withdrawn, stubborn |
| Walking | Fast, light steps | Purposeful, medium | Slow, steady |
| Spending | Impulsive | Planned, on quality | Saves |
| Joints | Crack, stiffen in cold | Loose, sometimes inflamed | Large, well-lubricated |
| Bowel habit | Dry, hard, irregular | Soft, frequent, loose | Regular, heavy, well-formed |
| Weather illnesses | Dryness, aches, insomnia in autumn–winter | Heat, rashes, acidity in summer–autumn | Colds, congestion in late winter–spring |
Prakriti self-assessment
Question 1 of 200 answered