Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Bhumi Desha comprises the geographical pieces of land wherein we inhabit. Sadharana Desha is one of the Bhumi Deshas, the other two being Jangala Desha and Anupa Desha.
Related Reading – Jangala Desha
Related Reading – Anupa Desha
In this article we shall discuss Sadharana Desha.
Sadharana Desha
भूमिदेहप्रभेदेनदेशमाहुरिहद्विधा।
जाङ्गलंवातभूयिष्ठमानूपंतुकफोल्बणम्॥२३॥
साधारणंसममलंत्रिधाभूदेशमादिशेत्।(A.H.Su.1/23)
अनयोरेवद्वयोर्देशयोर्वीरुद्वनस्पतिवानस्पत्यशकुनिमृगगणयुतःस्थिरसुकुमारबलवर्णसंहननोपपन्नसाधारणगुणयुक्तपुरुषःसाधारणोज्ञेयः||८|| (Cha.Ka.Sth.1/8)
उभयदेशलक्षणः साधारण इति॥४२॥
समाः साधारणो यस्माच्छीतवर्षोष्ममारुताः ।
दोषाणां समता जन्तोस्तस्माधारणो मतः ॥४३॥ (Su.Su.35/42, 43)
Sadharana Desha means moderate or normal land. Acharya Vagbhata keeps the definition of Sadharana Desha simple, as he says in Ashtanga Hridaya that ‘Sadharana Desha is a land wherein there is balance of all the three doshas’.
Below mentioned are the characteristic features of Sadharana Desha –
Nature of land – The Sadharana Desha have mixed characteristic features of both Jangala and Anupa Desha. Therefore, it is of moderate kind. These lands are dry and also marshy.
Mahabhuta Predominance – Since Sadharana Desha is a balance of both Jangala and Anupa Desha, it will be predominant in Akasa, Vayu and Jala Mahabhuta.
Temperature, Wind and Rain – Cold, rain, heat, sunlight and wind are all in moderate proportions in these regions / lands. They are neither high nor less.
Nature of forests – These lands have open spaces and forests in moderation. They have moderate vegetation.
Common trees available in Sadharana Desha – Sadharana Desha would have creepers, Vanaspati (trees which fruit without apparent flowers), Vanaspatya (trees bearing both fruits and flowers) which have been mentioned in Jangala and Anupa Desha in moderate proportions. The crops have combined characters of both these lands. Godhuma – wheat, Yava – barley and Ulbana – maize is found to be grown in abundance.
Nature of winds – Winds are moderate in Sadharana Desha.
Availability of Water – Since rains are in moderation, the water bodies too are filled with water in moderation and the availability of water too is moderate.
Hills and sands – Hills too are available in moderate proportions and so are sands.
Common birds and animals inhabiting Sadharana Desha – Sadharana Desha is inhabited by the same animals and birds which inhabit both Jangala and Anupa Desha.
Predominant doshas – All the three doshas are in a moderate state – a state of balance in Sadharana Desha, which can be considered as normal. This is because of the moderate nature of cold, rain, heat, sunlight and winds in these regions and also due to availability of moderate water and vegetation. This is the reason it has been called as Sadharana Desha. So, people have sama dosha prakriti. Therefore, this land is considered to be the best among all the lands.
Predominant diseases – The diseases manifested in the Sadharana Desha depends on whether the Sadharana Desha is predominantly Jangala or Anupa. If it is predominantly Jangala, vata disorders may mainly occur. If it is predominantly Anupa, kapha disorders may mainly occur.
Nature of people inhabiting Jangala Desha – People living in Sadharana Desha are sturdy and tender. They are endowed with good strength (lesser than people in Anupa Desha), complexion and compactness. They have mixed features of people living in both Jangala and Anupa Desha and also the qualities of people living in land of general nature.
Strength and Health – People living in Anupa Desha are said to be stronger than people inhabiting Jangala and Sadharana Desha. Therefore, people in Sadharana Desha have less strength in comparison to those living in Anupa Desha.
Sadharana Desha subtypes
There are two kinds of Sadharana Desha. They are –
Sadharana Desha is a mixed land having features of both Jangala and Anupa Desha and hence an ideal land having moderate features might not be available. This is due to inequalities in the distribution of wet and dry lands. Therefore, Sadharana Desha has been divided into two kinds depending on the difference in their characteristics.
– Anupa Sadharana – This land has more features of Anupa Desha and less features of those of Jangala Desha. It is the place of origin of lavana rasa – salt taste and amla rasa – sour tastes.
– Jangala Sadharana – This land has more features of Jangala Desha and less features of Anupa Desha. It is the place of origin of tikta rasa – bitter taste and Kashaya rasa – astringent tastes.
Sadharana Desha: Quick look
– Dry and wet lands – Has mixed features of jangala – dry and anupa – wetlands, proper balance of dryness and moistness
– Winds and air are moderate, so are rains and humidity
– Moderate forests, trees, mountains, open spaces and water
– Predominant in Vayu and Jala Mahabhuta
– Has moderate temperature
– Trees, animals and birds as present both in Jangala and Anupa Desha
– Has balanced doshas
– Diseases dependent on whether the Sadharana Desha is predominantly Jangala or Anupa
– People inhabiting here are sturdy, tender, moderately strong, have good complexion and compactness
– It is considered to be the best place for dwelling
Clinical Perspective
The inhabitants of Sadharana Desha and also the physicians living therein should know their geography properly in order to understand the features of their land and also the influence it has on them, their living and health.
The knowledge of Sadharana Desha will help the physician to understand that these pieces of land actually have the doshas in balance and are the best places to dwell. So, preventive measures and balancing measures should be in the game plan and the physicians should largely educate the people regarding keeping their doshas and diseases that they are prone to in a check and state of balance. Diseases manifesting herein too should not be of a great deal to handle especially in the initial stages and also if the persons are very well disciplined. People inhabiting these places should also be well informed about the dos and don’ts therein and also follow them with dedication. This awareness would help them keep healthy.
People inhabiting Jangala Sadharana Desha should follow the principles of foods and lifestyle as in Jangala Desha. Similarly, those living in Anupa Sadharana Desha should follow the principles of living, food and lifestyle as in Anupa Desha. The diseases manifesting therein shall also be accordingly dealt with.
Basically, the preventive strategies from clinical perspective is to keep away from vata and kapha aggravating foods and activities, especially so by people of the same individual or dual constitution and seasons favourable for aggravation of these doshas. They should quickly adapt to dryness and moistness / wetness as and when they appear and they should learn to transit from all perspectives. Balancing and keeping the balance is the key for good health.
