Sadvritta as a Behavioral Framework for Mental Health: An Ayurvedic Perspective
Keywords:
Manasika Bhava, Mental health, Mindfulness, Pragyaparadha, Sadvritta, TrigunaAbstract
Mental health is an essential part of overall well-being and is shaped by a combination of biological, psychological, behavioral, and lifestyle factors. Although modern psychiatry has made significant progress, most approaches still focus more on treatment than on prevention and health promotion. In this context, Ayurveda offers a broader and more holistic understanding of health, emphasizing the balance between body, mind, senses, and consciousness. Among its principles, Sadvritta – described in classical texts like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita – provides a detailed code of conduct that includes ethical living, personal discipline, and control over mental activities. The present review explores the role of Sadvritta in promoting mental health and attempts to relate its principles with concepts from modern psychology and neuroscience. The review suggests that Sadvritta influences mental health through multiple pathways. It supports better thinking and decision-making by strengthening higher mental functions, encourages healthy behavioral patterns through disciplined living, and promotes emotional balance by regulating the Triguna – enhancing Satva while reducing Rajas and Tamas. These effects are comparable to modern ideas such as executive function, emotional regulation, and mindfulness. Sadvritta also plays an important preventive role by reducing Pragyaparadha (~errors in judgment), which are considered a root cause of many mental and psychosomatic disorders. In addition, its emphasis on ethical conduct and positive social behavior contributes to improved psychological well-being. Overall, Sadvritta can be understood as a practical and holistic framework for maintaining and promoting mental health. Its similarities with modern scientific concepts highlight its relevance in today’s context. However, more focused research is needed to support its integration into modern mental health care.
References
1. World Health Organization. Mental health: Strengthening our response. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health- strengthening-our-response [Last accessed on 2026 Apr 02].
2. Firth J, Solmi M, Wootton RE, Vancampfort D, Schuch FB, Hoare E, et al. A meta-review of lifestyle psychiatry: The role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. World Psychiatry 2020;19:360-80.
3. Shastri AD. Sushruta. Samhita Vol 1. Ayurveda Tatwa Sandeepika Hindi Commentary. Sutrasthana Adhyaya 15/41. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthana; 2010
4. Tripathi JS, Deole YS. Indriyopakramaniya adhyaya. In: Reddy PS, Deole YS, Basisht G, editors. Charak Samhita. Vol. 1., Ver. 18. Jamnagar: CSRTSDC; 2020. p. 10.
5. Shastri A, editor. Sushruta Samhita. Chikitsa Sthana 24/75. 2nd ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan; 2007. p. 137.
6. Dwivedi RB, Gujarathi R. In: Bhalerao S, Deole YS, Basisht G, editors. Katidhapurusha sharira adhyaya. Ver. 107-108., Vol. 1. Charak Samhita. Jamnagar: CSRTSDC; 2020. p. 52.
7. Ahmed SP, Bittencourt-Hewitt A, Sebastian CL. Neurocognitive bases of emotion regulation development in adolescence. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2015;15:11-25.
8. Wager TD, Davidson ML, Hughes BL, Lindquist MA, Ochsner KN. Prefrontal-subcortical pathways mediating successful emotion regulation. Neuron. 2008;59(6):1037-50. doi: 10.1016/j. neuron.2008.09.006
9. Li CS, Sinha R. Inhibitory control and emotional stress regulation: Neuroimaging evidence for frontal-limbic dysfunction in psycho-
stimulant addiction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008;32(3):581-97. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.10.003
10. Kim S, Lee D. Prefrontal cortex and impulsive decision making. Biol Psychiatry. 2011;69(12):1140-6. doi: 10.1016/j. biopsych.2010.07.005
11. Sebastian A, Jung P, Krause-Utz A, Lieb K, Schmahl C, Tüscher O. Frontal dysfunctions of impulse control: A systematic review in borderline personality disorder and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014;8:698. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00698
12. Farb NA, Anderson AK, Segal ZV. The mindful brain and emotion regulation in mood disorders. Can J Psychiatry. 2012;57(2):70-7. doi:10.1177/070674371205700203
13. Arora A. Mindfulness and cognitive flexibility: A review of behavioural and neural evidence. Int J Psychol Stud. 2025;17(3):15.
14. Moses TE, Gray E, Mischel N, Greenwald MK. Effects of neuromodulation on cognitive and emotional responses to psychosocial stressors in healthy humans. Neurobiol Stress. 2023;22:100515. doi: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100515
15. Smith KS, Graybiel AM. Habit formation. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2016;18(1):33-43. doi:10.31887/dcns.2016.18.1/ksmith
16. Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: The psychology of habit-formation and general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2012;62(605):664-6. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X659466
17. Ravindra PN, Babu P. A correlation study between tri-guna and emotional style: A theoretical approach toward developing a working model to integrate tri-guna with affective neuroscience and well- being. Int J Yoga. 2021;14(3):213-21. doi: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_52_21
18. Menefee DS, Ledoux T, Johnston CA. The importance of emotional regulation in mental health. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2022;16(1):28-31.
19. Reed RG, Combs HL, Segerstrom SC. The structure of self-regulation and its psychological and physical health correlates in older adults. Collabra Psychol. 2020;6(1):23.
20. Robson DA, Allen MS, Howard SJ. Self-regulation in childhood as a predictor of future outcomes: A meta-analytic review. Psychol Bull.
2020;146(4):324-54.
21. Zou Y, Li P, Hofmann SG, Liu X. The mediating role of non-reactivity to mindfulness training and cognitive flexibility: A randomized
controlled trial. Front Psychol. 2020 Jun 26;11:1053. doi: 10.3389/ fpsyg.2020.01053
22. Britton WB, Shahar B, Szepsenwol O, Jacobs WJ. Mindfulness- based cognitive therapy improves emotional reactivity to social
stress: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Behav Ther. 2012;43(2):365-80.
23. Zainal NH, Newman MG. Mindfulness enhances cognitive functioning: A meta-analysis of 111 randomized controlled trials. Health Psychol
Rev. 2024;18(2):369-95. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2023.2248222
24. Weng HY, Fox AS, Shackman AJ, Stodola DE, Caldwell JZ, Olson MC, et al. Compassion training alters altruism and neural responses to suffering. Psychol Sci. 2013;24(7):1171-80. doi: 10.1177/0956797612469537
25. Dwivedi RB, Gujarathi R. Katidhapurusha sharira adhyaya. In: Bhalerao S, Deole YS, Basisht G, editors. Charak Samhita. Vol. 1., Ver. 102. Jamnagar: CSRTSDC; 2020. p. 52.
26. Dwivedi RB, Gujarathi R. Katidhapurusha sharira adhyaya. In: Bhalerao S, Deole YS, Basisht G, editors. Charak Samhita. Vol. 1., Ver. 106. Jamnagar: CSRTSDC; 2020. p. 53.
