Dhatus are the main constituents after the Doshas for the overall development and functioning of the Body, according to Ayurveda. Sama dosha, sama agni, sama dhatu and sama mala kriya leads to healthy state of the body. There are seven numbers of Dhatus present in our body Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja and Shukra.

1. Introduction of Dhatu
• Building blocks of the body
• Can be compared with the
connective tissues
समदोष: समाग्निश्च समधातु मलक्रिया: ।
प्रसन्िात्मेग्न्िय मिा: स्वव्सस्थ इततभिधधयते । । सु. सू.
१५/३८

2. Dhatu also called as Dushya
Dushya Definition
रसासृक माांसमेदाग्स्थमज्जशुिाणि धातव: ।
सप्त दूष्या: मला मूत्रशकृ त्स्वेदादयोऽपि च ।। (अ.हृ.सू.१:१३)
वाताददभिदूूष्यन्त इतत दूष्या: । हेमादि (अ.हृ.सू.१:१३)

3. Definition of Dhatu
Vyutpatti (Etymology) of the word Dhatu
Gramatical study of origin of Sanskrit word is called as Vyutpatti.
धृ - धारयतत धाधातोस्तुप्रत्यय: । (िा.प्र.१.३/१३३)
शरीरधारिात धातव: । (अ.हृ.सू.१:१३)
धारयतत शरीरसांवधूकाि इतत धातु: । (भसधदाांत कौमुदी)
दधातत - धत्ते वा शरीरप्रािाि इतत धातु: ।

4. Number of Dhatus
1. Rasa Dhatu – can be compared with plasma & body fluids.
2. Rakta Dhatu – can be compared with blood tissue.
3. Mamsa Dhatu – Muscle tissue
4. Meda Dhatu – Adipose tissue
5. Asthi Dhatu – Skeletal tissue
6. Majja Dhatu – Nervous tissue
7. Shukra Dhatu – Reproductive tissue

5. General functions of Dhatus
प्रीििां जीविां लेि: स्िेहो धारििूरिे ।
गिोत्िादश्च धातूिाां श्रेष्ठ कमू िमात स्मृतम ।। (अ.हृ.सू.११:०४)
1. Rasa Dhatu –Preenan (प्रीििां - तृग्प्त:)
2. Rakta Dhatu – Jeevan (जीविां - प्रािधारिम रक्त्त्स्य। )
3. Mamsa Dhatu – Lepan (लेिो - भित्तेमृूपत्तकयेव, माांसस्य । )
4. Meda Dhatu – Snehan (स्िेह: ग्स्िनधत्वम, मेदस: । )
5. Asthi Dhatu – Dharan (धारिां - अवलांबिम अस््ि:। )
6. Majja Dhatu – Puran (िूरिां - अग्स्थ िूरिम - मज्ज:। )
7. Shukra Dhatu – Garbhotpadan (गिोत्िाद: शुिस्य। )

6. Characteristics / Importance of Dhatus
• Structural unit of the body
• Functional unit
• Functions of Tridosha carried with the help of Dhatus
• All dhatus gets developed from Panchamahabhuta during
embryonic life
• During intrauterine life, all organs develops from different
combinations of dosha and dhatu.
• Dhatus develops in intrauterine life and these dhatu gradually
grow after birth
• Shukra dhatu is the only dhatu which is expressed out of the body
at the time of sexual intercourse & carry out reproduction.
• Loss of dhatu can result in death.

7. Characteristics / Importance of Dhatus
• Every dhatu need nutrients food for proper growth
• Every dhatu has its own Agni
• Every Dhatu has its own Upadhatu and mala
• Immunity of body depends on health of Dhatus
• Health of dhatu depends on the balanced state of Tridosha.

8. Intrauterine Development of Dhatu
• Shukra (Sperm), Shonita (Ovum) and Jeev (Atma) get implanted in
uterus, this implanted combination of Shukra, Shonita and Jeev is
called as Garbha (Embryo).
शुिशोणितजीवसांयोगे तु खलु क
ु क्षिगते गिूसांज्ञा िवतत । च. शा.४/ ५

9. Development of Garbha by Panchamahabhuta
• गिूस्तु खलवन्तररिवाय्वग्नितोयिूभमपवकारश्चेतिाधधष्ठाििूत: । च. शा.४/
६
Garbha consists of Akasha, Vayu, Aap, Agni, Pruthvi mahabhuta.
Under the influence of Panchamahabhuta, development of Dhatu
begins in the embryo. Dhatus develop from the 1st month of
pregnancy
• चतुथे सवाांग प्रत्यांगपविाग: प्रव्सयक्त्तो िवतत, गिूहृदय प्रव्सयग्क्त्तिावाच्चेतिा धातु:
अभिव्सयक्त्तो िवतत । (सु. शा. ३/१८)
• शोणित कफप्रसादाजम हृदयां । (सु. शा. ४/३१)
• हृदयां माांसिेशीचयो । ( हेमादि - अ.हृ.शा.३:१२)
In the 4th month, all parts of garbha becomes prominent and more

10. Development of Garbha by Panchamahabhuta
• िांचमे माभस गिूस्य माांसशोणितोिचयो । (च. शा. ४/२१)
• िांचमे िृष्ठवांशो िवतत । (गिोितिषद)
In the 5th month, vertebral column develops indicating genesis of
Asthi dhatu.
• षष्ठे बुद्धध: । (सु. शा. ३/३०)
In the 6th month, intellect (buddhi) becomes sharp which indicates
development of Majja dhatu.
• सप्तमे सवाांगप्रत्यांगपविाग: प्रव्सयक्त्ततर: । (सु. शा. ३/३०)
In the 7th month, all organs and systems are completely
developed.

11. Panchabhautik Composition of Dhatu
Dhatu Dominant mahabhuta
Rasa Jala
Rakta Teja + Jala
Mamsa Prithvi
Meda Prithvi + Jala
Asthi Prithvi + Vayu
Majja Jala
Shukra Jala

12. Inheritence of Dhatu
Dhatu Inheritance from mother/Father
Rakta Matrij bhava
Mamsa Matrij bhava
Meda Matrij bhava
Asthi Pitrij bhava
Majja Matrij bhava

13. Embryological development of Organs
Organs Dahtu taking part in embryonic
development of organs.
Yakrit (Liver) & Pliha (Spleen) Shonita
Phupphusa (Lungs) Phena on Shonita
Unduka (cecum) Shonita Kitta
Anal Canal (Guda) & Bladder
(Basti)
Tridosha and Rakta
Tongue (Jivha) Kapha, Shonita, Mamsa
Kidneys (Vrikka) Rakta And Meda
Testis (vrushana) Mamsa, Rakta, Kapha and Meda
Heart (Hridaya) Rakta and Kapha
Blood Vessels (Sira) & Ligaments
& Tendons (Snayu)
Meda and Rakta