Nidra Unravelled: Connecting Ayurvedic Prospective and Neurobiology of Sleep

Nidra is one of the Trayopasthamba mentioned in Ayurveda, indicating its essential role in maintaining normal physiological and psychological functions. It is a physiological state that plays a fundamental role in maintaining physical, mental and cognitive well-being. Ayurveda identifies sleep as an important aspect and describes its influence on Sukha, Pusthi, Bala, Vrishata, Jnana and Jivita. Contemporary science identifies sleep regulation as a dynamic process involving interactions between neurotransmitters and circadian rhythm. Sleep and wakefulness are mediated by neurotransmitters such as GABA, galanin, adenosine, noradrenaline, orexin, acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, and histamine. These neurotransmitters regulate neuronal activity, arousal, cognition, and transitions between sleep and wakefulness. Ayurveda explains Nidra as Tamomayi, Nidra is an interplay between Doshas, Manas and Indriyas. The present article explores the functional relationship between Ayurvedic concepts of Nidra and contemporary sleep neurobiology with particular emphasis on neurotransmitters of sleep-wake regulation and its interpretation through Ayurvedic physiology of doshas like Prana vata, Udana vata, Sadhaka pitta and Tarpaka kapha. Rather than proposing a direct equivalence between neurotransmitters and doshas, the article explores the functional relations in the regulation of sleep and arousal. This integrative perspective may facilitate a deeper understanding of Nidra and provide a conceptual bridge between Ayurveda and contemporary neuroscience.