Concept of Saar

Saar is the result of properly nourished dhatu (tissue quality) and is the essence or quality check of the dhatu. If the dhatu are made of bad quality food for example, then saar is compromised.

Its assessment is an essential part of patient examination to determination the overall strength of the patient (Pravar bala, excellent strength, Madhyam Bala, medium strength, or Heen Bala, low strength). Determining their saar, along with other factors such as age, habits, constitution or mental strength for example, helps to decide where and how any intervention would best be made.

However we can also talk about people being one kind of saar person or another. It is difficult to determine the optimum weight of a person, or how they should look at their best, without knowing their saar. If a person has weak bones (deficient asthi saar) or other dhatu are not good but rakhta dhatu is strong, Ayurveda considers that person a rakhta saar person. It could be their genetic constitution or a blockage which could be determined with rogi pariksha, diagnosis of illnesss.

1. Tvatcha saar pariksha

These people have skin which is healthy, neither thin nor thick. They tend to be enthusiastic people with good energy levels.

2. Rakta saar pariksha 

Reddish hands and feet, reddish flush on chest, skin pinky red, eyes and tongue red

These people are intelligent and excitable, they can get angry quickly and suffer from skin diseases. They have good rakhta dhatu.

3. Mansa saar pariksha

They build strong (not necessarily big) muscles quickly. These people can be a little proud, and selfish.

4. Meda saar pariksha

Their ears, eyes, skin, lips are oily/moist, that it they have excellent meda dhatu. These people are generally happy, content and satisfied. Their touch is soothing and very kind.

5. Asthi saar pariksha

These people have big, sturdy bones, a big frame, good hair. They are generally brave, (very courageous in battle) and generally happy.

6. Majja saar pariksha

These people´s skin is fine but strong, moist and wrinkle free, their eyes look very content and loving. They tend to feel a lot of satisfaction and contentment, and have strong immunity.

7. Shukra saar pariksha

These people are naturally very attractive to the opposite sex. The women are said to be curvy with large breasts and hips and good skin, while the men are said to be virile, with large sexual organs, and both smell very good. These people are fertile and can have many children if they want to.

8. Sattva saar pariksha

People with sattva saar have a very strong mental capacity,  are intelligent and well mannered, have good common sense, are not easily confused, and solve problems quickly. They like to speak. They are generally happy, content, pure, and they attract others with their problem-solving abilities, and their inspirational qualities. They can make excellent inspirational speakers.

There are three classification of saar:

Uttam saar, supreme saar person, very healthy and strong, has all the genetic advantages

Madhyam saar, middling health and strength

Heen saar, least health and strength, prone to sicknesses

Someone with Heen Saar or Madhyam Saar can maintain and strengthen their dhatu strength/ saar, (although they may never be as strong as someone with a genetic advantage) If someone has Heen Saar they must take even more care of their health.

We should always try to find out the optimum level for that individual. Have they been stronger or more vital in the past? The point of comparison should always be to their own best health, not to the health or strength of others.

For example, someone seems very pale, grey or very thin. Are they naturally pale or anaemic? Are they underweight for their constitution and saar, or are they naturally slender?  We could say that it is difficult to establish in the case of someone who has never known optimum health and vitality even in childhood, but that in itself may give pointers to genetic weakness and the need for strengthening of dhatu through diet, breathing and lifestyle.