Indriya — The Five Senses and Their Healthy Engagement
Indriya (sense organs) in Ayurveda are understood as both physiological organs and windows of consciousness — their proper use is a key element of Dinacharya and their misuse (Asatmya Indriyartha Samyoga) is a primary cause of disease.
The five Jnanendriyas (sense organs of knowledge) in Ayurvedic anatomy are: Shrotra (ears — governed by space element and Vata), Tvak (skin — governed by air element and Vata), Chakshu (eyes — governed by fire element and Pitta), Jihva (tongue — governed by water element and Kapha), and Ghrana (nose — governed by earth element and Kapha). Each sense organ is considered an extension of its governing dosha in the body's periphery, and the health of each sense reflects the health of its corresponding dosha. Charaka identifies three types of improper sensory engagement (Asatmya Indriyartha Samyoga) as causes of disease: Atiyoga (excessive use — too much light for the eyes, too much sound for the ears), Hinayoga (insufficient use — absence of sensory stimulation leading to atrophy), and Mithyayoga (perverse use — engagement with disturbing, harmful, or inappropriate sensory objects).
The proper use of the senses is the gateway to health; their improper use is the gateway to disease.
Research on digital technology and 'attentional overload' documents that contemporary screen-based media constitutes an unprecedented form of Atiyoga for the visual system — confirming the Ayurvedic prediction that excess sensory stimulation is a primary driver of mental fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disruption.
Charaka Samhita