Vikara

Vikara refers to change, modification, transformation, or alteration. It is a Sanskrit term frequently used in various contexts, including philosophy, linguistics, and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda). The term implies a deviation from a natural, original, or uncorrupted state.

In philosophical contexts, particularly in Samkhya and Yoga schools, vikara often signifies the evolutes or modifications of prakriti (primordial nature). Prakriti, being unmanifest, undergoes vikara to manifest the various aspects of the observable universe. These evolutes include intellect (buddhi), ego (ahamkara), and the five subtle elements (tanmatras), which further give rise to the gross elements and ultimately, the physical world.

In linguistics (particularly in Sanskrit grammar), vikara denotes phonetic changes or modifications that occur to words during derivation or inflection. This might involve changes in vowels, consonants, or even the addition or deletion of sounds to create different grammatical forms.

Within Ayurveda, vikara can refer to a disturbance or imbalance in the doshas (biological energies – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) leading to illness or disease. It signifies a deviation from the state of health, indicating a pathological change within the body.

Essentially, vikara signifies a movement away from a baseline or origin, implying a transformation or alteration in form, function, or state.