Tarpaka Kapha

Perception is the movement of awareness, carried by prana. When awareness moves, it becomes attention. Sadhaka pitta gives the fire of understanding, absorption, comprehension, recognition, identification, and evaluation. Prana carries sensory perception and motor movement. Prana is also the writer that records every good, bad, or ugly experience on the film of tarpaka kapha — tarpaka kapha is a vast recording file. Tarpaka kapha is associated with the astral body, and within the matrix of the astral body, past life experiences are stored.

We carry the memory of our parents' illnesses within the DNA molecules, which is tarpaka kapha. We seek security by retaining memories, and tarpaka kapha performs this task. Biological memories — such as knowing fire burns, electricity shocks, and knives cut — are necessary as a protective mechanism. Psychological memories of childhood suffering, abuse, or hurt are also stored in tarpaka kapha and can create deep-seated wounds that shape personality and create psychological problems in later years.

Thought is a discharge of tarpaka kapha — a biochemical and neuro-electrical vehicle passing through the matrix of tarpaka kapha. Tarpaka kapha may work at both the conscious and subconscious levels, with no clear line of demarcation between them. Meditation and counseling dig into tarpaka kapha, and prana brings all memories to the surface.

When tarpaka kapha is of inferior quality, it reduces sensitivity and interferes with clarity of observation. When tarpaka kapha becomes thick and firm, there is crystallization, rigidity, and callousness, creating confusion. The superior quality of tarpaka kapha makes relationships new and brings rejuvenation. Tarpaka kapha helps to create neurological time — the gap between stimulus and response.

The Sanskrit word tarpana means to nourish, to retain, to record. It also means contentment. Tarpaka kapha is predominantly present in the white matter of the brain. It is thick, sticky, slimy, and soft. Tarpaka nourishes the brain cells.

The liquid qualities of tarpaka kapha are present in the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid, which surround the soft brain tissue and the spinal cord. Tarpaka kapha as cerebrospinal fluid is slightly sweet because of glucose and slightly salty because of minerals. Because of these sweet and salty tastes, it helps to nourish the nerve cells. Tarpaka kapha brings energy to rasa dhatu (plasma) by way of the sweet and salty tastes, creating a feeling of happiness.

Another important site of tarpaka kapha is the myelin sheath, a protective sheath surrounding most nerve cells. One of the functions of tarpaka kapha as the myelin sheath is to protect the impulse that goes from one neuron to another neuron, which is governed by prana vayu. The entire nerve tissue, made up of protein substance, is tarpaka kapha. Tarpaka kapha provides a sensitive film to the neuron where every experience is recorded — that is the meaning of tarpana: to retain or record.

Tarpaka kapha lubricates the sinuses and nasal cavities and is present in the spinal cord, where it governs the reflex arc. The tarpaka kapha in the spinal cord acts as a medium for the completion of the circuit for the reflex arc, functioning like a battery solution.