The Ojas–tejas–prana Axis: An Integrative Review of Vital Functional Homeostasis in Ayurvedic Physiology

Ayurveda conceptualizes health as a dynamic equilibrium sustained by subtle functional regulators that integrate bodily, metabolic, and neuropsychological processes. Among these, Ojas, Tejas, and Prana occupy a central position as determinants of vitality, resilience, and systemic coherence. Rather than representing isolated entities, this triad functions as an interdependent regulatory axis governing nourishment, transformation, and life force. Ojas reflects the cumulative essence of tissue metabolism and underlies immune competence, structural stability, and emotional endurance. Tejas represents the refined functional aspect of metabolic intelligence, directing digestion, thermoregulation, enzymatic activity, and cognitive discrimination. Prana acts as the primary mobilizing and coordinating force responsible for respiration, circulation, neuromuscular activity, sensory integration, and higher neural regulation. This narrative integrative review systematically examines classical descriptions of Ojas, Tejas, and Prana from authoritative Ayurvedic texts, including the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Aṣhtang Hṛdaya, and interprets their functional interrelationships through contemporary perspectives of immunology, metabolism, and neurophysiology. The analysis demonstrates that balanced interaction among these three principles is essential for maintaining physiological stability, adaptive capacity, and psychosomatic resilience, whereas their disturbance contributes to multisystem dysfunction. By synthesizing classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern systems-oriented interpretations, this review proposes the Ojas–Tejas–Prana axis as a coherent functional model of vital homeostasis. The framework offers conceptual relevance for understanding stress adaptation, chronic disease susceptibility, and preventive healthcare, reinforcing Ayurveda’s enduring contribution to integrative and systems-based health science.