Vikriti
Vikṛti / विकृति
Definition
Your current state, as distinct from prakriti, the constitution you were born with. Assessment in Ayurveda is a reading of the gap between the two.
Key points
- Vikriti is the present state of the doshas, shaped by season, age, diet and life
- Prakriti is the constitution you were born with and does not change
- Most online dosha quizzes report vikriti, not prakriti
What is vikriti?
Vikriti is the state you are in now. Against prakriti, the proportion of doshas you were born with and which does not change, vikriti is the proportion as it stands today, shifted by season, by age, by what you have been eating and how you have been living.
Why the tradition keeps two terms
Because the assessment is not a label but a difference. What an Ayurvedic practitioner is trying to read is how far the present has moved from the original.
That distinction does real work. Consider two people with the same complaint of restlessness and dry skin. One has been Vata predominant since birth, and this is simply how they run. The other is normally Kapha predominant and has moved a long way from their baseline. Same symptoms, different distance travelled, different adjustments called for. Without both terms there is no way to say this.
What a dosha quiz actually tells you
Almost certainly your vikriti. Answers about sleep, appetite and mood describe the present, not childhood, so what comes back is the current tendency.
That makes the result useful and worth reading correctly: it is a snapshot of now rather than a fixed identity. Take it as information about what has shifted, which is exactly what it is good for.
This entry introduces a traditional system of thought and general information. It does not guarantee any specific effect and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. For health concerns, please consult a qualified medical professional.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is vikriti?
Your present dosha balance, as altered by season, age, diet and how you have been living. It is the counterpart to [prakriti](/en/term/prakriti/), the constitution you were born with.
What is the difference between prakriti and vikriti?
Prakriti does not change; vikriti does. Assessment consists of reading how far the current state has moved from the original proportion, which is why the same symptom can call for different adjustments in different people.
Which one does a dosha quiz tell me?
Usually vikriti, your current tendency, since answers reflect how you are now. Treat the result as a picture of the present rather than as your inborn constitution.