Abstract

*Kumar Manoj, Agrawal Shipra, Rahul Siddharth and Rathore Ram Krishna

ABSTRACT

All human beings spend almost one third of their lifetime in sleeping. Good sleep is essential and advantageous to the quality of life. It is one of the Trayopastambhas (three great subsidiary pillars) on which a person's health is firmly balanced. Sleep is important because it affects our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Sleep is one of the four basic, natural instincts. Food, sleep, fear and having sexual contact, found equally in humans and animals. Sleep is as necessary as food for the survival of a living body. According to the Mandukya Upanishad, the state in which the soul does not desire any object and in which it does not even dream is called sushupti or nidra (sleep). In the state of nidra, the instincts of the senses and the mind stop while involuntary activities like breathing, circulation etc. go on. The essential business of the body continues. Regular and good quality nidra, is an indicator of good health as it is stress-relieving and normalizes bodily tissues. Nidra, is important for proper brain functioning, emotional wellbeing, physical health, daytime performances and activities. In newborn, children and teenagers, sleep also helps in growth and development of body and mind. If a person gets enough good quality and quantity of sleep in day to day life, it provides many benefits including good health, good life span, protecting mental and physical health. During sleep, our body is working to support healthy brain functions and maintain physical health. Due to sleep deprivation many sleep disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress, poor memory, headache and drowsiness may occur.