The Seven DhÄtus: The Subtle Mechanics of Ayurvedic Anatomy & Physiology
In Ayurveda, the dhÄtus are the seven tissues that sustain and organise human life. They govern nourishment, strength, immunity, reproduction, and longevity. More importantly, they reveal why health progresses, why it stalls, and why certain patterns repeat despite good care.
Many people know that dhÄtus translate loosely as ātissuesā. Far fewer understand how they develop, degenerate, and transform, or how deeply they influence both physical symptoms and subtle states of mind.
When the various layers of dhÄtus are poorly understood, healing remains surface-level.
When they are unpacked and clearly understood, treatment becomes precise, intelligent, far more effective and incredible.Ā
This course exists to build that clarity.
When Healing Plateaus, the DhÄtus Are Involved
Whether you are a practitioner, student, or dedicated self-healer, there comes a point where effort is being applied but results plateau.
You may be doing āthe right thingsā, diet, herbs, treatments, lifestyle, yet something does not fully resolve. Symptoms improve but do not stabilise. Vitality fluctuates. Progress feels inconsistent.
In authentic classical Ayurveda, this is often not a failure of treatment, but a misreading of the intricacies of the tissue-level process.
Without understanding:
- which dhÄtus are being nourished
- which are depleted
- which are vitiated
- which are impacted by subtle and cosmic influences
- and where and why biological transformation has stalled
interventions remain general rather than wholesomely targeted.
This course trains you to see the overall process clearly.
Ā
A Course at the Intersection of Body, Mind, and Cosmos
The Seven DhÄtus & Nine PlanetsĀ is an advanced online course facilitated byĀ Vaidya Dr Harsha RajuĀ andĀ Dylan Smith, bringing together classical Ayurvedic physiology and the medical application of Jyotiį¹£a (Vedic astrology).
Rather than teaching the dhÄtus as static anatomy, this course reveals them asĀ living, dynamic processes, shaped by digestion, consciousness, planetary influence, and time.
This is not conceptual astrology or abstract philosophy. It isĀ clinical, embodied knowledgeĀ that directly informs diagnosis, treatment and living your best life.Ā
What Youāll Learn in This Course
This course offers a complete, integrated understanding of theĀ Sapta DhÄtus as a living system, rather than isolated tissues.
Youāll explore:
- How each dhÄtu forms, transforms, becomes ill, and degenerates over time
- The process ofĀ DhÄtu ParinÄma: the ecosystem of dhÄtu formation, nourishment, transformation and purification, and how this translates to either disease or radiant health
- How prÄna, tejas, and ojas operateĀ throughĀ the dhÄtus rather than separately from them
- Why certain symptoms persist despite advanced, wholesome treatment
- The inter-connectedness between planets, zodiacs, nakį¹£atras and the dhÄtus.
- Remedies and treatment protocols to balance the dhÄtus, planetary doshas, and enhance longevity.
- Gaining more understanding on Ayurveda anatomy and physiology, beyond doshas
Ā
Ā
āThe subtle pulse of these teachings continues to live within my awareness each day.
Itās a living practice, the kind of knowledge that, once known, cannot be un-known.āĀā Vanessa, Meditation TeacherĀ
A Deeper Lens for Clinical and Personal HealingĀ
Understanding the intimate dance of the seven planets with the seven dhÄtus, as well as many other aspects of human physiology, changes how you appreciate everything else in Ayurveda.
Pulse (nÄdÄ«) practice and diagnosis may gain more depth.
Marma healing becomes more intentional and sophisticated.
Diet, herbs, and therapies open into many more clinical applications, offering greater precision in practice.
For practitioners, this expands and refines diagnosis and treatment planning.
For students and devoted self-healers, it provides a framework that brings coherence to what may previously have felt fragmented or overwhelming.
This is knowledge you continue to return to and build upon, not a course which ticks a box, you get a certificate and then move on.
The Role of Jyotiį¹£a in Tissue-Level Healing
A distinctive aspect of this course is the integration ofĀ medical Jyotiį¹£a.
Vaidya Dr Harsha Raju reveals how theĀ seven planets correspond to the seven dhÄtus, not symbolically, butĀ functionally. Youāll learn how cosmic influences shape tissue development, resilience, vulnerability, and consciousness.
This perspective offers a broader diagnostic lens, particularly when disease does not follow expected patterns, conditions arise despite appropriate care, or responses to treatment are inconsistent or limited.
It is a meeting point ofĀ body, mind, time and the cosmos.
Course Format
- Nine recorded teachings, combining lecture-style transmission and recordings of live Q&A
- ApproximatelyĀ 11.5 hoursĀ of advanced material
- Self-paced access, allowing you to move slowly and revisit sessions
- Downloadable PDFs and slides for study and reference
- Optional private community space for discussions, sharings, and questions, moderated by Dylan and the Vital Veda team
The course was recorded live in 2020 and refined for online release, preserving the depth and integrity of the original transmission.
Who This Course Is For
This course is for those who areĀ ready to deepenĀ their experience with Ayurveda.
- Dedicated self-healers, bhaktas, and students of Vedic knowledgeĀ who are devoted to their own health and sÄdhana, love Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, and classical wisdom. Those who want to immerse in Ayurveda and jyotiį¹£ with more sophistication and deeper intelligence, rather than quick fixes or surface-level biology.
- Ayurveda practitioners and studentsĀ who understand doį¹£as and dhÄtus, but want a deeper framework for disease, immunity, vitality, and tissue-level imbalance beyond doį¹£a-based thinking. Exploring new layers by jyotiį¹£ with Ayurveda and human physiology.
- Practitioners from other healing modalitiesĀ who work with subtle or constitutional approaches and want insight into the rich layers of Ayurveda, including dhÄtus, prÄį¹a,Ā ÅaktiĀ and vedic astrology.
- Students and practitioners of Jyotiį¹£aĀ seeking a grounded way to understand how planetary intelligence expresses itself through the body, tissues, and health.
Important note:Ā This is not an introductory course and is best suited to those willing to move steadily and let understanding mature.
Ā
Ā
āI loved this course, and it deeply supported my work as a Jyotish practitioner. It gave me an entirely new lens for understanding the planets.Ā Itās rich and layered - the kind of teaching you donāt just āfinishā, but return to. Even now, I regularly refer back to my notes from the course.ā
āĀ Dalia, Vedic Astrologer
Ā
About Your Teachers
Vaidya Dr. Harsha Raju
Dr. Harsha Raju is an Ayurvedic physician renowned for his mastery in Pulse Diagnosis, SÅ«kį¹£ma Marma Therapy, and Medical Astrology (Jyotiį¹£a). With advanced degrees specialising in both General Ayurvedic Practice and Panchakarma, he represents one of Indiaās most respected Ayurvedic lineages - The Raju Family of Vaidyas.
One of Dr. Harshaās unique gifts lies in his integration of Jyotiį¹£a into medical practice, bridging cosmic insight with clinical precision to create deeply individualised treatment plans. He has consulted and taught extensively across India, Europe, Australia and around the world, earning deep respect for his clarity, compassion, and healing presence.
He currently leads The Rajus Ayurveda Panchakarma Clinic in Hyderabad, India - continuing his familyās legacy of authentic Vedic healing. Those who meet him often describe a tangible sense of Änanda (bliss) and comfort that emanates from his presence.
Dylan Smith
Dylan Smith is a devoted Ayurvedic practitioner, educator, and holistic health advocate based in the Byron Shire, Australia. Since founding Vital Veda in 2014, he has dedicated his life to making Ayurveda accessible and alive - through hands-on treatments, specialised training programs, advanced rejuvenation retreats, and The Vital Veda Podcast, which reaches a global audience.
Dylanās deep connection with the Raju family of South India has profoundly shaped his practice. Having studied and worked alongside this legendary lineage of Ayurvedic Vaidyas, he continues to honour and transmit their wisdom with authenticity and enthusiasm.
Known for his grounded, relatable, and vibrant teaching style, Dylan has guided students and clients across the world to integrate the timeless principles of Ayurveda into daily life.
Blending devotion with practicality, Dylan empowers individuals to awaken their innate intelligence through Ayurveda - bringing vitality, clarity, and joy to every aspect of life.
More Testimonials
āThis was an incredible sharing of knowledge by Dr Harsha on the Srotas and DhÄtus. At the time I was just beginning to understand these topics and I knew I would need to return to them once my own understanding had matured. I have been waiting for the recordings to be released and look forward to revisiting what I know I missed in both depth and breadth.ā
āĀ Erin
āSix years later, I still retain the parts of this course that changed how I understand the mind, body and spirit. I looked forward to each session, and created books from the handouts, which became my go-to reference.
Some of the content felt overwhelming at the time, but the teachings on DhÄtus and Nutrition deeply shaped how I think about my body and the meals I prepare.
The course enhanced my knowledge as a Vedic Meditation Teacher and continues to inform both my teaching and daily life. I am very grateful I did it.ā
āĀ Liz
āThis course was profound and grounding during the upheaval of Covid. It gave me practical ways to understand how my body functions and how to work with it in real life. Simple changes, like how I drink water and eating in alignment with the sun, have stayed with me and helped me live more in rhythm with nature.ā
āĀ Erin
