Abstract Insomnia is highly prevalent and impairs cognitive and physical functioning of person. Irregular and impaired sleep patterns are reported to manifest many fatal diseases. Sleep, one among the three essential factors required for living as per ayurveda. Proper sleep leads to healthy and long life. Ancient Acharyas have stated that happiness and sorrow, growth and wasting, strength and weakness, virility and impotence and the knowledge and ignorance as well as the existence of life and its cessation depend on the patterns of sleep. Certain contemporary studies revalidated the concept laid down in classical literature about sleep. Seers emphasize sleep as an important factor for human life and put it under three sub-pillars of body which shows their deep knowledge of science. It is advisable to have good and sound sleep to maintain proper health.