Asian Journal of Modern and Ayurvedic Medical Science (ISSN 2279-0772)
Vol.1,no.1, July 2012. [
©
The Author 2012]
Published by Mpasvo Letter No.V-34564,Reg.533/2007-2008,All rights reserved.For permissions e-Mail : maneeshashukla76@rediffmail.com &
chiefeditor_ajmams@yahoo.in
.
..............................................................................................................................................
Research Paper
..............................................................................................................................................
CONCEPT OF AGNI IN AYURVEDA
Dr. Narendra Shanker Tripathi
Declaration
T
he Declaration of the author for publication of Research Paper in
Asian Journal of Modern and Ayurvedic Medical Science (ISSN 2279-0772)
i
Narendra Shanker Tripathi
the author of the research paper entitled
concept of agni in ayurveda
declare that ,
i
take the responsibility of the content and material of my paper as I myself have written it and also have read the manuscript of my paper carefully. Also, I hereby give my consent to publish our paper in ajmams , This research paper is my original work and no part of it or it’s similar version is published or has been sent for publication anywhere else.I authorise the Editorial Board of the Journal to modify and edit the manuscript. I also give my consent to the publisher of ajmams to own the copyright of my research paper.
Received january 1,2012;accepted june 20, 2012 ,published july1,2012
.............................................................................................................................................
ABSTRACT :
In Ayurveda, Agni maximally represents digestive & metabolic fire in the body .It is the substance in the secretions of the body which are directly responsible for chemical changes in the body. It consist digestive (pak) and different kinds of hormones, enzyme and co enzymes activities etc. which participate in these digestive & metabolic functions. Due to increased activity of pitta in yuva vastava (young stage) digestive & metabolic rate are higher. Vigor & vitality of human being is also maintained by balanced activity of Agni. It is necessary for proper growth & development of the body & their parts. Due to advancement in age, depletion of Agni is taking place (in old age) which cause instability in Agni, ultimately leads to decrease decay, atrophy, decay due to defective digestion in metabolism that’s why vigor and vitality id decreased.”
.............................................................................................................................................
INTRODUCTION
The term of
Agni
,
in common language, means fire. However, in the context of the functioning of a living organism, which maintains its integrity and performs its vital activities, by converting in
Pakadi-Karmas
or bio-physical and bio- chemical processes, the foods consumed in various ways – licked, masticated, drunk, etc. not only into its various structural and functional constituents but also to provide the
Shakti
or energy necessary for processing with its innumerable vital activities, this term does not actually mean fire. In these sequences, the term
Agni
comprehends various factors which participate in and direct the course of digestion and metabolism in living organism.1
TYPES OF AGNI
Agni, by name of
Agni-vyapar
is an agent that helps in the digestion and metabolism of food stuffs and drugs. There are many types of
Agni
in the body. There may be specific types of
Agni’s
for specific type of Para going on in the body at different level. But it has been classified into three broad headings2 –
(i
) JATHARAGNI
(ii) DHATWAGNI
(iii) BHUTAGNI
Further they may be classified as one, seven and five types respectively. First is
jatharagni
. It is related with the gastro-intestinal digestion and absorption. In addition it has been considered to influence the
Agni
situated elsewhere.
The concept of dhatwagni and bhutagni refers to the intermediary tissue metabolism. The dhatwagni are seven
(Rasagni, raktagni, mansagni, medoagni, asthiagni, mazzagni, and shukragni
) and
bhutagni
are five
(prathivagni, apyaagni, agneyaagni, vayavaagni,
and
nabhasagni)3
JATHARAGNI
It converts the gross food particles into smaller particles which are then able to be absorbed. It is related to the gastro-intestinal tract. (
Jathar
means Gastrium)
The
Ayu
(life span),
Varna
(complexion),
Bal
(vitality),
Swasthya
(good health),
Utsaha
(enthusiasm
), Sharir Vridhi, Prabha
(glow),
Oja
(vital essence),
Tej
(lusture),
Agnis
and the
Pran
(life breaths) are derived from the
Agni
in the body.4
When the
Agni
is extinguished man dies, when a man is induced with it adequately, he lives long in good health, when it is de-arranged, he begins to ail. Therefore the function of
Agni
is said to be the main stay of life. The food which is considered the nourishing factor of the
Sharir, Dhatu, Ojas, Bal, Varna
and other things, that very food too, is dependent for its nutrient action on the
jatharagni
as from the undigested food, the
sharir dhatu
cannot be formed.5
BHUTAGNI
There are five kinds of
Agni
innate in each of the
maha-bhuta
of the body –
prithvi, apya
,
agneya, vayava
and
nabhasa
, every
bhutagni
digests its own corresponding component mahabhuta, in the ingested food which is a compound of the
mahabhutas
. Just as a quality in the substances nourishes individually its corresponding quality in the body as for example, the
mahabhuta
of
prithvi
in the body is nourished by the
mahabhutas
nourish their corresponding qualities, thus making for complete nourishment.6
DHATWAGNI
The body substaining
Dhatu
, which are seven, undergo combustion by their
Dhatwagni
and each of them gets transformed into products namely
Prasad
(vital substances) and
Kitta
(excretory substances).7
The very causative factor of
amavata
, the ama is resultant of hypo functioning of
Agni
. Accordingly, as to the
Dosha or Doshas
which may influence
Jatharagni,
there are three types of
Agni disorders
.8
(i
) VISHMAGNI (ii) TIKSHNAGNI
(iii) MANDAGNI
[I] VISHMAGNI
It is caused by vitiation of
Vata
and results in
Vishtabdha-Jirna
. It manifests with
Shoola
(pain in abdomen),
adhaman
(digestion of abdomen),
todabheda
(pricking like pain), apravriti of
adhovayu
and
malas
(non movement of flatus and excreta),
stabdhata
(stiffness),
murchha
(fainting) and
angamarda
etc.symptoms of
vata (vroddhi
).9
[II] TIKSHNAGNI
It is caused by vitiation of
pitta
and results in
vidag-dha- jirna
. It manifests with
bhrama
(giddiness),
trishna
(thirst),
Murchha
and
osha
(heating),
chosha
(scorching),
Sweda
(perspiration),
amlodgara
(belching),
daha
(burning sensation) and other symptoms of
pitta.
10
[III] MANDAGNI
It is caused by vitiation of
kapha
which is the main cause in formation of
Ama
and results in
amajirna
. It produces
gaurava
(heaviness of abdomen / or of whole body),
utklesh
(nausea),
shotha
on
kapola
(cheeks) and
akshikuta
(eye orbit) and
avidagdha udagara
(belching), occurring soon after and according to meals.11
RELATION OF
AGNI
WITH
PRAKRITI
-
Agni
have strong relation with different types of
Prakrities
(personalities)12,13,14.In
Vata Prakriti
individual
Vismagni
(unstable digestive & metabolic power) is very common. In person having
Pitta Prakriti
, Agni is very potent.
Mandagni
is common in
Kapha Prakriti
individuals. Homeostasis15 is also maintained by the proper functioning of the agni. Seasonal variation15 also affect the functioning of agni.
Thus disorder of
kapha
is the root cause in the genesis of
Ama
and this disease.
Ama
is also of the nature of
Kapha
, its physical properties are quite similar to
Kapha
.
If all the 13
Agnis
are not in normal state and remain untreated, several types of disease may develop due to accumulation of
Ama
. The
Dhatwagni
and
Bhutagni
may be vitiated in the same way as
Jatharagni
by the
tridosha
. Thus if Dhatwagni and bhutagni are depressed it will result in the production of
“Ama
”.
CONCLUSION-
Agni may be correlated with digestive & metabolic fire in the body .It is the substance secreted in our body, which is directly responsible for chemical changes in the body. It consist digestive (pak) enzymes and different kinds of hormones, and co-enzymes activities etc. which participate in these digestive & metabolic functions. It is a logical conclusion that Ama is produced due to hypo-functioning of Agni. At any level of the three Pakas (digestion and metabolism i.e. Madhur, Amla & Katu avastha paka & vipaka) due to hypo-functioning of the agni concerned unwanted chemical substances are produced known as Ama. Hypo-functioning of any Agni specially of Jatharagni is likely to affect the function of other too, leading to formation of Ama in the different stage of Paka-karma. Lastly we can say that Agni plays very important role in growth, development & maintenance of the body.
REFERENCES
1.
Introduction to Kaya Chikitsa by C – dwarkanath (p-45)
2.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan 15/13(Chakrapani)
3.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan (15/4, 13,15)
4.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan (15/3-4)
5.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan (15/5)
6.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan (15/-13-14)
7.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan (15/15)
8.
Charak Samhita, chikitsasthan (15/49-50)
9.
Madhav Nidan (Madhukosh-1986 Ed.) p-206/Shlok -12
10.
Madhav Nidan (Madhukosh-1986 Ed.) p-206/Shlok -11
11.
Madhav Nidan (Madhukosh-1986 Ed.) p-206/Shlok -10
12. Tripathi NS. Concept of formation of prakriti in ayurveda, The Indian Journal of Research Anvikshiki, Vol-5, Number-4 July-August 2011.
13. Tripathi NS. Conceptual Study Of Development Of Prakriti in Ayurveda, The Indian Journal Of Research Anvikshiki, Vol-5, Number-4 July-August 2011.
14.
Tripathi NS. Conceptual Study Of Vata Dosha-“The Controller Of Body”,
The Indian Journal Of Research Anvikshiki, Vol-6, Number-1 Jan-Feb 2012.
15.
Chaudhary Sunil Kumar, Tripathi NS. Concept Of Homeostasis In Ayurveda, The Indian Journal Of Research Anvikshiki, Vol-6, Number-4 July-August 2012.
