CONCEPT OF AGNI IN AYURVEDA (REVIEW ARTICLE)

Review ArticleInternational Ayurvedic Medical JournalISSN:2320 5091CONCEPT OF AGNI IN AYURVEDA (REVIEW ARTICLE)Gupta Shilpa1, Dadhich Nand Kishore2Lecturer,ShekhawatiShekhawati Ayurved College,College Pilani, Rajasthan, India2Assistant Professor,Professor S.K.D Govt. Ayurved College, Muzaffar Nagar ,Uttar Pradesh, India1ABSTRACTThe concept of Agni in Ayurveda which refers to the manifold functions ascribed toPitta is at once comprehensive. It not only includes chemical agencies responsible for Aaharapacana in the Kostha (gastrointestinal) which leads to separation of Sarabhaga (Nutrientfraction) of Aahar (food) from the Kittabhaga (the indigestible residue of the food) but alsometabolic events – energy, synthesis and maintenance of metabolism.“Agnirev Sharire Pittantargata Kupitakupita Shubhashubani Karoti.Tadytha-PaktimapaktimKaroti.Tadytha PaktimapaktimDarshanam adarshanam matramatratvam ushmana prakriti vikriti varno shaurayam bhayamkrodamodam harsham moham prasadam ityevemaadini chaprani dvandvaniti.” 1Agni which is situated inside the Pitta does the shubha and ashubha karyas in the body aaccording to its kupita and akupita avastha.It has manifold functions like pacana of the anna,visualizinging things with the help of eyes,maintainence of the body tempertemperature,understanding many feelings such as Shaurya, Bhaya, Krodha, Harsha, Moha, Dukh,Sukh etc “ Na Khalu Pitta vyatirekaad Anyoagniruplabhyte agneytwaat pitte dahana pacapacnaadi abhipravritmaneshaveshav agnivadupchar:Kriyte antaragniriti.Ksheene hayagnigune tatasmandravyeupyogaad ativridhe sheetkriyoupyogaad gamanaach pashyamo na khalu pitta vyvyatirekadanyo agniriti”2 Different comments have been given regarding Agni and Pitta. Sushruta has said that the direct action of Agni and Pitta can be seen through DahanaDahanaPacana and through Anumaana pramaana, “Ksheene hayagni gune tatsamaan dravyaupydravyaupyogaat.”,also proves that Agni and Pitta are same. It is very well said in classics – “Sarve RogaApi Mandagni”” means all diseases in the body are caused due to Mandagni (due to improperfunctioning of digestive fire). In modern era, most of the diseases are caused due to Mandagni, Vishamagni or Teekshanagni. So it has been tried to concentrate on the causes of susuchproblems and provide a healthy citizen to the society who is free from all these diseases.This work is a fact finding activity purely based on fundamental research. No hypothesis isproposed or tested. This work may have no immediate or planned applicationapplication but may laterresult into further research of an applied matter.KEYWORDS: Pachakagni , Koshtha, Sarabhaga , Kittabhaga , Pachak pitta, Dhatavagni ,BhutagniINTRODUCTIONAgni in Ayurveda,, is reflected inthe concept of Pitta of this system. Theterm Pitta is derived from the root “tap”“–“to heat” or “to burn”. This term is seen tohave three meanings viz.:“Tap Ashvarye”, “Tap Dahe”” and “Tap“Samtape”. “Tap Samtape” refersfers to thethe act of burning of the nutrition coconsumed and “Tap Ashvarye”” refers tothe factor which is responsible to makeone achieveve the eight kinds of benefits.Tap Samtape 3Tap Ashvarye (Divadi Guna)Tap Dahe – Suradi Guna (Siddhanta KaKau-

Gupta Shilpa & Dadhich Nand Kishore: Concept Of Agni In Ayurveda (Review Article)Tap Samtape – Bhvadi GunaTapyti Ushmanamutpadyatiti PittamTapyti Dahti Bukhtamaaharjatam its PittamTapyti Ashtvidharmanamadikimiti Pittam.From the point of view of Ayurveda, Pitta has been described as Agni (fire)since it performs fire-like actions i.e. Paka,which refers to Pacana (Digestion); Dahana (Burning) including Bhinna Samghata (splitting), Tapana (Heat production)Parinamana (Conversion), Paravritti(Transformation) Prakasana (Illumination), Ranjana or Varnakara (Colouration)and Prabhakara (to cause luster). In ageneral sense, the term Kaya or body itselfhas been equated to Agni.“Jathar Praninamagni Kaya Itybhidiyte.Yastam Chikitsetsidantam Sev Kaychikitsika”.4DISCUSSIONCaraka has said that it is only Agniwhich is located in pitta, that gives rise tobeneficial or adverse consequences as it isin normal or abnormal state of functioning.“Agnirev Sharire Pittantargata KupitakupitaShubhashubani Karoti”.5Chakrapani has said that the term“Pittantargata” does not mean that the Pitta of the body is flaming fire and it onlyrefers to the phenomenon of heat which isassociated with fire. By implication, heatis seen to be associated with the functionof Pitta.Acharya Sushruta has said that Pitta is the same as Agni, since it performsDahana (Burning or oxidation), Pacana(Digestion) and similar actions as performed by fire, hence Pitta is known asAntaragni.Dahanam Daha, Pacana Pakam;Aaharade (Dalnana on Sushruta Sutra21/9). The concept of Agni of Ayurveda,which refers to the manifold functions as-155www.iamj.incribed to Pitta is at once comprehensive. Itnot only includes chemical agencies responsible for Aaharapacana in the Kostha(corresponding to gastro-intestinal digestion), which leads to separation of Sarabhaga (Nutrient fraction) of the Aaharafrom the Kittabhaga (the indigestible orundigested residue of the food) but alsometabolic events, energy, synthesis andmaintenance of metabolism.Pachatyannam Vibhajte Sarakitto Prithaktatha.6In addition, it is seen to comprehend photo and chemo synthetic processes,Pacakapitta known variously as Jatharagni, Kosthagni, Antaragni, Pachakagni,Dehagni etc., while being located in itsown place in an area between Amasayaand Pakvasaya,“Tatra Pakvamashymadhagam”.Directly participates in the digestion of food and at the same time, leadssupport to and augments the functions ofthe remaining pittas, present elsewhere inthe body.“Tatrasthamev Pittanam SheshanamapayeanugrahamKaroti Baladanen Pachakam Naam Tatsamritam”.7Classifications of Agni:The Ayurvedic concept of Agniincludes, not only five kinds of Pittas, butalso the Dhatavagnis and Bhutagnis. It isclear from the classical Ayurvedic textsthat the enumeration of the number of Agnies varies from author to author. According to Caraka Samhita, as commented byCakrapani Datta, the number of Agnisenumerated are over thirteen:1)Antaragni1Bhutagni52)Dhatavagni73)On the other hand, Acharya Sushruta has described only five Agnies viz.IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 1; January - 2015

Gupta Shilpa & Dadhich Nand Kishore: Concept Of Agni In Ayurveda (Review Article)Pachakagni, Ranjakagni, Alocakagni,Sadhakagni and Bhrajakagni.There is however an indirect reference in Sushruta Samhita to five Bhutagnis, in the brief description made to thetransformation, which foodstuffs undergoin the organism.Panchbhutatmake Dehe Aahar PanchbhautikVipakwa: Panchda Samyak Svan Gunanabhivar Dhyet”.8Vaghbhata has described:5 Pittas5 Bhutagnis7 Dhatavagnis3 Dosagnis3 MalagnisThat is he has enumerated twenty threeAgnisAcharya Sarangdhar is seen to have recognized five Pittas only. On the other hand,Acharya Bhavmishra, is seen to have followed Caraka and Vaghbhata.Bhutagni:“Yatha Svara Pushyante Dehe Dravyaguna PrithakPasthiva Parthivanev Shesha SheshachKritsnach”.9Means in sharira, all gunas getpushti from their respective amshas. Parthiv apye gunas for apye gunas, agneya foragneya, Vayvey for Vayvey and similarlyNabhas for Nabhas respectively.Dhatavagni:“Vinmutramaaharasyemala Sara Pragirito RasaTu Vyanen Vikshipit Sarvan Dhatun Pratarpyet”.10Vistha and Mutra are the Malas ofAahara whereas Rasa is the sara of Aahara. With the help of Vyana Vaayu, this Rasa does the tarpan of all Dhatus.“Saptabhidehadhataro Dhatavo Dvividam Puna156www.iamj.inYatha Svamagnibhi Pakam Yanti KittaPrasadata”.11Due to the action of Dhatavagni ontheir respective Dhatus i.e. Rasa, Rakta,Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja and Shukra,dhatus get converted into Prasad – Bhagand Kitta – Bhag.Acharya Sushruta and Vaghbhatahave indicated that the organ known asGrahani is located between Pakvasaya andAmasaya and that the relation that existsbetween Agni and Grahani is reciprocali.e. Agni supports the function of Grahaniand Grahani supports the function of arya Caraka says that Kosthagni is considered to be the leader of all factors concerned with metabolism in thebody. All other Agnis are derived from it.Their activities or otherwise, are dependent upon an increase or decrease as thecase may be of Jathargni."Annasye Pakta Servesham Paktsinamdhipo MataTanmulaste Hi Tadvridhikshay vridhikshayatmaka."12Says Sushrute, "By a dispensationwhich is unseen (a cause which cannot beperceived or explained and which is hidden), pitta which is located in an area between Amasaya and Pakvasaya, is responsible for the digestion of four kinds of foodingested by living beings and the elimination of the residue in the form of urine andfarces after the completion of the process.Located in its own place (between Amasaya and Pakvasaya) it contributes to andaugments the functions of other locationsof pittas, in the performance of actions.This pitta, is therefore, spoken of as "Pachakagni"."Tachadrisht visheshen pakavamashyemadhyastham pittam Chaturvidam annapanam pachti, vivechyti, ch Dosha rosaIAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 1; January - 2015

Gupta Shilpa & Dadhich Nand Kishore: Concept Of Agni In Ayurveda (Review Article)mutsa pusishani Tatrasbhtamev chatamshaktaya, sheshanam pitta sthananam sharirasye aganikarmana amygraham karoti,Tasmin Pitte Pachakoagniriti Sangya." 13BhrajakaPittaAlocakaPittaScheme representing the relationship between Pacakagni and other Pittasand Agnis of the body:-RanjakaPittaSadhakaPittaPachakagni in Kostha(Producing amsa ioning of other Agnis also. When Pacha"Annasye Pakta Servesham Paktsinamdkagni is functioning properly, all other achipo Matativities of the body also go on smoothly.Tanmulaste Hi Tadvridhikshay vridhi14kshayatmaka.""Shantagni Mriyte, Yukte Chiram JivatyePachakagni is the pradhan of allAamayeagni is:- Bhutagnis and Dhatavagnis. IfRogi Syad Vikrite Mulam Agni TasmatPachakagni gets vridhi, other Agnis lgetNiruchyte"16When Agni becomes shaant, causesincreased and of Kshay of the Pachakagnioccurs, others also get Kshay.death of the person. If Pachakagni isworking normally, the person remains ni"Aayu varno balam svasthye utsah upcrogi and healthy but if Pachakagni is nothaye prabha.disturbed, the person becomes unhealthy.Ojas Tejo Agneya Pranachokta Dehagnihetuka."15Types of Pachakagni:Dehagni is the only factor which is"Agnishu Tu Sharireshu Chaturvidho Viresponsible for Aayu, Bala, Varna, Svasshesho Balabheden Bhavti. TadhythaTechshno, Mando, Samo, Vishamashiti"thya, Utsaha, Pusthi, Prabha and the func-157www.iamj.inIAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 1; January - 2015