Concept of Agni in Ayurveda - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Concept of Agni in AyurvedaDr. Saurabh YadavDepartment of Kriya ShariraAssistant professor, HAMC&H

2. Introduction of Agni Ayurveda has described the set of important factors responsible for digestion & metabolism in our body as Agni.Ingested food is digested, absorbed and assimilated which is an unavoidable mechanism for the maintenance of life and is performed by Agni.Agni converts food in the form of energy which is responsible for all the vital functions of our body.

3. Etymology of Agni A<git VyaPnaeit #it AiGn>, The substance which is present universally is called agni. Ayurveda accepts that Agni is present in every paramanu or cell of the body. It is not only involved in the process of digestion and metabolism ,but all the transformation occurring in the body takes place essentially with the help of Agni. Synonyms of Agni Vaishvanar, Vahani,Pavaka, Anala, Shikhavaan,Tanunpaat, Shuchi, Vrataha,Sarvapaka, Ameevachatan,Damunas.

4. Relevance of Agni with respect to health: smdae;> smaiGní smxatumli³y>, àsNnaTmeiNÔmna> SvSWa #TyiÉxIyte. (su. sU 15/48) In the definition of “Svastha” by Acharya Sushruta, the importance of Samagni is cited along with other factors.Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.(WHO)

5. AayuvR[aeR bl< SvaSWymuTsahaepcyaE à_aa, AaejStejae=Gny> àa[aZcaeKta dehaiGnhetuka>. (c ic 15 /3 ) Dehāgni (Jaṭharagni- all the entities in the gut that are responsible for digestion) is the fundamental causative agent for longevity, normal complexion, normal strength, good health, motivation, normal growth, normal luster, normal Ojas, normal body temperature, and various other forms of Agni. Even the existence of an individual is said to be because of Dehāgni.

6. Cont.. ZaaNte=GnaE ièyte yuKte icr< jIvTynamy>, raegI SyaiÖk«te mUl—iGntSmaiNnêCyte . (c ic 15 / 5) An individual can lead a healthy and long life only if the Agni functions normally; and when the Agni stops functioning, the individual dies. Similarly, if the Agni becomes abnormal, the individual suffers from various diseases; and hence, the Agni is said to be the root cause of health and longevity.

7. Classification of Agni #it _aaEitkXaaTvNnpKt&[a< kmR _aai;tm!. c ic 15 38Acharya Charaka has described about 13 Agnis. Jatharagni – 1, Bhutagni – 5, Dhatwagni – 7 . Acharya Sushruta has described five types of Pitta, which are indirectly types five Bhutagnis that are, viz. Pachakagni, Ranjakagni, Alochakagni, Sadhakagni and Bhrajakagni.

8. Cont..Acharya Vagbhata has described different types Agni, viz. – Bhutagnis – 5, Dhatvagnis– 7, Dhoshagni – 3 and Malagni – 3.Acharya Sharangadhara has recognized five types pittas only (Pachaka, Bhrajaka, Ranjaka, Alochaka and Sadhaka) .Achayra Bhavamishra has followed Acharya Charaka and Vagbhata. Agni has been divided into 13 types according to the function and site of action.

9. Cont.. As a whole , we can say:Jathragni=refers to the whole process of digestion in G.I.T Bhutagni=refers to the final digestion in liver Dhatwagni=refers to tissue metabolism(Divya K, Tripathi JS, Tiwari SK (2013) Exploring Novel Concept of Agni and its Clinical Relevance.)

10. Jatharagni: Jaṭharagni or the active form of Pachaka Pitta is responsible for the digestion of all kinds of nutrients in the gut. Therefore, this should include all amylolytic, proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes secreted by various kinds of exocrine glands in the gut, which actually cause digestion, i.e., breaking down of different macromolecules into their constituent units.

11. Importance of Jatharagni ydNn< dehXaaTvaejaeblv[aRidpae:akm!, tÇaiGnheturahaNn ýpKvaÔsady>. c ic 15 The food one consumes becomes capable of nourishing the bodily tissues and of promoting the normal Ojas (immunity), normal strength, normal complexion etc., only in the presence of normally functioning Agni. In the absence of normal digestion (and metabolism), the normal body tissues such as Rasa cannot be formed nor nourished.

12. Contd.. ANnSy pKta sveR;a< pKt&[a<miXapaemt>, tNmUlaSte ih tÖiÏ]yv&iÏ]yaTmka >. c ic 15//Jaṭharagni is known as the King among all the forms of Agni. The intensification and diminution of all other forms of Agni is in fact dependent on Jaṭharāgni.

13. Panch Bhutagni: _aaEmaPyaGneyvayVya> p<cae:ma[> sna_asa>, p<cahargu[an! Svan! Svan! paiwRvadIn pciNt ih . (c ic 15/ 13)There are five further subtypes of Agni namely, Bhauma, Āpya, Āgneya, Vāyavya and Nābhasa. These subtypes transform / metabolize those components of the food that are homologous to them in their composition (such as Pārthiva, Āpya etc).

14. Contd. _aaEmady p<c %:ma[> paiwRvaid ÔVyviSwt>, (c³·c ic 15)This description is that of the Bhūtāgni. There are five Bhūtāgnis and their function is to metabolize those components of the food that are homologous to them in their composition. For instance, BhaumaAgni acts on the component that is Bhauma (i.e. Pārthiva) in its composition

15. Specific categories of entities in the body having specific attributes can be nourished by only those substances that belong to the same category having those same attributes. jaQre[aiGnna puvRk&te s<"at _aede pZcad! _aUtaGny> p<c Sv< Sv< ÔVy< pCyiNt , (c³·c ic 15 / 13)Bhutagnis act on the products of digestion (Jaṭharagni Paka)

16. Cont..The major site where the absorbed nutrients undergo biochemical transformation is in the liver. Liver plays an important role in metabolism, wherein several processes such as trans-amination, de-amination, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, glycolysis etc. take place. Therefore the overall intermediary metabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins) can be understood as the functioning of the Bhutagnis.

17. Dhatvagni SvSwanSwSy kayaGner<Zaa Xaatu;u s<iïta>, te;a< sadaitdIiPt_ya< Xaatuv&iÏ]yaed!_av>. ( A .ù ˆ su 11 / 34 ) Dhatvagnis act at tissue-level (in fact, at cellular level) upon the products of Bhutagni.The bio-energetic processes of a cell seem to be under the regulation of Dhātvagni.

18. Contd..All the seven Dhatus contain their own Agni to metabolize the nutrient materials supplied to them through their own Srotas.Rasagni in the Rasa Dhatu.Raktagni in the Rakta Dhatu.Mamsagni in the Mamsa Dhatu.Medagni in the Meda Dhatu.Asthyagni in the Asthi Dhatu.Majjagni in the Majja Dhatu.Shukragni in the Shukra Dhatu.

19. Dhātvagnis act at tissue-level (in fact, at cellular level) upon the products of Bhūtāgni Pāka and are responsible for the building of the respective Dhātus. In other words, the bio-energetic processes of a cell seem to be under the regulation of Dhātvagni. For instance, the common product of intermediary metabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins) is Acetyl-Co-A, which enters into Kreb’s cycle in the mitochondria of a cell. This is followed by electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation.It is interesting to note that the Kreb’s cycle is also known as the ‘final common pathway’ in the process of catabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

20. Con..However, for the entry of amino acids, glucose and fatty acids into the cell, certain other factors such as hormones too are needed. For instance, insulin promotes the transportation of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids into the cell. Therefore, all these hormones (such as insulin, growth hormone, thyroid hormones, testosterone etc.) that promote the transportation of various nutrients into the cells, along with the enzymes participating in the Kreb’s cycle are to be included under the term Dhātvagni.Thus, the three major stages of the catabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins), i.e., 1. Digestion, 2. Intermediary metabolism, and 3. Kreb’s cycle - seem to represent the three sets of Agnis, viz., Jaṭharagni, Bhutagni and Dhatvagni respectively.

21. Clinical classification of Agni – 4 types AiGn:au tu ZaarIre:au ctuivRXaae ivZae:aae bl_aeden _avit , t*wa- tIú[ae mNd> smae iv:amZceit , tÇtIú[ae=iGn> svaRpcarsh> td!ivpitl][Stu mNd> smStuoLvpcartae, ivk&itmapd!yte=npcartStu àk&tavvit:Qte sml][ivprItl][Stu iv;m #it. (cˆ iv 6/12 ) Agni and Prakriti tÇ smvatipÄZle:m[a< àk«itSwana< sma _avNTGny> vatlana< tu vatai_a_aUte=GNyiXa:Qane iv:ama _avNTGny> ipÄlana< tu ipÄai_a_aUte ýGNyiXa:Qane tIú[a _avNTGny> Zle:mlana< Zle:mai_a_aUte=GNyiXa:Qane mNda _avNTGny>, (cˆ iv 6/12 )  

22. PHYSIO-CLINICAL STATE OF AGNI TikshnagniPitta Prakriti individualsPredominance of Pitta DoshaState of very quick digestion can tolerate all sorts of regimen Easily digests even a very heavy meal, in the very short space of time. It is stated to produce parched throat, palate and lips, heat and other discomforts MandagniKapha Prakriti individualsPredominance of Kapha doshaCan not tolerate even slightest of the improper regimen.

23. PHYSIO-CLINICAL STATE OF AGNI VishamagniVata Prakriti individualsPredominance of Vata DoshaAction of Agni is irregular, it sometimes helps the process of complete digestion and sometime digests food quickly or slowly. SamagniSamdosa Prakriti individualsAgni is also stated to function normallyWell equilibrated state of the functioning of TridoshaEnsures complete digestion of the food ingested at the proper time without any irregularity.

24. Concept of Digestion in AyurvedaDigestion is an important phenomenon of nourishing an individual. It involves conversion of non absorbable food materials into absorbable form.According to Ayurveda,if digestion is proper, then at the end it should give rise to Jeerna Ahara Lakshana which includes :-Utsaha (enthusiasm)Laghuta (lightness in the abdomen and body) Udgara Suddhi (clear belching) Ksudha Pravrtti (hunger)Trisha Pravrtti (thirst) Yathocita Malotsarga (proper excretion of excretory materials like flatus, urine and feces)

25. AwasthapakaMadhura Awasthapaka ANnSyÉu´maÇSy ;f+sSy àpakt>, mxura*at! k)ae Éavat! )enÉUt%dIyRte. c ic 15/9 As soon as the food that has all the six tastes is consumed, it undergoes the first stage of digestion known as ‘Madhura’ (sweet) state’ during which Kapha is produced which is like froth.

26. Amla Awasthapaka pr< tu pCymanSy ivdGxSyaMl Éavt>, AaZayaCCyvmanSy ip®mCDmudIyRte . c ic 15/10 Afterwards, when the food undergoing digestion enters the small intestine in its partially digested form, it attains ‘Amla’ (sour)state. During this stage, the release of liquid form of Pitta known as ‘Acchapitta’ occurs.

27. Katu Awasthapaka pKvaZay< tu àaPtSy zae:yma[Sy viûna , piripi{ft pKvSy vayu> Syat! kquÉavt>. c ic 15/11 When the Pakva portion (the non-absorbable remnant portion after the absorption of the nutrients), reaches the Pakvāśaya (the colon), the drying effect of Agni converts it into a solid mass. There also occurs the release of Vayu which is of ‘Kaṭu (pungent)’ state.

28. Agnibala assessment: “Self assessment questionnaire” has been designed by Singh A e al in the department of Kriya Sharira to recording the strength of AgniThis questionnaire is chiefly designed on the basis of classification of Agni Bala (strength) as described in Charaka Samhita in Vimanasthana (Chapter 6, 12the verse).

29. Clinical importance of assessment of AgnibalaThe clinical assessment of Agni becomes vital in the context of the dietary recommendations, lifestyle-related advises, and the choice of the appropriate therapeutic interventions.Since the status of Agni is likely to vary according to individual constitution, age, seasonal rhythm etc., it becomes even more important to evaluate accurately the strength of Agni in an individual

30. Cont..From therapeutic viewpoint too, Agni has been considered to be important since the nature of drugs, dosage, and route of administration- all depend on the strength of Agni.

31. Relation between Agni & Pitta According to Acharya Sushruta the origin of Pitta is from “Tapa” . The main function of Pitta in Ayurveda digestion of ingested food, to maintain heat of body, it maintains the color, lusture, and formation of blood from rasa, etc. of the body. (Su.Su21/5 )

32. Cont..According to Acharya Sushruta , that there is not Agni without Pitta. He says that in elevated conditions of increased digestion and combustion, due to Ushna Guna of Pitta, the treatment is given similar to Agni. ( Su.Su. 21/9)Acharya Marichi has also given own view that the Agni present in the Pitta gives good or bad results when it is normal or vitiated stages.

33. Cont.. Acharya Chakrapani has also commented on Ch.Su12/11 that “Pittantargatta,” refers to the Pitta inside the body is not combustion but its work is to provide heat of Agni.Acharya Bhoj also considered Pitta as Agni, digestive fire is included within Agni, which is specially meant for different enzymatic activities of the body, i.e. Pachana, Deepan, Bhedana, etc. (Chakrapani Tika on Charak Samhita of Agnivesa by Cakrapanidatta. Varanasi: Chaukhamba vidya bhawan; 2008. p.80.).

34. Drugs acting at different levels of AgniJatharagni-1. Trikatu (A polyherbal preparation having equal amount of three herbs namely Sunthi, Maricha and Pippali)Bhutagni-1. Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba)2. Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutaki)3. Cucurma longa4. Andrographis paniculata

35. Cont..Dhatvagni-• Rasagni- Khajoora , Munakka, Nagarmotha etc.• Raktagni- Manjjistha, Sariva, Khadira, Mandoora, Kasisa, etc.• Mamsagni- Guggulu, Kshara, Eranda, etc.• Medagni-Kanchanara, Guggulu, Triphala, Louhabhasma, Agnimantha, etc.

36. Cont.. • Asthyagni- Laksha, Asthishrinkhala, Nagabala, Godanti, Muktapisti, Shallaki, etc.• Majjagni- Guduchi, Aswagandha, Rajatabharma, etc.• Sukragni- Kapikacchu, Vidarikanda, Satavari, Mash, etc.

37. Cont..The whole internal medicine in Ayurveda is based on the treatment of Agni.

38. DISCUSSION Agni is present in each and every cell of the body, accordingly Ama formed by derangement of Agni is also present in each and every cell. It will also be of several types. In most of the disease some types of Agnimandya is often found. Therefore understanding the concept of Agni and its practical applicability is very essential for an Ayurvedic Physician as well as Ayurvedic Scholar. (Divya K, Tripathi JS, Tiwari SK (2013) ).This is an attempt to explore the concept of Agni in Ayurveda. Much more is yet needed to define agni at physiological, clinical, and therapeutic level.

39. SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES “It is those who concentrate on, but one thing at a time who advance in this world…”-OG MANDINO

40.