DEPARTMENT OF KAYCHIKITSA�TOPIC – CONCEPT OF AGNI

GUIDED BY :-

Dr. G.D. Gupta (Prof. & H .O.D.)

Dr. Kamod Ghirpunje (Asso . Prof .)

Dr. Abhinav Singh (Asst. Prof.)

• PRESENTED BY :-
• Priya (12)
• Saloni Shrivastava(26)
• BATCH – 2019-20

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JEEVAK AYURVED MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL RESEARCH CENTER

CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION

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• ETYMOLOGY
• SYNONYMS OF AGNI
• DEFINITION OF AGNI
• TYPES OF AGNI
• LOCATION OF AGNI
• FUNCTION OF AGNI
• IMPORTANCE OF AGNI
• RELATION OF AGNI

• PITTA IS AGNI
• PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AGNI
• PATHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AGNI
• AGNI VERSUS AAMA
• ROLE OF AGNI IN GUT- BRAIN AXIS
• CONCLUSION

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INTRODUCTION

Agni is an important integral part of the body .

Kayachikitsa is one of the branch of ayurveda mainly deals with Agni chikitsa itself.

In Ayurveda ,“Agni ” denotes all factors responsible for digestion and metabolisms/transformation.

“Agni ” converts food in the form of energy, responsible for all the vital functions of our body.

It is the heat (ushma) generated from Pitta dosha in the body. Hence, all functions of Agni are similar to Pitta dosha.

ETYMOLOGY A/C SANSKRIT VANGAMYA

The word Agni is derived from – “Ang” Dhatu & “Gati” Pratyaya which means widely spreading.

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• One which spreads, covers, expands its extent.

Which is always directed upwards

• One which is illuminating and having flame with upward direction always.( Vachaspatya)

FORMATION OF AGNI

• Agni in Sanskrit generally means “ fire’’.
• Agni is one among the Panchmahabhoota.
• The Panchmahabhoota i . e. the five elements of nature are chronologically created . Agni is created from Vayu.

FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AGNI

• Roopa – Shukla Bhasvara
• Sparsh – Ushna
• Dravatva – fluidity/liquidity
• Agni vyapya – spreads
• Agni gathau – widely spreading .

VAHNI, USHMA, ANALA, PACHAKA PITTA.

SYNONYMS OF AGNI

In Shabda kalpadrum , 61 synonyms of Agni have been compiled like:-

• VAISHVANARA - Digestion of different type of food like Ashita , Peeta , Leedha , Khadita.
• SARVAPAKA - Converts heterogeneous form of food to homogeneous form
• TANOONPATA - Similar to function of vitality of life i.e. where there is Agni there is life.
• SHUCHI - Equilibrium form (purest form) of digestive capacity I.e. Samagni
• DAMUNAS - Factors responsible for maintenance of healthy life.

DEFINITION OF AGNI

• दोषधातुमलादिनामूष्मेत्यात्रेयशासनम् ॥

दोषादानमूष्माऽग्निरिति || अ.हृ.शा.3/49

• दोषधातुमलसन्निपातजनितोऽन्तरुष्मा । अ.सं.शा.6/56
• The heat produced by the metabolic activity occurring due to combined mutual interactions between –
• Dosha- the physiological entity
• Dhatu-the static and dynamic platform in form of formed elements (tissues)
• Mala- the resultant metabolic waste produced thereafter

AGNI

TYPES OF AGNI

• CHARAKA = 13

(Jathragni 1 ,Bhutagni 5 ,Dhatvagni 7)

• SUSHRUTA = 5

( Pachakagni , Ranjakagni , Alochakagni, Sadhakagni,

and Brajakagni )

• VAGBHATA = 18

( Bhutagni 5 ,Dhatvagni 7 ,Doshagni 3 ,Malagni 3 )

TYPES OF AGNI A/C CHARAKA

FOUR STATUS OF JATHRAGNI

FOUR STATUS OF JATHARAGNI

LOCATION OF AGNI

अग्न्यधिष्ठानमन्नस्य ग्रहणादग्रहणी मता । नाभेरुपर्यह्यग्निबलेनोपष्टब्धोपबृंहिता ।।च. चि. १५/५६

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Grahani is seat of Agni and it is so called since it holds/retains the food for proper digestion and assimilation. It holds the food just above the umbilical region and it is supported and nourished by the Agni.

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FUNCTIONS OF AGNI

आयुर्वर्णों बलं स्वास्थ्यमुत्साहोपचयौ प्रभा ।

ओजस्तेजोऽग्नयः प्राणाश्चौक्ता देहाग्निहेतुकाः ||

च. चि. १५/३

शान्तेऽग्नौ मियते, युक्ते चिरं जीवत्यनामयः |� रोगी स्या‌द्विक्ते, मूलमग्निस्तस्मान्निरुच्यते ||� च. चि. १५/४�IF THE AGNI STOPS FUNCTIONING - THE INDIVIDUAL DIES.��IF THE AGNI FUNCTIONS NORMALLY - THE INDIVIDUAL CAN LEAD A HEALTHY AND LONG LIFE.� �IF THE AGNI BECOMES ABNORMAL - THE INDIVIDUAL SUFFERS FROM VARIOUS DISEASES.�� HENCE, THE AGNI IS SAID TO BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF HEALTH AND LONGEVITY.

IMPORTANCE OF AGNI

बलमारोग्यमाश्चप्राणाश्चाग्नौप्रतिष्ठिताः।

अन्नपानेन्धनैश्चाग्निज्वलतिव्येतिचान्यथा॥ च. सू. २७/३४२

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Bala(Strength), Arogya (health), Ayu(longevity) and Prana (vital breath) are dependent on the state of Agni that burns when fed by the fuel of food and drink or dwindles when deprived of them.

RELATIONS OF AGNI

• Agni & Mahabhuta – Agni mahabhuta
• Agni & Dosha-Dhatu-Mala
• Agni & Prakruti - Pittaja
• Agni & Rutu-Agni Prabala (Hemant & Shishir) Durbala (Varsha, Pravrut)
• Agni & Kala - Pittadhara kala

• Agni & Strotasa - Parinaam Apadyamananam
• Agni & Indriya - Chakshurendriya
• Agni & Ahara - Ahara is fuel for Agni
• Agni & Chikitsa - Kayachikitsa, Agnikarma
• Agni & Dravyaguna - Deepniya gana
• Agni & Rasashastra - Aakaraj teja

PITTA IS AGNI

The Agni is not in the form of flame as the terrestrial fire but is in the form of liquid which is called as 'Pitta’.

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अग्निरेव शरीरे पित्तान्तर्गतः कुपिताकुपितः शुभाशुभानि करोति ।

च. सू. १२/११

Agni of our body is represented by Pitta , which in its non-aggravated and aggravated form performs various good and bad functions.

रागपक्त्योजस्तेजोमेधोष्मकृत् पित्तं पञ्चधा

प्रविभक्तमग्निकर्मणाऽनुग्रहं करोति। सु. सू. १५/४

Pitta has been described as Agni and its main function are :-

• Raag Ranjak Pitta = Rasa Ranjan
• Pakti Pachak Pitta = Ahara Pachana
• Tejo Alochaka Pitta = Darshan
• Medha = Sadhak Pitta = Buddhi
• Ushma =Bhrajak pitta = Twacha

NEED FOR PROTECTING AGNI

शमप्रकोपौ दोषाणां सर्वेषामग्निसंश्रितौ ।

तस्मादग्निं सदा रक्षेन्निदानानि च वर्जयेत् | |च. चि. ५/१३६

Equilibrium or provocation of all the dosha depend upon the condition of Agni (digestion and metabolism), hence one should always take its care and avoid such causes which disturb it.

MEASURES TO PROTECT AGNI

आहारमात्रा पुनरग्निबलापेक्षिणी ||च. सू. ५/३

One must take food in proper quantity, which depends on the strength of Agni.

• Treat the root cause of disease
• Need to follow Dincharya , Ritucharya a/c to person’s Prakriti and Agni according to which we control our food habits and diet
• Use of herbs and spices e.g. black pepper ,cardomom, , cinnamon ,cumin ,freshly cut ginger with lemon juice before meal
• Avoid very oily ,spicy or hot food .
• Eat light and easily digestible food.
• Eat mindfully,donot over eat.
• Donot drink water immedietely after meals.
• Digestive detoxes and purges e.g. virechana along with Abhyanga
• Pranayam or deep breathing

PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Diseases are outcome of malfunctioning of the Agni. Agni not only plays vital role in absorption of macro as well as micronutrients, but is destructive to pathogens also.
• The food that is not properly digested is referred as "Ama" and it is nothing but a toxin responsible for array of diseases.
• Proper functioning of digestive fire is evident from normal tone of the digestive- system, circulatory-system ,strong immunity or resistance against diseases, proper tissue growth and body complexion.

PATHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

अभोजनादजीर्णातिभोजनाद्विषमाशनात् ।�असात्म्यगुरुशीतातिरूक्षसन्दुष्टभोजनात् ॥४२॥�विरेकवमनस्नेहविभ्रमाद्व्याधिकर्षणात् ।�देशकालर्तुवैषम्याद्वेगानां च विधारणात् ॥४३॥ �दुष्यत्यग्निः, स दुष्टोऽन्नं न तत् पचति लघ्वपि।�अपच्यमानं शुक्तत्वंयात्यन्नं विषरूपताम् ॥४4|| �CH.CHI.15/44

• Abhojanad , Ajirna , Atibhojan & Vishamashana
• Asatmya ,Guru , Sheet, Atiruksh & Dushit Bhojan.
• Virechana , Vaman , Snehpan Ayoga
• Vyadhi karshan
• Desh , Kala , Ritu Vaishamya &
• Mal-Mutra Vegadharan

= All the above factor leads to impaired Jatharagni which causes indigestion and formation of Amla-Anna which converts to Anna visha that leads to Amlapitta.

AGNI VERSUS AMA

• In Ayurveda, the theory of 'Agni' or biological fire is of prime importance. 'Agni' is among the critical factors in determining optimal health and internal homeostasis.
• On the contrary, 'Ama' is a toxin or pathogen, responsible for Aetiology of all diseases.
• Major culprit behind 'Ama' production is impairment of 'Agni'.

ROLE OF AGNI IN GUT BRAIN -AXIS

• The bidirectional nature of the gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health.
• Factors like consuming incompatible foods (viruddhaahara) , irregular eating habits (vishamashana) , and poor lifestyle choices can disrupt digestive fire (Agni).
• The disruption - leads to imbalance of doshas and dhatus , ultimately resulting in disease .
• Gut lining microbiota is compared to Agni , as both play crucial role in food digestion.

The intake of processed food , sugar and sedentary lifestyle

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Alter gut-microbiota , reducing the diversity of microbiota in gut , leading to Dysbiosis

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Agni dushti

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Aama

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MENTAL FACTORS

• The role of mental factors in disrupting Agni has been emphasized by ancient Ayurvedic scholars .
• A/C to Madhav Nidana , certain mental factors like –

Irshya (jealousy) , Bhaya (fear) , Lubdha (confusion) , Ruk nipidita (physical pain ) , Dainya nipidita (depression) , Pradvesha yukta (food aversion)

• A/C to Western Science , 90% of serotonin produced in gut cause alteration in gut microbiomes that causes neurological diseases like depression etc.

After consumption of ample amount of food with Mansika bhava (chinta , shoka , bhaya , krodha)

Agni dushti

Aama

e.g. Atikrodh Disrupt Pitta Dosha improper digestion

Nervous system disorders

e.g Ratri jagran Disrupt Agni imbalance of Vata dosha

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mental health disorders dysbiosis Digestive issues

CONCLUSION

• The whole empire of Ayurveda is based on the concept of Agni. Kaya being the synonym of Agni emphasize the importance of this concept in the management of diseases.
• Basically, whole of the treatment methodology in Ayurveda revolves around the modulation and management of Agni. Agni literally means fire and in human being it denotes the power of digestion, metabolism and assimilation. Derangement of Agni produces diseases and its destruction causes death.