Abstract

Dr. Gupta Payal* and Mishra Pramod Kumar and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Sharma

ABSTRACT

In Ayurvedic system of medicine, Agni maximally represents digestive and metabolic fire in the body. It is the substance in the secretions of the body which are directly responsible for digestive and chemical changes in the body. Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life, and is performed by the Agni. According to the functions and site of action, Agni has been divided into 13 types, i.e. one Jatharagni(digestive enzymes), five bhutagni and seven dhatvagni (metabolism at tissue level). Jatharagni is the chief among all types of agni’s because function of bhutagni and dhatvagni depend on this. Aggravation or diminution of jatharagni results in aggravation or diminution of bhutagni and dhatvagni. Jatharagni is the most important one, which digests four types of food and transforms it into Rasa and Mala. The five Bhutagnis act on the respective bhutika portion of the food and thereby nourish the Bhutas in the body. The seven Dhatvagni act on the respective dhatus by which eachDhatu is broken into three parts. In this way, the entire process of transformation consists of two types of products – PRasad (essence) and Kitta (excrete). The former is taken for nourishment while the latter one is thrown out, which otherwise defiles the body if it stays longer. Agni provides Bala, Arogya, Ayu, Prana, Swasthyam, Varnam, Utsaha, Prabha, Ojha and Teja to the body . According to Acharya Sushruta, there is no existence of any other Agni in the body without Pitta, because when there is increased digestion and combustion in the body due to Ushna guna of Pitta, the treatment is like Agni. Agni is a key factor in transformation of consumed aahar viharadi dravyas of vijatiya origin to sajatiya nature and converts the food consumed and produces energy.For understanding of disease process and prescribe of treatment is one of the important concepts of agni.