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Agni is an important vital entity in Ayurveda. Agni is the indispensable agent involved in the process of Paka (पाकः । Digestion and transformation). Different Ayurvedic texts mention that Agni is Pitta (पित्तम्), one of the tridoshas (त्रिदोषाणि) of the human body, which are vata (वातः), pitta (पित्तम्) and kapha (कफः). Different texts mention different numbers of Agni present in the body, however according to the function and site of action there are 13 in number - 1 Jatharagni (जठराग्निः), 5 Bhutagnis (भूताग्नयः) and 7 Dhatvagnis (धात्वाग्नयः).  

Agni is an important vital entity in Ayurveda. It is called vital because its absence indicates death. Any fluctuation in the strength of agni leads to imbalances in the level of doshas, dhatus and malas which are the building blocks of the body.  Thus agni is an indispensable for Ayu (life) of any individual. In the physical body, Agni is involved in the process of Paka (पाकः । Digestion and transformation). Different Ayurvedic texts mention that Agni is Pitta (पित्तम्), one of the [[Doshas (दोषाः)|tridoshas]] (त्रिदोषाणि) of the human body, which are vata (वातः), pitta (पित्तम्) and kapha (कफः).  

Jataragni, the most important Agni, aids in digestion of four types of food and transforms it into Rasa (रसः) and Mala (मलः । waste and toxins) thus, converting the gross matter to subtle substance thereby providing energy for body's needs.  

Ayurveda scholars have clearly mentioned that Agni resides in the Pitta which is one of the 3 doshas in the [[Sharira (शरीरम्)|shariram]] (human body) . Thus the terms agni and pitta are used synonymously in Ayurveda shastra. Agni [[Panchamahabhutas (पञ्चमहाभूतानि)|mahabhuta]] in the nature is responsible for generating light and heat. Similarly agni inside the body which is also called as Antaragni, does various jobs through the medium of pitta.  Acharya Charaka has listed the various functions agni performs inside body as below,<blockquote>अग्निरेव शरीरे पित्तान्तर्गतः कुपिताकुपितः शुभाशुभानि करोति; तद्यथा- पक्तिमपक्तिं दर्शनमदर्शनं मात्रामात्रत्वमूष्मणः प्रकृतिविकृतिवर्णौ शौर्यं भयं क्रोधं हर्षं मोहं प्रसादमित्येवमादीनि चापराणि द्वन्द्वानीति॥ (Char. Samh.12.11)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 12 Sutra 11)</ref></blockquote>Meaning: It is the agni inside pitta in human body which performs various desirable and undesirable activities when it is in balanced state and vitiated state respectively viz. transformation and non-transformation, Vision and loss of vision, optimum or deranged level of heat, natural color or discoloration, bravery, fear, anger, delightfulness, delusions, graciousness etc and many more other pairs of opposites.

 

In the commentary on this sutra, acharya chakrapani has clarified that since the agni inside body is not morphologically similar to that present in nature which is in the form of flames, it is specifically mentioned that agni performs functions through the medium of pitta. Agni and pitta are inseparable. Various functions of agni or pitta described here are actually the specific functions of 5 types of pitta based on their location in the body. A type of pitta located at netra (eye) region in responsible for visual acuity in balanced state and loss of vision when vitiated. Similarly agni inside pitta located in jathara (stomach) is responsible for proper transformation or digestion. Agni inside pitta located in the twak (skin) controls the body temperature and the agni inside pitta located in Hrudayam controls various metal faculties like confidence, fear, anger etc. The skin color or complexion is also under the influence of agni inside pitta located in internal organs like yakrt and pliha.

 

Thus agni can be assessed on the basis of various visible aspects in one's body like color, digestion, strength, heat level, intelligence. <ref>Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 15 Sutra 4)</ref>

 

Ayurved acharyas have explained that agni inside the body can not exist without pitta. It can perform various actions only through the medium of pitta.  

Ayurveda also defines three types of Agni based on the digestion types and Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) - Vishamagni (विषमाग्निः), Teekshnagni (तीक्ष्णाग्निः), Mandagni (मन्दाग्निः). Samagni (समाग्निः) is a state of balanced Agni of the body.

न खलु पित्तव्यतिरेकादन्योऽग्निरुपलभ्यते, आग्नेयत्वात् पित्ते दहनपचनादिष्वभिप्रवर्तमानेऽग्निवदुपचारः क्रियतेऽन्तरग्निरिति; क्षीणे ह्यग्निगुणे तत्समानद्रव्योपयोगात् , अतिवृद्धे शीतक्रियोपयोगात् , आगमाच्च पश्यामो न [१] खलु पित्तव्यतिरेकादन्योऽग्निरिति ||९|| Su su 21.9

== What is Agni in Human body? ==

अग्निरेव शरीरे पित्तान्तर्गतः कुपिताकुपितः शुभाशुभानि करोति; तद्यथा- पक्तिमपक्तिं दर्शनमदर्शनं मात्रामात्रत्वमूष्मणः प्रकृतिविकृतिवर्णौ शौर्यं भयं क्रोधं हर्षं मोहं प्रसादमित्येवमादीनि चापराणि द्वन्द्वानीति||११|| (Char. Samh. Sutr 12.11)

 

== Types of the agni ==

Agni inside the body is called by various different names at various instances. Although the agni or pitta is present everywhere and the same all over the body, it has been classified into various categories depending on its location and action specific to that location. Also agni inside substances that come in contact with our body when those are consumed has also been considered and has been given considerable attention.

 

Different texts mention different numbers of Agni present in the body, however according to the function and site of action there are 13 in number -

 

 

 

 

=== Types of Jatharagni ===

The jatharagni i.e. agni or pitta type responsible for digestion of food has further been divided in 3 types based on the digestion types and Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) -

Commentary- पित्तान्तर्गत इति वचनेन शरीरे ज्वालादियुक्तवह्निनिषेधेन पित्तोष्मरूपस्य वह्नेः सद्भावं दर्शयति; न तु पित्तादभेदं, पित्तेनाग्निमान्द्यस्य ग्रहण्यध्याये वक्ष्यमाणत्वात्, तथा पित्तहरस्य सर्पिषोऽग्निवर्धनत्वेनोक्तत्वात्| पक्तिमपक्तिमिति अविकृतिविकृतिभेदेन पाचकस्याग्नेः कर्म, दर्शनादर्शने नेत्रगतस्यालोचकस्य, ऊष्मणो मात्रामात्रत्वं वर्णभेदौ च त्वग्गतस्य भ्राजकस्य, भयशौर्यादयो हृदयस्थस्य साधकस्य, रञ्जकस्य तु बहिःस्फुटकार्यादर्शनादुदाहरणं न कृतम्||११||

# Vishamagni (विषमाग्निः),  

# Teekshnagni (तीक्ष्णाग्निः),  

तत्र जिज्ञास्यं किं पित्तव्यतिरेकादन्योऽग्निः? आहोस्वित् पित्तमेवाग्निरिति? |

The human body is made up of 7 types of [[Dhatus (धातवः)|dhatus]]. Each of these 7 dhatus is generated, nourished and maintained by the agni of its own known as dhatvagni. It controls the dhatu level metabolism and levels of dhatus, upathatus dhatu malas etc. These 7 types of dhatvagnis are as follows,

== 5 types of pitta or agni in body ==

== 5 types of pitta or agni in body based on location ==

तच्चादृष्टहेतुकेन [१] विशेषेण पक्वामाशयमध्यस्थं पित्तं चतुर्विधमन्नपानं पचति, विवेचयति च दोषरसमूत्रपुरीषाणि; तत्रस्थमेव चात्मशक्त्या शेषाणां पित्तस्थानानां शरीरस्य चाग्निकर्मणाऽनुग्रहं करोति, तस्मिन् पित्ते पाचकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा; यत्तु यकृत्प्लीह्नोः पित्तं तस्मिन् रञ्जकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, स रसस्य रागकृदुक्तः; यत् पित्तं हृदयस्थं तस्मिन् साधकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, सोऽभिप्रार्थितमनोरथसाधनकृदुक्तः; यद्दृष्ट्यां पित्तं तस्मिन्नालोचकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, स रूपग्रहणाऽधिकृतः; यत्तु त्वचि पित्तं तस्मिन् भ्राजकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, सोऽभ्यङ्गपरिषेकावगाहालेपनादीनां क्रियाद्रव्याणां पक्ता छायानां च प्रकाशकः ||१०|| Su su. 21.10

तच्चादृष्टहेतुकेन [१] विशेषेण पक्वामाशयमध्यस्थं पित्तं चतुर्विधमन्नपानं पचति, विवेचयति च दोषरसमूत्रपुरीषाणि; तत्रस्थमेव चात्मशक्त्या शेषाणां पित्तस्थानानां शरीरस्य चाग्निकर्मणाऽनुग्रहं करोति, तस्मिन् पित्ते पाचकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा; यत्तु यकृत्प्लीह्नोः पित्तं तस्मिन् रञ्जकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, स रसस्य रागकृदुक्तः; यत् पित्तं हृदयस्थं तस्मिन् साधकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, सोऽभिप्रार्थितमनोरथसाधनकृदुक्तः; यद्दृष्ट्यां पित्तं तस्मिन्नालोचकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, स रूपग्रहणाऽधिकृतः; यत्तु त्वचि पित्तं तस्मिन् भ्राजकोऽग्निरिति सञ्ज्ञा, सोऽभ्यङ्गपरिषेकावगाहालेपनादीनां क्रियाद्रव्याणां पक्ता छायानां च प्रकाशकः ||१०|| Su su. 21.10