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The word Marma literally means any vulnerable point or core point of something. In reference to human body marma indicates a vulnerable point in the body which upon injury or damage by any external force can lead to sudden ill health or even death. The level of damage depends upon various factors like the type of marma, intensity of injury and the site of damage and its distance from the marma point. According to Ayurveda, Marmas are the points where the life energy is predominantly present. Hence damage to marmas can also lead to death. Therefore Ayurveda treatises discuss in depth about various types of marmas, there composition, effects of damage to all different types of marmas etc.  

Marma or Marma sthana or the vital points is one of the important as well as exclusive topic in Ayurveda. The importance is vast and broad spectrum when it comes to healing wounds, curing various ailments and if not protected can cause death or serious damage as well. The fundamentals of the knowledge of Marma dates to Rigveda, Upanishads, and Purana’s. The knowledge of marma was being widely used during a war, for self-defence, surgical procedures, therapeutically etc ever since the Vedic period.  

Marma in literal translates to a vulnerable point. A spot or an area in the human body which if hit or damaged can cause death, and as part of therapy used in treatment of various ailments. Knowledge of marma is a quite distinctive aspect of therapy in not just Ayurveda Samhita’s, but in puranas, Veda’s and Upanishad’s as well.

Marma or the vital points is one of the important and exclusive topic discussed in Ayurveda. The references for the fundamentals of knowledge about Marma can be traced back to [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]], [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|Upanishads]]<nowiki/>and [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]]. The knowledge of marma was being widely used during a war to target enemies, for self-defence, for surgical procedures and also as a treatment modality ever since the Vedic period.  The importance of marma from diagnostic and therapeutic perspective is huge. When certain type of marma is affected, specific signs and symptoms arise and making use of this feature a therapy is developed where controlled pressure on these points is created to activate the energy concentrated at these points. This can relieve the probable blocks in the energy pathways linked with marmas in body and help get rid of certain symptoms like pains, aches and disabilities. This is called as marma therapy and it is practiced in may parts of Bharata and outside Bharata as well. It is a modality of treatment which does not require any herb or drug and hence it is widely popular. Soem eople compare it with that of accupressure therapy from Traditional chinese medicine but both these are significantly different. To practice marma therapy, in depth knowledge of marmas is essential. 'Marmaparipalanam' i.e. protection of marmas is equated to the selfcare or self protection in Ayurveda. 

== History|''Itihaasa'' ==

== इतिहासः॥ History ==

Practice of marma therapy has been mentioned in various Vedic texts alongside Ayurveda.

Practice of marma therapy has been mentioned in various Vedic texts alongside Ayurveda.

Rigveda, one of the oldest Vedic Sanskrit texts composed during 1500 – 1000 BCE has mentions of varma or shield or body armour used for protection of marma points. (Rigveda 6/75/18). Few Upanishads like Shandily upanishad,

Rigveda, one of the oldest Vedic Sanskrit texts composed during 1500 – 1000 BCE has mentions of varma or shield or body armor used for protection of marma points. (Rigveda 6/75/18). Few Upanishads like Shandilya upanishad, Garbha Upanishad, Kshurik Upanishad provide information about the concept and anatomical aspects of marma points. Agni purana mentions 10 locations of marma where the Prana reside.(ref?) In Valmiki Ramayana there are few verses during war wherein there is mention of marma points being used as targets for injury. In Mahabharata, during the (Bhishma Parva) 114/56, 119/5, 119/47, 119/61, 119/65) (48), (Drona Parva 92/7, 92/22), (Karna Parva 19/61), (Shalya Parva 32/63, 36/64) has many references about protective shields used to cover marma sthana of both humans and animals.

Garbh Upanishad, Kshurik Upanishad provides information about the concept and anatomical aspects of marma points. Agni purana mentions 10 locations of marma where the Prana (?) resides. In Valmiki Ramayana there are few verses during war wherein there is mention of marma points being used as target for injury. In Mahabharata during the (Bhishma Parva) 114/56, 119/5, 119/47, 119/61, 119/65) (48), (Drona Parva 92/7, 92/22), (Karna Parva 19/61),

There is a traditional and the oldest martial art form of India named Kalari or kalaripaywhich describes 365 marma points. The kalari warriors used this knowledge to harm their enemies. Also, they were nurtured using the same technique for healing wounds of the battle.

== निरुक्ती॥ Nirukti ==

 

 

== Nirukti ==

'''मर्म्म''', [न्] क्ली, (मृ + “सर्व्वधातुभ्यो मनिन् ।”

'''मर्म्म''', [न्] क्ली, (मृ + “सर्व्वधातुभ्यो मनिन् ।”

: भरतौ ॥ जीवस्थानम् । इति राजनिर्घण्टः ॥ *  Shabdakalpadruma Pg 641 <ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80 Shabdakalpadruma Pg 641]</ref>

: भरतौ ॥ जीवस्थानम् । इति राजनिर्घण्टः ॥ *  Shabdakalpadruma Pg 641 <ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80 Shabdakalpadruma Pg 641]</ref>

== Definition| ''Paribhasha'' ==

== परिभाषा॥ Definition ==

* मारयन्तीति मर्माण्युच्यन्ते – Sush Shar 6/3 (dalhan teeka) Meaning - Marma points are the vital points in the human body which when injured can lead to death.

* मारयन्तीति मर्माण्युच्यन्ते – Sush Shar 6/3 (dalhan teeka) Meaning - Marma points are the vital points in the human body which when injured can lead to death.

* Even though the definition states that injury to a marma leads to death, but there are certain types of marma like vaiklyakara marma and rujakar marma for example wherein with right treatment of a skilled Vaidya, an individual can be saved.

* Even though the definition states that injury to a marma leads to death, but there are certain types of marma like vaiklyakara marma and rujakar marma for example wherein with right treatment of a skilled Vaidya, an individual can be saved.

 

== प्रविभागाः॥ Classification ==

 

 

== Classification|''Pravibhaga'' ==

There are 107 marmas described in Ayurveda. Acharya Charaka whereas gives importance to three mainly, named Murdha(head), hriday(heart), Vasti/Basti (urinary bladder).

There are 107 marmas described in Ayurveda. Acharya Charaka whereas gives importance to three mainly, named Murdha(head), hriday(heart), Vasti/Basti (urinary bladder).