Changes

* On the basis of  potential to cause death-  The points in body which when injured can lead to death are called as Marmas. The commentator Arundatta on acharya Vagbhata;s Ashtnaga Hrudayam says that, even if injury to marma points does not cause death, it causes severe pain giving a person the experience of death.

* On the basis of  potential to cause death-  The points in body which when injured can lead to death are called as Marmas. The commentator Arundatta on acharya Vagbhata;s Ashtnaga Hrudayam says that, even if injury to marma points does not cause death, it causes severe pain giving a person the experience of death.

<blockquote>मारयन्तीति मर्माण्युच्यन्ते – Sush Shar 6/3 (dalhan teeka)</blockquote>

<blockquote>मारयन्तीति मर्माण्युच्यन्ते – Sush Shar 6/3 (dalhan teeka)</blockquote>Even though the definition states that injury to a marma leads to death, there are certain types of marma like vaiklyakara marma and rujakar marma (Discussed in next part of the article) that do not lead to death but cause some morbodity or pain on injury. With right treatment by a skilled Vaidya these issues can be resolved.

 

* On the basis of composition and nature- A confluence of mamsa (muscles), sira (blood vessels), snayu (ligaments), asthi- sandhi (bones-joints) is known as marma sthana. These marma sthana is where prana(?) resides, thus any kind of injury or infliction will lead to death.

* On the basis of composition and nature- A confluence of mamsa (muscles), sira (blood vessels), snayu (ligaments), asthi- sandhi (bones-joints) is known as marma sthana. These marma sthana is where prana(?) resides, thus any kind of injury or infliction will lead to death.

<blockquote>मर्माणि मांससिरास्नाय्वस्थिसन्धिसन्निपाताः; तेषु स्वभावत एव विशेषेण प्राणास्तिष्ठन्ति; तस्मान्मर्मस्वभिहतास्तांस्तान् भावानापद्यन्ते || (sush. sha .6.15)</blockquote>

<blockquote>मर्माणि मांससिरास्नाय्वस्थिसन्धिसन्निपाताः; तेषु स्वभावत एव विशेषेण प्राणास्तिष्ठन्ति; तस्मान्मर्मस्वभिहतास्तांस्तान् भावानापद्यन्ते || (sush. sha .6.15)</blockquote>

At the elemental level marma is composed of Soma (kapha-water element), maruta(vata- or air element), tej(pitta -or fire element) as tridosha and raja, satva , tamas as triguna resides along with bhuta(panchamahabhuta) and atma (soul precisely). This is precisely the reason why marma points should be protected from any injury. (Sush sha 6.35-36)

According to acharya Charaka, there are 10 seats of prana (life energy) which are murdha(head), kantha(throat), hriday(heart), naabhi(umbilicus), guda(anus), basti(urinary bladder), ojas(?), shukra(semen), shonita(blood), mamsa(muscles) and among them the first six are the marma points. <blockquote>दश प्राणायतनानि; तद्यथा- मूर्धा, कण्ठः, हृदयं, नाभिः, गुदं, बस्तिः, ओजः, शुक्रं, शोणितं, मांसमिति|

तेषु षट् पूर्वाणि मर्मसङ्ख्यातानि||९|| cha sha 7.9</blockquote>

 

तेषु षट् पूर्वाणि मर्मसङ्ख्यातानि||९|| cha sha 7.9

 

 

== प्रविभागाः॥ Classification ==

== प्रविभागाः॥ Classification ==

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).

Whereas Acharya Sushruta has categorised 107 marma sthana systemically in three ways,

Whereas Acharya Sushruta has categorised 107 marma sthana systemically in three ways,

# Madhya shareera – Marmas present in thorax and abdomen (trunk region) - 26

# Madhya shareera – Marmas present in thorax and abdomen (trunk region) - 26

# Urdhva jatrugata – marmas present in Head and neck region – 37

# Urdhva jatrugata – marmas present in Head and neck region – 37

=== Based on effect of injury on marma ===

=== Based on effect of injury on marma ===