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== परिचयः॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः॥ Introduction ==

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. Some 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.

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. Some people 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.

== इतिहासः॥ History ==

== इतिहासः॥ History ==

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

The knowledge of marmas had been absorbed by not just worriors but also devatas since time immemorial. The original description about of marma is found in the rugveda where Indra is said to have used an ayudh (weapon) named Vajra fight demon Vratra. The asura was killed by Indra's vajra when it was targeted on the marmasthana of vratra which is located in between the shoulders. <ref name=":0">Dr. Manjunath Gopal Sutar et al / Int. J. of Allied Med. Sci. and Clin. Research Vol-8(3) 2020 [615-618]</ref> Rigveda mentions of varma or shield or body armor used for protection of marma points.<ref>Rigveda 6/75/18</ref> 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>Agni Purana (370.45-46)</ref>  Fire (agni) was used as the greatest weapon to injure the marmasthanas in wars.  The great indian epic mahabharata and bhagavata gita, elephants, horses and soldiers wore varma to protect marma. Arjuna and karna were only vulnerable to be killed through marma exposure.  There are also references about death of Shravan kumara, Ravana, Shreekrishna happening due to injury to vital marma points.  

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.

While taking his parents on pilgrimage, Shravan Kumar’s parents were thirty and wanted water, so he took rest and went near the river to grab some water. King Dashrath, who was father of Lord Rama, thought that some animal is near water and he aimed him. Unfortunately, it was not an animal but Shravan Kumar. The arrow hit his forehead, again on the स्थपनी मर्म. In guilt, King Dashrath took the arrow out and Shravan Kumar died. So, as I said above स्थपनी मर्म is a विषयलघ्न मर्म. (https://rasayan97.wordpress.com/2020/08/22/22-8-20/) Ravana and krishna are said to be have died due to injury on nabhi and kshipramarma respectively. <ref name=":0" />

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.

In Valmiki Ramayana there are few verses during war wherein there is mention of marma points being used as targets for injury.  

Vishwakarma sharpened ayudh for indra which was known as vajra to be used. God indra tormented vratra (demon) with the help of same by attacking on marmasthana. (Dr. Manjunath Gopal Sutar et al / Int. J. of Allied Med. Sci. and Clin. Research Vol-8(3) 2020 [615-618])

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.

Fire (agni) was used as the greatest weapon to injure the marmasthanas in wars. The original description about of marma is found in the rugveda where indradev is said to have defeated vritra by attacking his marma with a vajra in between shoulders. In similarly in atharvaveda some references about marma are also found, with numerous other scattered references in vedic and epic sources. The great indian epic mahabharata and bhagavata gita, elephants, horses and soldiers wore varma to protect marma. Arjuna and karna were only vulnerable to be killed through marma exposure. Ravana and krishna are said to be have died due to injury on nabhi and kshipramarma respectively. (Dr. Manjunath Gopal Sutar et al / Int. J. of Allied Med. Sci. and Clin. Research Vol-8(3) 2020 [615-618])

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.

 

While taking his parents on pilgrimage, Shravan Kumar’s parents were thirty and wanted water, so he took rest and went near the river to grab some water. King Dashrath, who was father of Lord Rama, thought that some animal is near water and he aimed him. Unfortunately, it was not an animal but Shravan Kumar. The arrow hit his forehead, again on the स्थपनी मर्म. In guilt, King Dashrath took the arrow out and Shravan Kumar died. So, as I said above स्थपनी मर्म is a विषयलघ्न मर्म. (https://rasayan97.wordpress.com/2020/08/22/22-8-20/)

== निरुक्ती॥ Nirukti ==

== निरुक्ती॥ Nirukti ==