Agni in Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदे अग्निः)
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 tridoshas (त्रिदोषाणि) of the human body, which are vata (वातः), pitta (पित्तम्) and kapha (कफः).
What is Agni in Human body?
Ayurveda scholars have clearly mentioned that Agni resides in the Pitta which is one of the 3 doshas in the shariram (human body) . Thus the terms agni and pitta are used synonymously in Ayurveda shastra. Agni 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,
अग्निरेव शरीरे पित्तान्तर्गतः कुपिताकुपितः शुभाशुभानि करोति; तद्यथा- पक्तिमपक्तिं दर्शनमदर्शनं मात्रामात्रत्वमूष्मणः प्रकृतिविकृतिवर्णौ शौर्यं भयं क्रोधं हर्षं मोहं प्रसादमित्येवमादीनि चापराणि द्वन्द्वानीति॥ (Char. Samh.12.11)[1]
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. [2]
Can agni exist in body without pitta?
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.
न खलु पित्तव्यतिरेकादन्योऽग्निरुपलभ्यते, आग्नेयत्वात् पित्ते दहनपचनादिष्वभिप्रवर्तमानेऽग्निवदुपचारः क्रियतेऽन्तरग्निरिति; क्षीणे ह्यग्निगुणे तत्समानद्रव्योपयोगात् , अतिवृद्धे शीतक्रियोपयोगात् , आगमाच्च पश्यामो न [१] खलु पित्तव्यतिरेकादन्योऽग्निरिति ||९|| Su su 21.9
Meaning: Agni can not exist without pitta. It is because of the agneyatwam (original nature of agni i.e. heat) of pitta which performs functions like burning, cooking/digesting (which are similar to agni in nature) it is treated like antaragni. If the agni nature of pitta reduces dravyas (substances) having similar nature to agni are utilized, when this agni nature is excessive cooling therapies are used (similar to agni in nature). Also we know it from the agama ( traditional doctrine or perspect also known as Shabda pramana or aptopadesha) that agni can not exist without pitta.
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 -
- 1 Jatharagni (जठराग्निः),
- 5 types of Bhutagnis (भूताग्नयः) and
- 7 types of Dhatvagnis (धात्वाग्नयः).
Jatharagni, 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.
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) -
- Vishamagni (विषमाग्निः),
- Teekshnagni (तीक्ष्णाग्निः),
- Mandagni (मन्दाग्निः).
Thus the state of balanced Agni of the body is also known as Samagni (समाग्निः).
Types of bhutagni
Types of bhutagni are based on the panchamahabhutas. Thus these types are
- Agni of Prthvi mahabhuta
- Agni of Jala mahabhuta
- Agni of Teja mahabhuta
- Agni of Vayu mahabhuta
- Agni of Akasha mahabhuta
Types of dhatvagnis
The human body is made up of 7 types of 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,
- Rasa dhatvagni
- Rakta dhatvagni
- Mamsa dhatvagni
- Meda dhatvagni
- Asthi dhatvagni
- Majja dhatvagni
- Shukra dhatvagni
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
Role of agni in human physiology according to ayurveda
Agni as the root of human body-mind mechanism
आयुर्वर्णो बलं स्वास्थ्यमुत्साहोपचयौ प्रभा|
ओजस्तेजोऽग्नयः प्राणाश्चोक्ता देहाग्निहेतुकाः||३||
शान्तेऽग्नौ म्रियते, युक्ते चिरं जीवत्यनामयः|
रोगी स्याद्विकृते, मूलमग्निस्तस्मान्निरुच्यते||४||
Agryas
अग्निरामस्तम्भशीतशूलोद्वेपनप्रशमनानां,
यथाग्न्यभ्यवहारोऽग्निसन्धुक्षणानां (Char Samh sutra 25.40)
Pakam
अन्नमादानकर्मा तु प्राणः कोष्ठं प्रकर्षति|
तद्द्रवैर्भिन्नसङ्घातं स्नेहेन मृदुतां गतम्||६||
समानेनावधूतोऽग्निरुदर्यः [१] पवनोद्वहः|
काले भुक्तं समं सम्यक् पचत्यायुर्विवृद्धये||७||
एवं रसमलायान्नमाशयस्थमधः स्थितः|
पचत्यग्निर्यथा स्थाल्यामोदनायाम्बुतण्डुलम्||८|| Cha chi 15
स ख़लु विधिवदभ्यवहृतमन्नजातं प्राणेन वायुना कोष्ठमाकृष्टं द्रवैर्विभिन्नसङ्ग़ातं स्नेहेन मृदूकृतमभिसन्धुक्षितः समानेनामाशयस्थं स्थालीस्थमिवाम्बुतण्डुलमग्निरन्तरग्निः पचति||३६|| (A.H.SHA 5.36)
तच्चान्नं विपक्वमेव देहधात्वादिपोषणम्, नापक्वम्|
तस्य चान्नपाकस्य हेतुरग्निः, अत आह----
यदन्नं देहधात्वोजोबलवर्णादिपोषणम्|
तत्राग्निर्हेतुराहारान्न ह्यपक्वाद्रसादयः||५४|| (Ashtang Hrudayam sha 3.54)
Jatharagni
जाठरो [१] भगवानग्निरीश्वरोऽन्नस्य पाचकः |
सौक्ष्म्याद्रसानाददानो विवेक्तुं नैव शक्यते ||२७|| Su su 35.27
Site of Agni in body: Grahani
अग्न्यधिष्ठानमन्नस्य ग्रहणाद्ग्रहणी मता|
नाभेरुपर्यह्यग्निबलेनोपष्टब्धोपबृंहिता [१] ||५६||
अपक्वं धारत्यन्नं पक्वं सृजति पार्श्वतः|
दुर्बलाग्निबला दुष्टा [२] त्वाममेव विमुञ्चति||५७|| Cha chi 15
Agni as one of the panchamahabhutas
महाभूतानि खं वायुरग्निरापः क्षितिस्तथा|
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च तद्गुणाः||२७|| Cha sha 1 .27
खरद्रवचलोष्णत्वं भूजलानिलतेजसाम्|
आकाशस्याप्रतीघातो दृष्टं लिङ्गं यथाक्रमम्||२९||
7 types of Dhatwagni
सप्तभिर्देहधातारो धातवो द्विविधं पुनः|
यथास्वमग्निभिः पाकं यान्ति किट्टप्रसादवत् [१] ||१५|| Cha Chi 15.15
5 types of Bhautikagni
जाठरस्याग्नेः कर्माभिधाय, इदानीमन्येषामप्यग्नीनां कर्माभिधातुमाह ----
भौमाप्याग्नेयवायव्याः पञ्चोष्माणः सनाभसाः|
पञ्चाहारगुणान्स्वान् स्वान् पार्थिवादीन् पचन्त्यनु||५९|| Ashtang Hrudaya sha 3.59)
अनया चोक्त्या आहारः शरीरगतानां भावानां समानगुणानां गुणद्वारेण वर्द्धनहेतुः,विपरीत गुणानां च क्षयहेतुः इति प्रतिपादयति ----
यथास्वं ते च पुष्णन्ति पक्वा भूतगुणान् पृथक्|
पार्थिवाः पार्थिवानेव शेषाः शेषांश्च देहगान्||६०||
Relation between all agni types
अन्नस्य पक्ता सर्वेषां पक्तॄणामधिको मतः|
तन्मूलास्ते हि तद्वृद्धिक्षयवृद्धिक्षयात्मकाः||७१||
तस्मात्तं विधिवद्युक्तैरन्नपानेन्धनैर्हितैः|
पालयेत्प्रयतस्तस्य स्थितौ ह्यायुर्बलस्थितिः||७२|| Asht. Hrud. sha 3.71-72)
Types of jatharagni based on the level of its strength
जाठराग्निमधुना चतुर्विधं वक्ति ----
समः समाने स्थानस्थे विषमोऽग्निर्विमार्गगे|
पित्ताभिमूर्च्चिते तीक्ष्णो मन्दोऽस्मिन्कफपीडिते||७३|| A.H.SHA3
समोऽग्निर्विषमस्तीक्ष्णो मन्दश्चैवं चतुर्विधः|
यः पचेत्सम्यगेवान्नं भुक्तं सम्यक् समस्त्वसौ||७४||
विषमोऽसम्यगप्याशु सम्यग्वाऽपि चिरात्पचेत्|
तीक्ष्णो वह्निः पचेच्चीघ्रमसम्यगपि भोजनम्||७५||
मन्दस्तु सम्यगप्यन्नमुपयुक्तं चिरात्पचेत्|
कृत्वाऽऽस्यशोषाटोपान्त्रकूजनाध्मानगौरवम्||७६||
Role of sneha in agni strength
अधुना स्नेहस्याग्निवृद्धिकरत्वं दृष्टान्तेन दर्शयति----
दीप्तो यथैव स्थाणुश्च बाह्योऽग्निः सारदारुभिः|
सस्नेहैर्जायते तद्वदाहारैः कोष्ठगोऽनलः||७९|| A.H.chi 79
Agni: savior or killer
आहारमग्निः पचति दोषानाहारवर्जितः|
धातून् क्षीणेशु दोषेषु जीवितं ढातुसङ्क्षये||९१|| Asht. Hrud. Chi. 10.91
Causes of disturbances in Agni
अभोजनादजीर्णातिभोजनाद्विषमाशनात्|
असात्म्यगुरुशीतातिरूक्षसन्दुष्टभोजनात्||४२||
विरेकवमनस्नेहविभ्रमाद्व्याधिकर्षणात्|
देशकालर्तुवैषम्याद्वेगानां च विधारणात्||४३||
दुष्यत्यग्निः, स दुष्टोऽन्नं न तत् पचति लघ्वपि|
अपच्यमानं शुक्तत्वं यात्यन्नं विषरूपताम् [१] ||४४|| Cha chi 15
How to examine agni?
प्रश्नेन च विजानीयाद्देशं कालं जातिं सात्म्यमातङ्कसमुत्पत्तिं वेदनासमुच्छ्रायं बलमन्तरग्निं Su su 10.5 (https://niimh.nic.in/ebooks/esushruta/?mod=read&h=agni)