Being one of the panchamahabhoota, agni
(fire) has the characteristic that it cannot exist without a base.
For example, coal, kerosene etc. are few substances in which agni
exists. Like wise in the body it exists in pitta dosha.
Agni is responsible for the following functions:
- Digestion - indigestion (Pakti- Apakti)
- Vision- absence of vision (Darshaman- Adarshaman)
- Degree of heat (Matra- Amatratvamushmanala)
- Normal -abnormal complexion (Prakriti- Vikariti varman)
- Prowess- fear (Shauryan- Bhayan)
- Anger exholoration (krodham- Harsham)
- Confusion- clarity (Mohan- Prasadan)
Apart from the above mentioned dual traits reflected by all human
beings there are many other dual nature traits that occur in the
body and agni is responsible for it.
Classification
Agni present inside the body is classified in thirteen types, namely:
1. Jaathragni:
Present in the pachak pitta, tis main function is of digestion
and to strengthen other types of agni present in the body in its
prukratic (natural) state.
2. Sapta Dhatwagni:
The agni of each and every dhatu in its own srotas is responsible
for their metabolic changes. These are:
- Rasa Dhatu Agni
- Rakta Dhatu Agni
- Mansa Dhatu Agni
- Meda Dhatu Agni
- Asthi Dahtu Agni
- Majja Dhatu Agni
- Shukra Dhatu Agni
3. Pancha Mahabhootaagni:
As the name denotes these are five in numbers, one for each mahabhoota.
It is responsible for the transformation of asharir mahabhoota to
sharir mahabhoota.
In ayurveda it is believed that everything is made up of five elements
and so is the body. These five elements are the panchmahabhoota
and are responsible for constituting every living being in the world.
Agni transforms the Asharir Mahabhoota (external mahabhoot) to Sharir
Mahabhoota. Example - When we drink water Jala Mahabhoota (water)
dominates and later the water is transformed by Jala Mahabhoota
agni to the Sharir Jala. Five Mahabhoota Agni are as follows: -
- Akasha Mahabhoota Agni
- Vayoo Mahabhoota Agni
- Agni Mahabhoota Agni
- Jala Mahabhoota Agni
- Prithvi Mahabhoota Agni
Besides performing all the metabolic functions agni takes care
of digestion (ahar pachan) and in the absence of ahar it acts on
the ama pachan i.e. properly metabolize the improper metabolites.
When ahar and ama are absence Agni does the function of dhatu i.e.
rasa, rakta etc. Digestion of dhatu is a fatal condition in which
dhatus are broken down to get energy. The reduction or deficiency
of the quantum of dhatu in the human body leads to the disease called
Kshaya roga.
In ayurveda it is believed that all the pathology occurs due to
the impairment in Agni (Kaya). Hence the correction of Kaya i.e.
Agni is called the treatment or Kaya Chikitsa in ayurveda.
According to ayurveda all the pathology occurs due to the impairment
in agni ( Kaya). Hence the correction of Kaya i.e. Agni is called
as treatment or Kaya Chikitsa in ayurveda.
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