Classification of Agni by Acharya Charaka Based mostly on Bala Bheda

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

We all know that Agni – digestive hearth is of 4 sorts. They’re –

1. Mandagni
2. Tikshnagni
3. Vishamagni and
4. Samagni

This classification is made on the idea of dosha affect on these Agnis. Mandagni, Tikshnagni and Vishamagni are present in individuals predominant with kapha, pitta and vata respectively. Samagni is a standing when the agni is influenced by balanced tridoshas. That is additionally a state of agni in wholesome people and types an vital indicator for Swastha – wholesome people. The identical doshas that are predominant within the particular person can even by nature affect the agni.

Bala Bheda Agni Vargikarana by Charaka & Have to Know

Want for Examine – Acharya Charaka has described the identical 4 sorts of Agnis in Charaka Vimana Sthana Chapter 6, Verse 12 from a distinct angle. He has described them from the angle of Bala Bheda i.e. power of the Agni. This clarification will assist us to clinically perceive the power, capability and limitations of those Agnis. This information in flip will assist the physicians to handle agni imbalances within the illnesses that they’re treating.

Sorts of Agni based mostly on Bala Bheda

अग्निषु तु शारीरेषु चतुर्विधो विशेषो बलभेदेन भवति| तद्यथा- तीक्ष्णो, मन्दः, समो, विषमश्चेति| तत्र तीक्ष्णोऽग्निः सर्वापचारसहः, तद्विपरीतलक्षणस्तु मन्दः, समस्तु खल्वपचारतो विकृतिमापद्यतेऽनपचारतस्तु प्रकृताववतिष्ठते, समलक्षणविपरीतलक्षणस्तु विषम इति| एते चतुर्विधा भवन्त्यग्नयश्चतुर्विधानामेव पुरुषाणाम्| तत्र समवातपित्तश्लेष्मणां प्रकृतिस्थानां समा भवन्त्यग्नयः, वातलानां तु वाताभिभूतेऽग्न्यधिष्ठाने विषमा भवन्त्यग्नयः, पित्तलानां तु पित्ताभिभूते ह्यग्न्यधिष्ठाने तीक्ष्णा भवन्त्यग्नयः, श्लेष्मलानां तु श्लेष्माभिभूतेऽग्न्यधिष्ठाने मन्दा भवन्त्यग्नयः ||Cha.Vi.6/12

Relying on their power and depth (by way of dealing with, digesting and reworking the meals we devour), the Agni current in our physique will be categorized into 4 sorts. They’re –

1. Tikshna Agni – extreme, sturdy or intense digestive hearth
2. Manda Agni – low digestive hearth
3. Sama Agni – regular and balanced digestive hearth
4. Vishama Agni – irregular digestive hearth

Additional, Acharya Charaka mentioned these Agnis on the idea of their bala – power and depth.

Tikshna Agni: तत्र तीक्ष्णोऽग्निः सर्वापचारसहः

It’s outlined as Sarva Apachara Saha i.e. the hearth which tolerates all types of insult, irregularities, and wrong-doings (meals consumed breaking the principles and etiquettes of meals) and meals associated misconducts. This implies to inform that, despite taking liberties in relation to high quality, amount and timing of meals and being experimental or adventurous about it, the hearth will tolerate these meals and isn’t simply affected or influenced by irregularities or imbalances of the meals we devour. That doesn’t imply one must be out of ‘warning zone’ and go overboard or be overtly adventurous.

Manda Agni: तद्विपरीतलक्षणस्तु मन्दः

Acharya Charaka describes this hearth with the phrases ‘Tad Viparita Lakshanastu’ i.e. the digestive hearth which has reverse options of these of Tikshna Agni. This Agni is Sarva Apachara Asaha i.e. not like Tikshna Agni, Manda Agni, which is principally delicate and weak in nature, is not going to tolerate insults, irregularities, wrong-doings or meals associated misconducts. Which means to say that the particular person can’t take liberty in making decisions relating to high quality, amount and timing of meals and might undoubtedly not be adventurous. They should train additional warning in taking good care of their Agni and likewise to maintain it in a state of steadiness. Even small irregularities or indiscipline will disturb the sort of agni and its functioning.

Sama Agni: समस्तु खल्वपचारतो विकृतिमापद्यतेऽनपचारतस्तु प्रकृताववतिष्ठते

Sama Agni i.e. a balanced state of agni will get disturbed, impaired and imbalanced even when it will get affected by minor Apachara – irregularities, insults, wrong-doings or misconducts. Alternatively, this Sama Agni maintains its normalcy so long as one doesn’t get indulged in apachara. So, with the intention to maintain it in a state of steadiness, one ought to monitor the standard, amount, time and etiquettes of meals on each single day and make it a behavior of not deviating from good meals practices.

Vishama Agni: समलक्षणविपरीतलक्षणस्तु विषम इति

Vishama Agni is that which is irregular in nature. It typically reveals sama lakshanas and typically viparita lakshanas because of the affect of apachara. This implies to say that, not like sama agni, vishama agni typically will get impaired, disturbed or imbalanced and typically it doesn’t get impaired as a result of irregularities, insult, wrong-doings or misconducts associated to meals practices. These folks can typically tolerate apachara associated to meals and the agni behaves usually. At different instances, these individuals can’t tolerate apachara and consequently, the agni behaves abnormally. The digestion sample is variable and extremely unpredictable. That is because of the affect of vata on the AGNI, which by itself is fluctuating and unpredictable in nature.

Additional on

Acharya says that these 4 kinds of Agni happen in 4 kinds of people. In individuals having balanced vata, pitta and kapha, the agni can also be regular and balanced.

Vishama Agni and Vata – In these having predominance of vata, the agni will likely be irregular – vishama agni, because of the affliction of affect by vata on agni and its web site.

Teekshna Agni and Pitta – In these having predominance of pitta, the agni will likely be sharp, sturdy, intense and penetrating in nature – tikshna agni, because of the affliction of and affect by pitta on agni and its web site.

Mandagni and kapha – In these having predominance of kapha, the agni will likely be delicate and weak in nature – mandagni, because of the affliction of and affect by kapha on agni and its web site.

Samagni and Tridosha Steadiness – In these having steadiness of doshas, malas and dhatus of their physique, the agni will likely be balanced in nature – sama agni, because of the affect of balanced tridoshas on agni and its web site.

Associated AIAPGET Query

1. Which of the next is Sarvapachara Sahah (Cha.Vi.6/12)
2. Mandagni
3. Tikshnagni
4. Vishamagni
5. Samagni

Ans – b. Tikshnagni.

2. The Agni which has been described by Acharya Charaka as ‘tad viparita lakshanastu’ is – (Cha.Vi.6/12)
3. Tikshnagni
4.   Samagni
5. Vishamagni
6.   Mandagni

Ans – d. Mandagni. (Mandagni has viparita lakshana of Tikshnagni)

3. The Agni which is Sarvapachara Asahaha is (Cha.Vi.6/12)
4. Tikshnagni
5.   Samagni
6. Mandagni
7.   Vishamagni

Ans – c. Mandagni.

4. खल्वपचारतो विकृतिमापद्यतेऽनपचारतस्तु प्रकृताववतिष्ठते – as per Charaka, describes which Agni? (Cha.Vi.6/12)
5. Samagni
6.   Vishamagni
7. Mandagni
8.   Tikshnagni

Ans – a. Samagni.

5. The agni described by Charaka as – समलक्षणविपरीतलक्षणस्तु is – (Cha.Vi.6/12)
6. Tikshnagni
7.   Vishamagni
8. Mandagni
9.   Samagni