Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

CONCEPT OF AGNI – AN AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Durgesh Gupta1, A.C. Kar2
1
M.D. (Ayu), 2 Professors, 1,2Department of Vikriti Vigyan, Faculty of Ayurveda,
IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India

ABSTRACT
Agni is responsible for strength, health, longevity; vital breath and it determine the
quantity of food to be consumed. The word agni bala is used to denote the
superiority, mediocrity and inferiority nature of agni and accordingly it digest the
good amount, moderate amount and less amount of food respectively. Ingested food is
to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is necessary for the maintenance of
life, and is performed by the Agni. According to the functions and site of action, Agni
has been divided into 13 types, i.e. one Jatharagni, five Bhutagni and seven
Dhatvagni. Jatharagni is the most important one, which digests four types of food
and transforms it into Rasa and Mala.This article revolves around the details of Agni
described in various texts of Ayurveda.
Keywords: Agni, bhutagni, dhatvagni, jatharagni.

INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda has described an important agni’ asserts Caraka.2 The term ‘Pitta’
factor of digestion and metabolism in is used to designate its physical or
our body as Agni. In Ayurveda, the material form and the term “Agni” to
term “Agni” is used in the sense of designate its functions. Sometimes
digestion of food and metabolic these are used interchanging also.
products. Agni converts food in the Further, Agni is subdivided into
form of energy, which is responsible thirteen kind’s viz., one- Kosthangni,
for all the vital functions of our body. five-Bhutagnis and seven-
Therefore, Ayurveda considers that Dhatwagnis. Kosthagni is the chief of
Dehagni is the cause of life, all the other kinds. It is present inside
complexion, strength, health, the amasaya (stomach and small
nourishment, lusture, oja, teja (energy) intestines) and pakwasaya (large
and prana (life energy)1. The intestine), it attends to the function of
audaryagni present inside the abdomen digestion of food and contributes
of animals is known by various names moities of itself to the other agnis also,
such as Vaiswanara, Audarya tejas, thereby providing them with strength.
Kayagni, Jatharagni, Kosthagni, and It is also known as Pachaka pitta.
Pachakagni. This agni is not in the Though composed of all the
form of flame as the terrestrial fire but panchamahabhutas it is predominantly
is in the form of liquid which is called tejas (agneya), though it is liquid in
as ‘Pitta’ in Ayurveda. ‘There is no form it is devoid of the qualities of
agni apart from pitta and pitta itself is liquid viz. sita (cold), snigdha (moist),
 Durgesh Gupta, A.c.Kar: Concept Of Agni – An Ayurvedic Review

etc and is called Anala (fire) due to its dosas and malas also have their own
predominant functions of paka agnis. These are also related to
(cooking, digestion)3.Bhutagnis are kosthagni6. An attempt has been made
five in number, and present in the to understand Agni through Ayurvedic
kosthagni or pachaka pitta itself. perspective. In this article definition,
These are known as parthivagni Kosthagni Vyapara, Importance of
,apyagni, taijasagni, vayavyagni and Agni, Agni Samya and Vaisamya Effect
nabhasagni. They help the kosthagni of Agni Vaismaya, will be descibed.
in the digestion of food, especially to Kosthagni Vyapara (functions of
digest those kinds of foods which are digestive fire)- The food ingested, is
of identical nature4.Parthivagni acted upon by the normal Kosthagni
specially helps in the digestion of vis a vis pachaka pitta and cooked
parthiva kind of food, apyagni the properly to produce two substances,
apya kinds of foods and so on. These the Sarabhaga or the Ahara rasa (the
bhutagnis derive their strength essence of food) and Kitta bhaga (the
(functional capacity) from the waste products of food). The
kosthagni itself. Dhatwagnis seven in sarabhaga or ahara rasa undergoes
number, are present, one in each of the further changes being acted upon by
seven dhatus (tissues) of the body5, the bhutaganis and gets converted into
and each one is called by name of the Rasadhatu- the first dhatu (first tissue)
dhatu in which it is present such as of the body. The activities of kosthagni
Rasagni, Raktagni, etc. Each of them is and bhutagnis together form the Ahara
specific by itself (in its composition paka or digestion of food. The
and function) and suitable only to rasadhatu contains the nutrient
particular dhatu in which it is present materials derived from the food and
(dhatu visista). Each dhatwagni attends required by the dhatus (tissues), This
to the digestion of Posakansa (nutrient rasa dhatu circulates all over the body
material) supplied to that dhatu by supplying the nutrients to all the other
circulating rasa dhatu. The dhatwagni dhatus, which utilize this material for
present in the mamsa dhatu can digest their growth (metabolism)7.
the nutrient material required for Importance of Agni - Bala (strength),
mamsa dhatu only but cannot digest varna (colour), swasthya (health),
those of other dhatus, similarly is the utsaha (enthusiasm), upacaya
case with the other dhatwagnis. This is (development of the body), prabha
what is known as visista or specificity (complexion), ojas (strength), tejas
of dhatwagnis. The dhawagnis also (valour), vaya (age), and even ayu
derive their strength from kosthagni (life) - all depend on Agni and its
itself, and so depend on it for their function (fire-like activity). So long as
functioning.If the kosthagnis is normal, agni is normal, man can have a healthy
the dhatwagnis are also normal, if the and long life, loss of Agni leads to loss
kosthagnis are weak, the dhatwagnis of life8. Foods containing the nutrient
are also weak and if the kosthagnis is materials of the dhatus can be of help
powerful the dhatwagnis are also to the dhatus, only after they are
powerful. Vagbhata says that even the cooked (digested) well by the Agni.
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Agni Samya and Vaisamya (normalcy sensation inside the abdomen, sour
and abnormalcy)- Existence of all the belchings, thirst, feeling of hot fumes
different kinds of agnis in their coming out and such other troubles
required pramana (quantity), gunas to the body. It is normally found in
(qualities) and karmas (functions) is persons of pitta prakriti (bilious
known as Agni Samya (normalcy). constitution), develops in others by
While vrddhi (increase) and kshaya the use of pittakara ahara vihara
(decrease) in these aspects is known as (food and activities causing increase
Agni Vaisamya (abnormalcy) Vrddhi of pitta) and gives rise to diseases of
(increase) and kshaya (decrease) are pitta origin.
known as tikshna (strong, powerful) 4. Mandagni (the weak) is that which
and manda (weak) respectively. Both cannot digest even little quantity of
these are abnormal, and give rise to food in the scheduled time, produces
many diseases in the body. heaviness of the abdomen, stasis of
Kosthagni: The kosthagni (gastric fire, food for long period inside, difficulty
digestive activity) present in man, is of in breathing and such other troubles
the following four kinds9: to the body. It is normally found in
1. Samagni (the normal one), is that persons of kapha prakriti
which digests the food in the (phlegmatic constitution), develops
scheduled time without giving any in others by the use of kaphakara
trouble to the body. It is conducive to ahara viharas (foods and activities
health and so ideal. It is normally which increase kapha) and gives rise
found is persons of samsarga and to disease of kapha origin.
sammishra prakriti (constitution Except samagni, the first type,
originating from the combination of which is prakrta (normal), the
two and all the three doshas remaining three are vaikrta (abnormal),
respectively.) and lead to the production of various
2. Visamagni (the erratic) is that which diseases10. The number of diseases
changes from one time of food to the produced by mandagni (weak digestive
other in its functioning, producing activity) is more than those produced
flatulence, pain in the abdomen, by the other two. Hence a categorical
obstruction to the free elimination of statement that “all diseases are due to
faces and flatus and such other Mandagni”11
troubles to the body. It is normally Effect of Agni Vaismaya: When the
found in persons of vata prakriti three kinds of abnormal agnis
(nervous constitution), develops in (digestive activity) stated above are
others also by over indulgence in present, digestion of food will not be
vatakara ahara vihara (foods and proper. In Mandagni, the food will be
activities which increase vata) and Apaka (inadequately digested or not
given rise to diseases of vata origin. digested at all), in case of Tikshnagni it
3. Tikshnagni (the powerful or strong) will be dagdhapaka (overburnt ) and in
is that which digests even large case of Visamagni it will be pakwa-
quantities of food earlier to the apakwa (mixture of digested and
scheduled time, producing burning undigested) and also different from one
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period of digestion to the other12. In all 4. Sharma R. K. and Bhagwan Dash,

these conditions there will be Charaka Samhita (English
accumulation of Ama (undigested translation), Volume iv, Reprint
materials remaining over) in the Rasa 2009, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Series,
dhatu. The quantity of such Ama Varanasi, cha.chi. 15/13 ,p/9.
materials will be copius (large) in 5. Vagbhata, Ashtanga Hridaya
Mandagni and less in the other two. Samhita with Englisih translation
CONCLUSION by Srikantamurthy K.R.’s, 9th
Explaining briefly the digestive Edition, 2013, Krishnadas
and metabolic functions of Agni, academy, Varanasi A.H.Su.11/34,
Acharya Charaka has mentioned that p/162.
various types of di etic materials are 6. Vagbhata, Ashtanga Hridaya
digested by their own Agni (Bhutagni), Samhita with Englisih translation
encouraged and enhanced by by Srikantamurthy K.R.’s, 9th
Antaragni (Jatharagni), which is Edition, 2013, Krishnadas
further digested and metabolized by academy, Varanasi A.H.Sha. 3/49 ,
Dhatvagni to associate the body with p/404.
the nutritional strength, complexion 7. Sharma P. V., Sushruta Samhita
and happy life along with providing (English translation), Vol I, Reprint
energy to the seven dhatus. The 2010, Chaukhamba Vishwabharati,
Tridosas, Dhatus and Malas are Varanasi, Su. Sut.. 14/3, p/142-43.
maintained normal and healthy by the 8. Sharma R. K. and Bhagwan Dash,
Agni itself, present in each of them. Charaka Samhita (English
Such is the importance of Agni to life. translation), Volume iv, Reprint
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11. Vagbhata, Ashtanga Hridaya
3. Vagbhata, Ashtanga Hridaya
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12. Vagbhata, Ashtanga Hridaya
Samhita with English translation
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 Durgesh Gupta, A.c.Kar: Concept Of Agni – An Ayurvedic Review

by Srikantamurthy K.R.’s, 9th

Edition, 2013, Krishnadas
academy,Varanasi
A.H.Su.13/25,p/187.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Dr. Durgesh gupta
M.D. (Ayu) Department of Vikriti
Vigyan, Faculty of Ayurveda, IMS,
BHU, Varanasi, India
Email: durgeshgupta4516@gmail.com

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None Declared

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