easy and scientific explanation of toughest topics of Ayurvedic Anatomy. aim to explore more hidden knowledge in Ayurveda sutras or sloka. comparatively study both Ayurveda and modern medical science. the topic are explore in such a way to help in understanding both heath care professions peoples and general public.

1. Ashaya Sharira
Dr.Priyanka Poonia
Assistant Professor
Rachana Sharira dept.
NAMC, Agra

2.  आशयोऽधिष्ठानम्| (डल्हण)
 आशयः (िातुमान) अवस्थान प्रदेशो दितत िातवे रस
रक्तमाांस आदय कफ पित्त िुरीषाणण प्राकृ तातन स्व कममण्य
दितत इतत िातवः। (डल्हण), सु.शा.४)
Ashaya
Ashaya means residence/abode
Where any element of the body is formed
or stored or worked is known as Ashaya.
Ashaya are the places or sites where dhatus,
dhosas or malas are resides & do their functions.
Ashaya may be temporary or permanent
Residence for the dosha, dhatu & mala.

3.  तयोराशयौ आिारौ,
 आमस्यान्नस्य य आिारः सोऽत्रामशब्देनोक्तः|
 िक्वशब्देनेह िक्वान्नमुच्यते|
 तथा िक्वस्यान्नस्य िुरीषताां प्राप्तस्य, य आिारः स िक्वशब्देनोच्यते|
(डल्हण)
Ashaya means residence/abode
Amashaya is the places or sites where Ama (indigested food)
Resides temporary or store or where digestion is take place.
Pakvashaya is the place where Pakava Anna
(digested food & stool) is store or reside temporary or
Where absorption & excretion is take place.
Ashaya

4.  आशय्य अभ्यास योगेन करोतत आशय सांभवम ्।(सु.शा.४/२९)
 स वायुः माांस िेशशषु आशय्य आ सम्नन्तात्तनवासां कृ त्वा हृदय आशयानाां सम्नभवां
उत्िपत्तांकरोतत। डल्हण, (सु.शा.४/२९)
Formation of Ashaya
When Vata is staying in Mamsa-peshi & do his constrictive activity
repeatedly, shift the tissue into periphery, a space is created into it,
the forming structure is known as Ashaya.
The process of formation of Ashaya indicating that Ashaya are the Vata
created hollow structures, bounded by the layers of Mamsa-peshi.

6.  आशयाः सप्त, (Su.Sha.5/6)
 आशयास्तु-वाताशयः, पित्ताशयः, श्लेष्माशयो, रक्ताशय, आमाशयः,
िक्वाशयो, मूत्राशयः, स्त्रीणाां गभामशयोऽष्टम इतत | (Su.Sha.5/8)
Number of Ashaya
1.Vatashaya
2.Pittashaya
3.Kaphashaya
4.Raktashaya
5.Amashaya
6.Pakvashaya
7.Mutrashaya
8.Garbhashaya
There are mainly seven Ashaya in our body
but females have one more than male is Garbhashaya.

7.  “रक्तस्याद्यः क्रमात् िरे | कफामपित्तिक्वानाां वायोमूमत्रस्य च स्मृताः|
गभामशयोऽष्टमः स्त्रीणाां पित्तिक्वाशयान्तरे| (वा.शा.3)
 सप्ताशयाः क्रमादसृक्कफामपित्तिक्ववायुमूत्रािाराः|
स्त्रीणाां पित्तिक्वाशययोममध्ये गभामशयोऽष्टमः| (अष्टाङ्गसङ्रहः5/45)
1.Vatashaya
2.Pittashaya
3.Kaphashaya
4.Raktashaya
5.Amashaya
6.Pakvashaya
7.Mutrashaya
8.Garbhashaya
Number of Ashaya
Acharya Vagbhata I & II also have same opinion as like Acharya Susruta.

8.  िुरुषे अशभ अधिकः च अन्ये नारीणाम्आशयः त्रयः॥
िरा गभामशयः प्रोक्तः स्तनौ स्तनाशयौ मतौ॥(शार्ङमगिर)
1.Vatashaya
2.Pittashaya
3.Kaphashaya
4.Raktashaya
5.Amashaya
6.Pakvashaya
7.Mutrashaya
8.Garbhashaya
9. Stanashaya (2)
Number of Ashaya
As per Acharaya Sharangdhara females have three more
Ashaya than male, one is Garbhashaya, two are Stanahaya.

9. 1. श्लेष्माशय स्यात्उरशस
2. तस्मात्आमाशयः तु अिः।
3. ऊध्वमम्अग्नन्याशयो नाभेः वाम भागे व्यवस्स्थतःतस्य उिरर ततलां ज्ञेयां दत्
4. अिः िवनाशयः।
5. मलाशयः तु अिः तस्मात्
6. वस्स्तः मूत्राशयः तु अिः॥
7. जीव रक्ताशयम्उरो ज्ञेयाः सप्त आशयः तु अशम।(शार्ङमगिर)
Location of Ashaya
 Shaleshmashya & Jivaraktashaya are lies in Ura-Pradesh (thoracic cavity).
 Amashya lies below to Ura-Pradesh.
 Tila lies above & Agnashya lies above in left side to umbilicus.
 Pavnashaya lies below to umbilicus.
 Mutrashaya & Malashaya lies below to Pavanashaya.

10. Location of Ashaya
 Shaleshmashya may be lungs & Jivaraktashaya may be Heart as these
three are located in thoracic cavity.
Location vise the Ashayas can be correlated with-
 Amashya can be correlated with stomach as it is located below to
diaphragm which separate the thoracic cavity to abdominal cavity.
 Tila can be correlated with gall bladder & Agnashaya with
pancreas as their location above to umbilicus in human body.
 Pavnashaya may be parts of colon as it located below to umbilicus .
 Mutrashaya & Malashaya can be urinary bladder & rectum as
their location.

11.  तत्र समासेन वातः श्रोणण गुद सांश्रयः।(सु.सू.२१/६)
 उदान वायोः आिारः फ
ु फ्फ
ु सः प्रोच्यते बुिः।(शार्ङमगिर)
 प्रवतमकश्चेष्टानामुच्चावचानाां, उत्िीडनां(चरक सूत्र 12/7-8)
Vatashaya
 As per location of Vata dosha the Vatashaya are all the organ lies in
pelvic cavity, its mainly includes the lower parts of alimentary canal.
 As per properties of Vata dosha like prerana,chesta, vedana the
Vatashaya can be correlate with the nervous system.
 As we know that Vatashaya is the site of Vayu so some authors
correlates it with the lungs.
Vatashaya means residence/abode of Vata.

12.  िक्व आमाशय मध्यस्थां पित्तस्य।(सु.सू.२१/६)
 िस्क्तमिस्क्तां दशमनमदशमनां मात्रामात्रत्वमूष्मणः
प्रकृ ततपवकृ ततवणौ…(चरक सूत्र 11/12)
Pittashaya
 As per location of Pita dosha the Pittashaya are all the organ which are secrete
digestive enzymes, lies in middle of abdominal cavity, specially between
Amashaya & Pakvasya..
Pitashaya means residence/abode of Pitta.
 As per functions of Pitta dosha like pachana, darshana, teja, colour complexion
the Pittashaya can be correlate with the endocrine & exocrine glands.
 Digestive glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas & duodenum is mainly
includes in Pittashaya.

13.  तत्र अपि उिरो पवशेषेण श्लेष्म स्थानम्।च श्लेष्माशय स्यात्उरशस।(शार्ङमगिर)
 दार्ढमयां शधथल्यमुिचयां (चरक सूत्र 12/12)
Shalemashaya
Shaleshmashaya means residence/abode of Kapha.
 As per view of Achraya Sharangdhara Urah Pradesh (thoracic cavity) is
main site of kapha, so thoracic cavity is known as Shaleshmashaya.
 As per functions of Kapha dosha like snehana, kledana the all
synovial cavity are includes into the shaleshmashaya.

14.  शोणणतस्य स्थानां यकृ त्प्लीहानौ।(सु.सू.२१)
 तस्याां शोणणतां पवशेषतश्च शसरासु यकृ त्प्लीह्नोश्च भवतत |
(Su.Sha.4|10)
Raktashaya
Raktashaya means residence/abode of Rakta.
Raktashaya are the places in body whereas the Rakta is formed & stored &
circulates. As per point of view of Ayurveda the Yakrita(liver), Pliha(spleen),
Siras(veins) are main sites of Rakta. So they all are includes into Raktashaya.

15. Jiva-Raktashaya
 जीव रक्ताशय इतत जीव तुल्यां रक्तां, तस्य आशय स्थानम्,
तत्च प्लीहा इतत प्रशसद्िां, हृदयस्य वाम आधश्रतां भवतत। ।(शार्ङमगिर.प्र.५)
Acharya Sharandhara given a term
Jivaraktshaya for Pliha- a place where Jiva (either
pure or precursor) Rakta(blood) is found which is
lies below to heart the on left side.

16.  नाशभ स्तनान्तरां जन्तोः आमाशय उदाहृतः।(शार्ङमगिर.प्र.५)
 स्तनयोः मध्यां अधिष्टाय उरस्य आमाशय द्वारम्।
तत्र आमाशय पित्ताशय उिररष्टात्।(डल्हण, सु.सू.२१)
 तत्र अपि आमाशयो पवशेषेण पित्त स्थानम्।(चरक)
Amashaya
Amashaya means residence/abode of Ama/Apakva Anna (indigested food).
The digestion of food is taking place in Amashaya (stomach) & kshudantra
(duodenum). It take time one prahara (3 hours) to digestion. before complete digestion
it stored/resides in Amashaya & kshudantra, so these organs includes into Amashaya.
As per location of Amashaya between Urah Pradesh (thoracic cavity) & Agnashaya
(pancreas) & its upper opening between mammary gland below to heart, as it main
site of pitta (HCL) stomach is called as Amashaya.

17.  तत्र अपि िक्वाशयओ पवशेषेण वात स्थानम्। (सु.तन.३)
 िुरीषिरा कला एवां वात स्थानम्।(अ.सां शा ६/३६)
 िक्वाशय मध्ये नाशभः, तत्र अपि सध्यो मरनम ्।(अ.सां शा.८/२०)
Pakvashaya means residence/abode of Pakva Anna (digested food).
After complete digestion of food, its propelled into Pakvashaya whereas it divides into
prasad bhaga (nutritional part) & kitta bhaga ( fecal part) by the action of Vata.
Before completion of this process it is reside/stored in which Ashaya that is known as
pakvashaya.
Absorption of food & formation of feces is taking place into different parts of
large intestine & location of larges intestine (around the umbilicus) indicates
that Pakvashaya can correlates with large intestine.
Pakvashaya

18.  मूत्राशयो मलािारः प्राणायतनम्उत्तमम्।(सु.तन.३)
 वस्स्तः मूत्राशयः तु अिः।(शार्‘ग्नगिर.िू.५)
Mutrashaya means residence/abode of Mutra(urine).
After formation & before ejaculation of urine (250-500ml almost for 9-10
hours) in which it reside or store that is known as Mutrashaya.
Mutrashaya is a vital spot (marma) of the body, direct injury on it leads to
immediate death so it includes into Pranaytanma.
Mutrashaya

19. The Mutrashaya also known as Basti is located at
lower part of trunk . The internal urethral orifice is
situated 2 angula (5inch) right to the median plane.
Male urethra is common pathway for semen & urine.
 द्व्यर्ङगुले दक्षिणे िाश्वे बस्स्तद्वारस्य चाप्यिः |
मूत्रस्रोतःिथाच्छ
ु क्र
ां िुरुषस्य प्रवतमते |su.sha.3|22||
Mutrashaya
Basti

20.  यथा रोहहतमत्स्यस्य मुखां भवतत रूितः |
तत्सांस्थानाां तथारूिाां गभमशय्याां पवदुबुमिाः | (su.sha.4|44)
 रोहहत मुख आकार गभामशय।अ.सां.शा.५/११३)
Garbhasya means
residence/abode of
Garbha(fetus).
Garbhashaya is the site/place in females body where Garbha is resides
for 9 months for formation, growths and development.
The shape & structure of Garbhashaya is like to the mouth of Rohita
fish (muscular cone shape organ, have broad upper end & constricted
tubular lower end).
Garbhashaya

21.  आवतो योतनः तस्या यः तृतीय आवतेः, चक्राकारः स एव
गभामशयः।(शार्ङमगिर.िू.5)
 शर्ङखनाभ्याकृ ततयोतनस््यावताम सा प्रकीततमता |
तस्यास्तृतीये त्वावते गभमशय्या प्रततस्ष्ठता | (su.sha.4|43)
The female reproductive system developed into 3 main circular
fold, Yoni (vagina) is situated in 1st, cervix in 2nd and
Garbhasya in 3rd circular fold. These circular folds are resembles
like Sankha Nabhi.
Structure of Garbhashaya

22.  अित्यिथे चतस्रः- तासाां प्रसृते अभ्यन्तरतो द्वे, मुखाधश्रते बाह्ये च वृत्ते
द्वे, गभमस्च्छद्रसांधश्रतास्स्तस्रः, शुक्रातमवप्रवेशशन्यस्स्तस्र एव | (su.sha.5|59)
The female reproductive system have ten more muscles than male
in which four muscles are in birth canal two internal & two
external, three muscles at the opening of cervix, three in pathway
of sperm or pathway of fertilization or in fallopian tubes.

23.  पित्त िक्वाशययोः अन्तरे गभामशय (अ.सां.शा.५/११३)
 पित्तिक्वाशययोममध्येगभमशय्या, यत्र गभमस्स्तष्ठतत |(su.sha.5|59)
Garbhasya is situated between the Pittashaya (area of liver ,gall bladder &
pancreas) & Pakvashaya (lower part of alimentary canal).
Pittashaya is located in upper quadrant of abdominal cavity whereas some
part of pakvashaya located in lower quadrant & some in pelvic cavity.
Location of Garbhashaya

24.  स्तनौ स्तन्याशयो मतौ।(शा.िू.५)
 दश तासाां स्तनयोरेककस्स्मन् िञ्च िञ्चेतत,
यौवने तासाां िररवृद्धिः (su.sha 5/39)
Stanashaya means residence/abode of stanaya(mother milk).
Stanashaya are the sites/place of body where Stanaya is synthesized from
maternal Rasa dhatu & stored .
Each Stanashaya have 5-5 muscles which develops more during puberty by
the influence of female sex hormones.
Stanaya is a updhatu formed from maternal Rasa dhatu to nourishment of
new born after delivery.
Stanashaya

25. गृहीतगभामणामातमववहानाां स्रोतसाां वत्मामन्यवरुध्यन्ते गभेण, तस्माद्गृहीतगभामणामातमवां
न दृश्यते; ततस्तदिः प्रततहतमूध्वममागतमिरां चोिचीयमानमिरेत्यशभिीयते; शेषां
चोध्वमतरमागतां ियोिरावशभप्रततिद्यते, तस्माद्गशभमण्यः िीनोन्नतियोिरा भवस्न्त |
(SU.Sha.4/24)
Growth & development of Stanashaya is again occurs during pregnancy when the
Artava gets accumulates in it after blockage of Artavavaha strotas by the growing
fetus.
Stanashaya

26.  शोणणतकफप्रसादजां हृदयां ! (Su.Sha.4|31)
 तत्र-"कफरक्तप्रसादात्स्याद् ! (अ.सां.शा.1)
Origin of Hradya
Hradaya is developed from most potent part (prasad bhaga) of
kapha & rakta of fetus.
Hradaya is originated from matraja (maternal component) as per
categorization of sada garbha-vridhikara bhava.
Heart is mesodermal in origin as per modern medial sciences.

27.  िुण्डरीक
े ण सदृशां हृदयां स्यादिोमुखम् |(Su.Sha.4|32)
 माांसिेशीचयो रक्तिद्माकारमिोमुखम्| (अ.सां.शा.1)
Structure of Hradya
The Hradaya is a muscular organ resembles like downward
bended bud of red lotus flower (Pundrika flower).
As per modern anatomy the heart is a conical muscular organ
which have a base in upward & apex in left downward.

28.  यदाश्रया हह िमन्यः प्राणवहाः; तस्यािो वामतः प्लीहा फ
ु प्फ
ु सश्च, दक्षिणतो
यकृ त् क्लोम च; (Su.Sha.4|31)
 तस्य दक्षिणतः क्लोम यकृ त्फ
ु प्फ
ु समास्स्थतम्| (अ.सां.शा.)
 दश मूलशसरा हृत्स्थास्ताः सवं सवमतो विुः|
रसात्मक
ां वहन्त्योजस्तस्न्नबद्िां हह चेस्ष्टतम्| | (अ.सां.शा.1/18-19)
Relations of Hradya
 Below on left side Pilha(spleen) & phukphusa(lungs).
 Below on right side Yakrit(liver) & Kloma(gall bladder).
 Heart is the root of ten mula sira (main vessels) in which
prana vayu, oja & rasa circulates to all over the body.

29.  तद्पवशेषेण चेतनास्थानम्, अतस्तस्स्मांस्तमसाऽऽवृते सवमप्राणणनः स्विस्न्त (Su.Sha.4|31)
 हृदयां स्थान मोजसचेतनानुगभावानाां िरमां धचस्न्ततस्य च (अ.सां.शा.1)
 जाग्रतस्तद्पवकसतत स्वितश्च तनमीलतत | (Su.Sha.4|32)
 Heart is the site of consciousness (Chetana) ,
 When it is in active phase/systolic phase ( jagrata phase) all sense organ
including brain also remain in consciousness/awaking phase.
 When it is in passive phase/distolic phase ( savpit phase) all sense organ
including brain also remain in unconsciousness/sleeping phase.
 Heart is the main site of Prana (life) & Oja, any type of injury or pathology
leads to immediate death.
Physiology of Hradya

30. Importance of Ashaya
 Ashaya are the natural sites of dhosha, dhatu & mala where they forms,
stores and performs their functions, any injury or damage or abnormality in
Ashaya hampered the function of their resident.
 Many of Ashaya are the site of Prana, Chetana and Marma, direct or
indirect injuries on it may causes to immediate death or permanent
deformity.
 As many Ashaya are the store house of mala, any abnormality may causes
diarrhea, constipation, polyuria, dysuria, hypo or hyper-hidrosis.
 Ashaya are the roots of srotas, any type of structural or functional
abnormality in Ashaya may leads to obstruction in srotas (srotorodha)
which further causes to diseases.