The current presentation is regarding the concept of Agni in Ayurveda. Exploring the physiological and clinical importance of Agni in Ayurveda.

1. Concept of Agni
Dr. Aniket A. Shilwant
Assistant Professor
Sharir Kriya Dept.
GJPIASR, CVM University
Anand, Gujarat
Mail Id. ayuraniket18@gmail.com

2. Table of Contents
Concept of Agni – Etymology
Synonyms of Agni
Definition of Agni
Types of Agni
 Jatharagni
 Panchbhautikagni
 Dhatwagni
Subtypes of Jatharagni
 Vishamagni
 Tikshnagni
 Mandagni
 Samagni
Location of Agni
Functions of Agni
Relations of Agni
Importance of Agni
Dr. Aniket A. Shilwant, GJPIASR
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Nirukti - Etymology
• One which spreads, covers, expands its extent
• Which is always directed upwards
• One which is illuminating and having flame with upward direction always.
• Which is always worshipped very firstly

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Synonyms

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Vyakhya – Definition
The heat produced by the metabolic activity occurring due to combined mutual
interactions between –
 Dosha – the physiological entity
 Dhatu – the static and dynamic platform in form of formed elements (tissues)
 Mala – the resultant metabolic waste produced thereafter

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AGNI
NITYA
(ETERNAL)
PARMANU
SVAROOP
QUANTUM -
PHOTON
ANITYA
(EMPHERAL)
SHARIR -
LOKA
ADITYA LOKA
- SUN
INDRIYA -
SENSES
CHAKSHU-
INDRIYA
VISHAY -
OBJECT
BHOUMA –
PHYSICAL
FORM
DIVYA –
CELESTIAL
AOUDARYA –
BIOTIC
EXISTENCE
AAKARAJ –
MINERAL
ORE

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Types of Agni
AOUDARYAAGNI
1. Jatharagni
2. Panchbhautikagni
3. Dhatwagni
JATHARAGNI
1. Samagni
2. Vishamagni
3. Tikshnagani
4. Mandagni

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• Location – Grahani (Small intestine) – Digestive juices accumulating within SI
lumen
• Principal form of Agni present in body.
• Responsible for digestion and breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones.
• Essential for utilizing the nutrient components by assimilating them.
• Makes ingested substances homologous / homogenous with body’s own composition
and constitution for acceptance (Satmya)
JATHARAGNI

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• Location – Yakrut (Liver) & later every Dhatu level (Tissue level)
• 2nd breakdown of complex to simpler substances at Liver.
• Prepares nutrient pool later circulated through Heart throughout body to all tissues.
• Assimilation, Acceptance, Biotransformation at cellular and tissue level as per
specific elementary constitution of Dhatu.
• At every dhatu level, there is conversion and acceptance of substances (elementary
form) with its properties – Dravya and Guna
PANCHBHAUTIKAGNI

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• Specific & Selective in nature
PANCHBHAUTIKAGNI

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Working extent of
PANCHBHAUTIKAGNI
Grahani (Small intestine) – Yakrut (Liver) – Hridaya (Heart) – Dhatu (Tissues)
PANCHBHAUTIKAGNI

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• Location – Every Dhatu level (Tissue level)
• Acceptance of nutrient substances (Dravya) with its properties (Guna) at every tissue
level as per physical constitution of Dhatu.
• Responsible for metabolic rate.
• Subtle form of Jatharagni only.
• Directly proportional with Jatharagni.
DHATWAGNI

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• Dhatwagni and Growth of Dhatu are inversely proportional.
 Dhatwagni increases – Bulk of Dhatu (formed elements) decreases
 Dhatwagni decreases – Bulk of Dhatu (formed elements) increases
DHATWAGNI

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Subtypes of JATHARAGNI
• Functionally active state of Samana Vayu is responsible for deviation of normal
functioning of Jatharagni.
• Leads to four different variable situations affecting digestive process.
1. Irregularity – Vishama – Samana Vayu dominated by properties of Vata Dosha
2. Erroneous – Tikshna – Samana Vayu dominated by properties of Pitta Dosha
3. Sluggish – Manda – Samana Vayu dominated by properties of Kapha Dosha
4. Optimal – Sama – Samana Vayu optimally, equally balanced by all three Dosha

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VISHAMAGNI
• Vata Dosha Dominance over Samana Vayu
• Irregularity in digestive juice secretions.
• Irregularity in intestinal secretions and movements.
• Irregularities in digestion process.
• May leads to instability of gut flora, more dryness in gut – Krura Koshta
• Therapeutically needs internal oleation (Snehapana) upto 7 days.

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TIKSHNAGNI
• Pitta Dosha Dominance over Samana Vayu
• Erroneous digestive juice secretions.
• Increased irritability, sensitivity and intestinal motility of intestinal gut mucosa.
• Reduced retention ability, holding capacity.
• Fast and rapid completion of digestion process.
• May leads to tenderness in gut – Mrudu Koshta
• Therapeutically needs internal oleation (Snehapana) upto 3 days.

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MANDAGNI
• Kapha Dosha Dominance over Samana Vayu
• Slow, sluggish and scanty digestive juice secretions.
• Increased over stability, excess of retention ability of intestinal gut mucosa.
• Slow and sluggish digestion process.
• May leads to over stability, thickening of gut – Madhya Koshta
• Therapeutically needs internal oleation (Snehapana) upto 5days.

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SAMAGNI
• Balanced state of Dosha over Samana Vayu.
• Desired and required digestive juice secretions.
• Optimal condition of intestinal lumen.
• Normalcy of gut – Madhya Koshta

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Location of Agni

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Functions of Agni

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Functions of Agni
 Ayu – Extent of life
 Varna – Skin complexion, luster
 Bala – Strength, Stamina, Valor
 Swasthya – Health
 Utsaha – Enthusiasm
 Upchaya – Anabolism and relative metabolic activities, processes
 Prabha – Luster
 Oja – Essence of tissues
 Teja – Active and Potent principle
 Prana – Vitality of life

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Relations of Agni
 Agni & Mahabhuta
 Agni & Dosha-Dhatu-Mala
 Agni & Prakruti
 Agni & Rutu – Agni Prabala (Hemant & Shishir) Durbala (Varsha, Pravrut)
 Agni & Kala – Pittadhara kala
 Agni & Strotasa – Parinaam apadyamananam
 Agni & Indriya – Chakshurendriya
 Agni & Ahara – Ahara is fuel for Agni – Cha. Su.27/342
 Agni & Chikitsa – Kayachikitsa, Agnikarma
 Agni & Dravyaguna – Deepniya gana
 Agni & Rasashastra – Aakaraj teja

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Importance of Agni
 To maintain Health (Samagni)
 To deliver nutrients to all body tissues by Dhatu poshan Nyaya
(Kshirdadhi Nyaya)
 Conversion and metabolism in micro circulating nutrient channels
(Parinam apadyamananaam - Strotasa)
 Suppression or deprival of Agni – Fatal, leads to death. (Cha. Chi. 15/3-4)
 Agni one of the key factor along with Strotas an dVayu for proper growth and
development and life (Cha. Su. 28/3)
 Compared with supreme power, almighty God
(Agni – Bhagwan, Ishwar – Su.Su.35)

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Importance of Agni
 One of the factors which affects transformation of Food (Ahara Parinamkara
bhava)
 Relates with production of metabolic waste Purish. So, function of Purish –
Agni dharan (Su.Su.15)
 Most essential entity of the body to be preserved. (Cha. Chi. 5)
 Vruddhi and Kshaya of Dosha depends on the Agni only. (Cha. Chi. 5)

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Clinical significance of Agni
 Agni dipan – One of the important treatment protocol
 Suppression of Agni is reason behind almost all the diseases.
(Ash. Hri. Ni. 12/1)
 Agni (Anala) one of the Dashvidha Parikshya bhava (Cha.Vi.8)
 Weak or poor Agni leads to production of Ama (Ash. Hri. Ni. 13/25)
 Kayachikitsa – Agni chikitsa
 Agnikarma – Treatment modality
 Agni responsible for movement of Dosha from Koshta to Shakha
(Cha. Su. 28/31)

26. Thank You All !!!
Dr. Aniket A. Shilwant
Assistant Professor
Sharir Kriya Dept.
GJP-IASR, CVM University
Email –
ayuraniket18@gmail.com
http://ayugjac.edu.in/Staff_CV.aspx?dl=dn3Mja19480dn3Mja19
http://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=636K2sMAAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aniket_Shilwant