The document discusses the concept of 'koshta' in Ayurveda, referring to the various cavities in the human body that accommodate organs. It outlines different types of koshta, including amashaya (stomach), agni-ashaya (digestive tract), pakwashaya (intestines), and others, emphasizing their anatomical and physiological significance. Understanding these relationships is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment of diseases within Ayurvedic practice.

1. KOSHTA EVAM ASHAYA
SHAREERA
DR.AJITH KUMAR
Assistant Professor
KRAMC&H Koteshwara, Kundapura
KOSHTA EVAM ASHAYA SHAREERA 1

2. Introduction
 Koshta means a place or cavity or space.
 The human body is made up of large cavities called Koshta.
 Koshta accommodates the organs of our body.
 Example, the chest cavity is a larger space which accommodates Lungs and
heart, a part of food pipe etc and doesn't allow any other organ because the space
is designed to accommodate only these set of organs.
 The abdomen cavity or cavity of our tummy gives place to digestive organs like
stomach, intestines, gall bladder, glands like Liver, spleen, and pancreas, urinary
apparatus including kidneys and ureters (tubes carrying urine from kidney to
urinary bladder) etc.
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3. Contd..
 The pelvic cavity located just below the abdominal cavity accommodates
urinary bladder, uterus (womb), lower parts of intestine etc.
 The thoracic cavity (chest cavity), the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity are
the large spaces and accommodate the above said organs. Thus they can be
included under Koshta.
 The organs located within the Koshta are called as Koshta Anga's (Koshtangas)
or organs of Koshta. They are also called as Ashayas.
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4. Definition
 स्थानानन आम अनि पक्वानाां मुत्रस्य रुनिरस्य च।
हृत् उण्डुक फ
ु फ्फ
ु सः च कोष्ठ इनत अनििीयते ॥ (सु.chi.२/१२)
 Sushruta explains the Koshta as a place or cavity occupied by the
below said organs:
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5. KOSHTA EVAM ASHAYA SHAREERA 5

6. KOSHTA EVAM ASHAYA SHAREERA 6

7. 1. Aamashaya
 Organ accommodating improperly
digested or semi-digested food (wherein
first part of digestion takes place),
Stomach or upper part of digestive tract
from mouth to stomach should be
considered.
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8. • The amashaya lays Urdhva (proximal) to the Pittashaya (seat of Pitta) above the
Nabhi.
• It is a receptacle for all the kinds of food due to the activity of Slesma and its
moistening properties ,the food gets moist and going to be easily digestible.
• According to Dalhana , the Amashaya primarily meant for the adhisthana (seat) of all
type of food. It is the place where the process of digestion occurs.
• According to Chakrapani, Amashaya is also known as Slesmasaya as it is the chief
sthana ( place) of Slesma.
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9. 2. Agni-Ashaya
 Site of fire, though the Pitta sthana (place of
pitta) i.e. the entire digestive tract involving
the function of digestion of food should be
taken as place for Agni or fire (Agni, in the
body is represented in the form of Pitta)
 i.e. stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver
etc, we should mainly consider Pancreas as the
site of Agni (since the names for other organs
have been separately mentioned)
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10. 3. Pakwashaya
 Organ accommodating the
digested food, Intestines (mainly
large intestines, but the term also
can include small and large
intestine put together
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11. “Tatrapi pakwashayo viseshana vatasthanam”
 Pakwashaya is the main site of Vatasthan.
 It can be considered as Colon. Since movement of Vata takes place in upward
and downward so it is mainly found in transverse colon.
 The term also includes small and large intestine put together i.e. Starting from
the end part of the stomach to the anal opening.
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12. 4. Mutrashaya
 Organ holding urine, mainly the term
Mutrashaya includes urinary bladder
(but the whole of urinary apparatus
starting from kidneys to urinary bladder
can be taken)
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13.  Organ holding urine, mainly the term Mutrashaya includes urinary bladder.
 It is situated between Nabhi and Prstha (back) in the region of Kati(Pelvis) and
Vanksana Pradesa(Pelvic region)
 Mutrashaya is situated in Gudasthivivara Pradesa and it is closely related with
the Paurusam, Vrsana (scrotum), Guda.
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14. 5. Rudhira ashaya / Rakta ashaya
“Sonitasya sthanam yakrit
pleehanoh”. Su.Sutra.2/7
 Organs related to formation of
rakta(blood), yakrit(liver) and
Pleeha(spleen) should be considered as
Rakta ashaya.
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15. 6. Hrut or Hridaya
 The organ related to pumping
the blood, oxygen and nutrients to
all parts of the body, the Heart
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16. “Ahar rasya yah sarah sa rasa iti uchayate. Tasya cha
hridayam sthanam”. Su. Sutra. 14
 Hridaya is organ of circulation of Rasa(plasma) and Rakta(blood), Hridaya
being place for Chetana(consciousness).
 It has mentioned as Adhisthana (seat) for the Manas and Buddhi by Sushruta in
the context of development of various Avayava.
 It is the Avayava of Urah Pradesa (Thoracic region) and situated in between the
two stanya (breast) which are seen externally.
 It is situated in Kostha(abdomen) with relation of other Avayava like
Yakrit(liver), Kloma(gall bladder), Pleeha(spleen) and Amasaya. These all are
surrounds to Hridaya by keeping it in center.
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17. 7. Unduka
 The organ which receives the
digested food and starts
forming the stools, the Cecum
or beginning part of Large
intestine should be taken as
Unduka
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18.  It is an Avayava of Madhyam Anga (kostha) which has relation with mala (waste
material) especially with Aharamala (stool).
 So, it should be situated below the Nabhi (umbilicus) and in Pakwasaya (large
intestine) because Nabhi is defined as place of Agni and below this, discrimination of
food starts in Pakwashaya.
 According to Dalhana’s opinion, Unduka is situated in the Pakwashaya and provides
storage place for the separated mala(which was separated from the rest part).
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19. 8. Phuphusa
 The organ or organs related to
breathing mechanism, the Lungs
 The above said organs are
considered as Koshtangas.
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20. “ Udaanvayoradharah phuphusah pryochyate budhaih ”
-Sharangadhar
 Phuphusa is also a Koshtanga which lies in relation to Hridaya, as mention in
Sharira sthana, Adah(lower) and Vama (in left) to Hridaya along with Pliha,
Phupphusa is placed.
 As per Dalhana , Phupphusa has been defined as Avayava which is attached
with Hrdayanadika (attached to heart).
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21. Importance of Koshta/Ashaya
 The knowledge of Koshta gives us a precise anatomical knowledge of the
cavities of human body and the viscera's included there in.
 The physiology related to the human body, according to Ayurvedic basics are
governed by the actions of Tridoshas i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
 These 3 forms of energies control the entire activities of the body in a smooth
way, provided they are in a state of equilibrium.
 These 3 doshas are moving around the entire body. Each dosha has certain
tissues and or organs as their abode.
 They stay in those organs and control the activities. Example, Phuphusa,
Amashaya, etc are important sites of Kapha, Pakwashaya is an important abode
and controlling centre for Vayu, Nabhi, Amashaya, Agnyashaya, Hridaya etc are
the sites of Pitta.
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22. Contd..
 We need to understand the Koshta to understand the related physiology.
 Many of the organs of Koshta form the Ashaya or residence or place of stay for many
elements.
 The name of the organ itself explains its relationship with that element.Example, the term
Amashaya means an abode for Ama or improperly processed or semi-digested food.
 Pakwashaya is an abode of digested food and holds it until it is converted into faeces and
excreted.
 Mutrashaya holds the urine until it is voided.
 We need to understand the anatomical and physiological relationships between these Ashayas
(abode) and the elements staying in them. For this the knowledge of Koshta is essential.
 Many of the organs of the Koshta form the root or point of origin for Srotas (channel or duct
or transportation system in the body). It is said that the whole body is composed of millions of
srotas.
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23. Contd..
 They connect each and every tissue of the body and also carry on almost all the functions of the body.
 They are also related to one or more of the organs forming the Koshta.
 Srotodushti or blocking / clogging or morbidity of the Srotas is essential for the diseases to be formed
in the body, which also includes the diseases occurring in various organs forming the Koshta.
 Example, Hridaya is the point of origin of Rasavaha Srotas (channels carrying the nutritive essence to
each and every cell, tissue and organ of the body), Yakrit (Liver) and Pliha (spleen) are the roots of
Raktavaha Srotas (haemopoetic organs taking part in the formation and maturation of blood cells),
Kloma is the root of Udakavaha Srotas (channels carrying the water or balancing and regulating the
water metabolism in the body) etc.
 To understand the nature of Srotas and Sroto-dushti, we need to understand the Koshta and the
organs embedded in it.
 Understanding Koshtas and the organs embedded in them, their relation with Doshas, dhatus
(tissues), malas (excreta), srotas (channels) etc will help in proper diagnosis of the diseases and in
combating them effectively.
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24. Skills_of_dermatology
Doctor_ofskin
THANK
YOU(All time for the patience)
10-04-2024 PARIBHASHA SHAREERA 24