AYURVEDIC VIEW OF VARMAM

Marma – In Ayurvedic View The word Marma comes from Sanskrit origin 'mru' or 'marr' ."Marayate Iti Marmani", the Sanskrit phrase means there is likelihood of death after infliction to these places hence area called Marma .The word Marma used with meanings as tender, secrete or vital places. There are certain anatomical locations in the body which are vital, and serve as small pockets of Prana, thus any injury to these parts can be painful and cripple the local functions or even lead to sudden death of the individual. They are junctions of different channels of Prana movements in the body.

Prana is a vital energy ,Prana pervades each and every corner of the body, it nourishes ,guides and controls the functioning of the cell and systems. when these MARMA (junctions) are affected or ruptured ,the organs linked with Prana channels become starved with lack of Prana and some organ becomes diseased ,crippled or paralyzed or depending upon the quantum is of Prana being lost ,it may lead to slow or sudden death. Vagbthata (In the text Ashtanga hridayasharira 4th chapter sloka ) defines Marma is the meeting point of mamsa,asthi,sira ,snayu,dhamani, and sandhi, and 'where the Prana is present'. This is similar with Chinese meridian concept in which the points appear either onsignal meridian line or at meeting points of different meridian. The knowledge of MARMA has got wide implication in the many fields of medical practice, but as today its traditional practices are limited and scattered in India The knowledge of mama can be classified in following fields -In Martial art and welfare, in surgical importance,medical importance -in the management of disease and in the diagnosis of illness

There are total 107 Marma in the body.In Tamilian traditions they are 108 Marma points. and in kalari tradition heyare 365 Marma points.

They are classified for better understanding according to the physical components like – 1)Mansa Marma (muscle), 2)sira Marma- (vessels conveying body fluids and impulses), 3)sanyu (tendons), 4)asthi (bones)and 5)sandhi (articulate points specially bone joints). The Marma are also grouped on the basis of there similarities in the features particularly on the basis of vulnerability a) Sadhya Pranhara Marma - Sadhya means sudden or immediate. there are the Marma which are vulnerable for the loss of life immediately after injury or insult. b) Kalantara Pranhara - Kalantara means after the lapse of some time, Pranhara means loss of life. After an insults to these Marma loss of life results gradually after some time. c) Vishalyaghana - This category of Marma is named on its surgical importance. Vishalya means being the foreign body removed. Vishalyaghana indicated death being the foreign body removed.when injured the person survives as long the foreign body remains in place. d) Vaikalyakara - Vilkala means deformor cripple. vaikalyakara means one which deforms or cripples.

Treatment or the care of Marma-

To defy from the dangers to Marma , to follow the hygienic measures everyday and totreat the affliction are the means to care Marma- Charaka Samhita Preventative aspect- Marma are very sensitive places a small injury or insult is always a possibility. Desirous of health one must avoid physical and mental over exertions. the in depletion of tissue metabolic substances ,with holding of natural impulses ,excessive consuming dry articles, excessive physical exertion and fasting ,these factor scan disturb pranvaha srotas ( channels through Prana is flowing) and makes more vulnerability to disease. Marma The word marma (vital area) is described in the Hindu scripture Atharva Veda. During the vedic period knowledge of the vital areas of the human body was important part of military science. This knowledge was applied in war, medicine, and surgery. Science of marma was developed by the physician and surgeons of vedic period to prevent death, treat people suffering from trauma and to attack the enemy. With the advancement and progress of modern surgery and medicine, it has become an essential part of the duty of an ayurvedic physician to explore the non-clinical and clinical value of thesevital areas. A marma, defined as an anatomical area where arteries, tendons, flesh, veins, bones and joints meet to form the location of life. It has a secret and significant valves at these junctions.The anatomical areas where structures pulsate and where pain exists can benemed as MARMA. Sushruta classified these marmas on the basis of their location in the body, dimension, and the effect of injuries.Physicians and surgeons in ancient time used the knowledge to heal . In all they classified 107 marmas. Marmas are classified into three sections…

•Stuctural •Regional, and •Prognostic

Structural marmas This classification, according to human physiology, includes •Muscles – 11 •Blood vessels (veins and arteries) –41 •Ligaments (tendons) – 27 •Bones – 8 •Vulnerable areas – 20 Regional marmas In the regional classification, themarmas are divided according to the organs and sections of the body. This includes

•Upper limbs – 22 •Lower limbs – 22 •Abdomen and thorax – 12 •Back of the trunk – 14 •Head and neck – 37

Prognostic marmas

Any symptom from which one can diagnose diseases is called prognosis. The marmas in this category are classified according to the effects of injuries on these marmas. They include

•Disability – 44

•Slow death – 33

•Pain – 8

Some of the important marmas

The living organism has capability to react to stimulation due to electrical, chemical, pathogenic or mechanical stimuli.

The human being can make the most appropriate, effective response when the system is working in good condition and alertness. At the site of the mechanical response, the action gets expelled out.

The muscle also process the power to contract. Muscles with bones and their innervation by ligaments(tendons) or nerves and blood vessels (veins and arteries) transforms them into the most effective system, capable of protecting the body from external trauma or injuries, this may include defence and contraction as and when required.

Vaishalyaghna Marma:

Blood vessel marma:Bone marma:Muscle marma:A marma where person doesn’t die on thes pot. Just as in sthapani marma exactly between eyebrows, if an arrow strikes a person at this marma, he will not die suddenly because contact is maintained with the marma by the arrow. When an arrow is removed, the contact is lost and the person will die. These marmas are 3 in number.Bone is an vital part of the anatomy.Injuries and diseases of bones are considered under orthopedic Traumatology.The effect of injury to a bone depends upon the mechanical or physical force of impact. Blood vessels, means veins and arteries. they are distributed throughout the body. These form a network which is subdivided into tiny vessels. If any of these blood vessle is torn,punctured, or injured at a vital site or area, the nutrition to that vital partis restricted, ultimately leading to loss of function, pain and sometimes even death generally called as nacrosis.

Ligament marma/Tendon marma: The ligaments prevents abnormal movements at a joint though some of the tendons are better protected by muscles than others. For example, the collateral tendons of the knee and inferior tibiofibular tendons are poorly protected. Injury or truma to such tendons can cause permanent damage or lead to a sprain due to the rupture of ligament. Joint marma: These are also named as Sandhi marma (joint means sandhi in sanskrit). The joints are important part of the body. When these are hit with great impact, the loss of function like moving, carrying and lifting capacity goes off.