Anatomical consideration of Dhamani marma in Ayurveda

Abstract

Ayurveda is an ancient health science devoted to the cure on human suffering and for the care of the health of the people. Injuries involving various types of the structures in the body like dhamanis (arteries), muscles, nerves, bones and the visceral organs in general and when in combination specifying marma. Among the hidden sciences of India, marma science is the most important. Marmas are not superficial landmarks on the body surface but these are deep-seated important physio-anatomical structures. Marma in Ayurvedic classics is illustrated as the vital point in human body, the injury of which leads to termination of life. Descriptions of 107 marmas given by all acharyas being classified into five varieties on the basis of structure involved; five on the basis of effect of injury and five on the basis of location on the body. According to anatomical consideration marmas can be divided into mansa-marma, sira-marma, snayu-marma, sandhi-marma, and asthi-marma (respectively, marma of muscle, blood vessel, ligament, joint and bone). According to Vagabhatta there are six types of marma. He has enumerated a sixth group of marma known as dhamani marma. Dhamani marma is one such vital region in human anatomy which falls under the classification on the basis of structure involved. This study is aimed to emphasize on why Ashtanga Hridaya has considered a separate group called dhamani marmas of which other acharyas have considered under different groups & finally to conclude with clearing out the controversy & thereby to fulfill the lacuna in the subject.