Pachana Karma: Physiology Of Digestion As Per Ayurveda

By Vd.A.Rangaprasad Bhat

Introduction

The Pachaka type of Pitta, that resides in stomach and intestines is responsible for digestion process. It is responsible for digestion and absorption of food particles into the body.┬а
i) “рдЕрдиреНрдирд╕реНрдп рдкрдХреНрддрд╛ рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдВ рддреБ рдкрд╛рдЪрдХрд╛рдЦреНрдпрдВ рдкреБрд░реЗрд░рд┐рддрдореН| рджреЛрд╖рдзрд╛рддреБрдорд▓рд╛рджреАрдирд╛рдореВрд╖реНрдореЗрддреНрдпрд╛рддреНрд░реЗрдпрд╢рд╛рд╕рдирдореН”||A.Hr.ShA. рей/рекреп||

рд╕рд░реНрд╡рд╛рдЩреНрдЧрд╕реБрдиреНрджрд░реА рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдЦреНрдпрд╛ ( рдХреГрдд):- рддреБрд░рд╡рдзрд╛рд░рдгреЗ| рдЕрдиреЗрдХрд╡рд┐рдзрд╕реНрдпрд╛рд╣рд╛рд░рд╕реНрдпрд╛рднреНрдпрд╡рд╣реГрддрд╕реНрдп рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдореЗрд╡ рдкрдХреНрддрд╛| рдХрд┐рдореНрднреВрддрдВ рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдореН ? рдкрд╛рдЪрдХрд╛рдЦреНрдпрдВ рдкреБрд░реЗрд░рд┐рддрдВ,-рдкреВрд░реНрд╡рдВ рджреЛрд╖рднреЗрджреАрдпреЗрд╜рдзреНрдпрд╛рдп рдЙрдХреНрддрдореН| рдпрдерд╛ (рд╣реГ.рд╕реВ. рдЕ.резреи/резреж)-“рдкрдХреНрд╡рд╛рдорд╛рд╢рдпрдордзреНрдпрдЧрдореН” рдЗрддреНрдпрд╛рд░рднреНрдп рдпрд╛рд╡рддреН “рдкрд╛рдЪрдХрдВ рдирд╛рдо рддрддреНрд╕реНрдореГрддрдореН|” рдЗрддрд┐| рддрджреАрджреНрджреГрд╢ рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдорд╛рд╣рд╛рд░рдВ рдкрд╛рдЪрдпрддреАрддрд┐ рдзрдиреНрд╡рдиреНрддрд░рд┐рдорддрдореН| рджреЛрд╖рдзрд╛рддреНрд╡рд┐рддрд┐| рдУрддреНрд░реЗрдпрд╕реНрдп-рдЕрддреНрд░рд┐рдкреБрддреНрд░рд╕реНрдп, рд╢рд╛рд╕рдирдВ-рдЖрдЬреНрдЮрд╛, рдЗрддрд┐-рдПрд╡рдВ, рджреЛрд╖рд╛рджреАрдирд╛рдореВрд╖реНрдорд╛рд╜рдЧреНрдирд┐рд░рд┐рддрд┐| рджреЛрд╖рд╛рдГ-рд╡рд╛рддрд╛рджрдпрдГ, рдзрд╛рддрд╡реЛ-рд░рд╕рд╛рджрдпрдГ, рдорд▓рд╛рдГ-рдореВрддреНрд░рдкреБрд░реАрд╖рд╕реНрд╡реЗрджрд╛рдГ, рдЖрджрд┐рд╢рдмреНрджреЗрди рджреВрд╖рд┐рдХрд╛рджрдпрдГ| рддреЗрд╖рд╛рдВ рджреЛрд╖рд╛рджреАрдирд╛рдВ рд╕рдореНрдмрдиреНрдзреА рдКрд╖реНрдорд╛-рдЕрдЧреНрдирд┐рдГ, рдпрдГ рд╕ рдПрд╡рд╛рдиреНрдирд╕реНрдп рдкрдХреНрддрд╛, рди рддреБ рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдВ рдкрд╛рдЪрдХрд╛рдЦреНрдпрдорд┐рддрд┐|

(Controversy: Though the widely accepted fact is that the pAcaka pitta causes the digestion of food, Atri putra (follower of Atreya school of thought) validates, that the ushmA of the Dosha, Dhatu, and Mala is to be considered as pAchakam and not the pachakAgni alone. Probably this statement can be accepted, if one considers that the process of digestion starts from oral cavity and ends in anal canal)

Adhishtana of food

ii) AdhiSThAna of food:-
рддрджрдзрд┐рд╖реНрдард╛рдирдордиреНрдирд╕реНрдп рдЧреНрд░рд╣рдгрд╛рджреНрдЧреНрд░рд╣рдгреА рдорддрд╛| рд╕реИрд╡ рдзрдиреНрд╡рдиреНрддрд░рд┐рдорддреЗ рдХрд▓рд╛ рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдзрд░рд╛рд╣реНрд╡рдпрд╛|| A.Hr.ShA. рей/релреж|| рдЖрдпреВрд░рд╛рд░реЛрдЧреНрдпрд╡реАрд░реНрдпреМрдЬреЛрднреВрддрдзрд╛рддреНрд╡рдЧреНрдирд┐рдкреБрд╖реНрдЯрдпреЗ| рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд╛ рдкрдХреНрд╡рд╛рд╢рдп рджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд┐ {it stays as a door (dvAri) for pakvAshaya} рднреБрдХреНрдд рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧ рдЖрд░реНрдЧрд▓ (bolt or check point !?) рдПрд╡ рд╕рд╛|| A.Hr.ShA. рей/релрез|

The seat for process of food digestion is supposed to be grahaNI (structurally the, pyloric end of stomach to 3rd part of duodenum), since it is at the place of grahaNi the food stays for a longer time and that acts a a check point before sending out the processed food (chyme) to the pakvashaya. Being a seat for the Pittadhara kala, the grahani plays a role in prividing the necessary nutrients to maintain the ayush (life), Arogya (health), vIrya (stamina), Oja (immunity) and further helps in the proper functioning of the bhUtAgni & dhAtvagni (biochemical pathways involved in metabolism of tissues).

iii) рднреБрдХреНрддрдВ (The consumed food)
рдЖрдорд╛рд╢рдпреЗ (in the pyloric end of stomach)
рд░реБрдзреНрд╡рд╛ ( stasis)
рд╕рд╛ (refers to grahaNI)
рд╡рд┐рдкрд╛рдЪреНрдп (digests them through various biochemical processes)
рдирдпрддрд┐ (forwards it or brings)
рдЕрдз:| (downwards – structure lying beneath it)
рдмрд▓рд╡рддрд┐ (if biochemical functioning of graNi is strong)
рдЕрдмрд▓рд╛ (in case if grahani’s biochemical function is weak)
рддреБ (then)
рдЕрдиреНрдирдВ (digested chyme )
рдЖрдордВ (undigested chyme)
рдПрд╡ (respectively)
рд╡рд┐рдореБрдЮреНрдЪрддрд┐ (pushes forward to next structure)||релреи||

The ingested food which reaches the stomach in raw state(Amam annam), over its pyloric end (which is part of grahaNi) gets stalled for initial stages of the process of digestion through various intrinsic biochemical processes (ChakrapANi- vividjai: prakArai: pAcayitvA ||) and pushes it to the next structure. From where in it reaches the grahaNi propria and gets digested further to produce the chyme. When the agni in the pittadhara kala of the grahani is actively working the ingested food becomes the reason for a properly digested chyme, and when the agni reacts in a weaker mode with the semi processed food from AmAshaya, it results as undigested chyme which technically is referred as Ama.

iv)Based on the cause and effect theorem, the agni and grahaNI are mutually inter related. And thus the strength of the compactly working grahaNI is dependent on the strength of the agni present within. The malfunctioning agni (bio chemical mechanism) in the grahaNI becomes the cause for manifestation of diseases.

V) It is to be hence understood that it’s the pAka annam (properly processed chyme) which is responsible for the nourishment of the body and its tissues and not the apakva annam (unprocessed chyme). The agni (biochemical factors) being the sole factor for the complete digestion is responsible for maintaining the nourishment body, tissue elements, immunity, physical strength, complexion etc. And when the agni causes disruption in the processing of chyme (рдЕрдкрдХреНрд╡рд╛рджреН), it becomes responsible for рдЕрд░рд╕ рдЖрджрдпрдГ (рдЖрд╣рд╛рд░рд╛рджреНрд░рд╕рд░реБрдзрд┐рд░рд╛рджрдпреЛ рди рд╕рдореНрднрд╡рдиреНрддрд┐), i.e.., the AhAra rasa and its dependent rasa, rakta, mAmsa etc dhAtu formation and their nourishment gets faltered or defective.

vi) “рди рд╣реНрдпрдкрдХреНрд╡рд╛рджреНрд░рд╕рд╛рджрдпрдГ” рдЗрддреНрдпреБрдХреНрддрдореН| рдЕрддрдГ рдкрд╛рдХрд╕реНрдпреИрд╡реЗрддрд┐рдХрд░реНрддрд╡реНрдпрддрд╛рдВ рдирд┐рд░реБрдкрдпрдиреНрдирд╛рд╣—-рдЕрдиреНрдирдВ рдХрд╛рд▓реЗрд╜рднреНрдпрд╡рд╣реГрддрдВ рдХреЛрд╖реНрдардВ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдгрд╛рдирд┐рд▓рд╛рд╣реГрддрдореН| рджреНрд░рд╡реИрд░реНрд╡рд┐рднрд┐рдиреНрдирд╕рдЩреНрдШрд╛рддрдВ рдиреАрддрдВ рд╕реНрдиреЗрд╣реЗрди рдорд╛рд░реНрджреНрд╡рдореН||релрел|| рд╕рдиреНрдзреБрдХреНрд╖рд┐рддрдГ рд╕рдорд╛рдиреЗрди рдкрдЪрддреНрдпрд╛рдорд╛рд╢рдпрд╕реНрдерд┐рддрдореН| рдФрджрд░реНрдпреЛрд╜рдЧреНрдирд┐рд░реНрдпрдерд╛ рдмрд╛рд╣реНрдпрдГ рд╕реНрдерд╛рд▓реАрд╕реНрдердВ рддреЛрдпрддрдгреНрдбреБрд▓рдореН|| A.Hr.ShA. рей/релрем| The statement literally means ” The food that which had been on time sent downwards from the oral cavity to the stomach through the oesophagus by the initiative of the prAna vAyu (cranial nerve and autonomous functions involved), by means of the sneha amsha (oily portion) present in it in the form of curd, ghee etc, the agni in the grahani gets ignited with the help of samAna vAyu (vagal control) and thus aids the process of digestion occuring uninterrupted and complete. The simile of air helping the fire in making the rice grain get boiled kept over a vessel is being presented as an example in above verse.

Though it literally means as above, its interpretation over scientific plane be taken as, the following. The  cranial nerve and its related autonomous function in the process of mastication involved are different from the cranial nerve that which control the lower parts of the digestive system. It may be noted that the Buccinator (controlled by C.N.VII), saliva (controlled by C.N.VIIтАФchorda tympani and C.N.IXтАФlesser petrosal), the intrinsic muscles of the tongue (controlled by C.N.XI) hyoglossus (contolled by C.N. XII)) and genioglossus along with styloglossus (both controlled by C.N. XII) are part of the oral phase of deglutition (the other two phases are Pharyngeal & esophageal phases) which involves the above structures with some other structures not mentioned here with in moistening, masticating, trough formation, Movement of the food bolus posteriorly etc 4 sub stages. Where as in the esophageal stage of deglutition it is the C.N X, the vagus nerve, starts taking control of moving the food further downwards.

This makes understand the mention of two kings of vAyu being mentioned in playing a synchronous role along with the grahaNi based agni in conducting the business of digestion of food in a smooth manner as having been mentioned in the context of A.Hr.ShA. рей/релрем. Having explained the above verse from the angle of  Applied Anatomy, let us divulge into, how Acharya ChakrapANi, clarifies the statement of the main verse of the text.

Chakrapani’s opinion

Chakrapani says- рдЕрдиреНрдирдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢рдХреГрджрд┐рддреНрдпрдиреЗрдирд╛рдиреНрдирдкреНрд░рд╡реЗрд╢рдХрд░рдгрдорд╛рддреНрд░рдореБрдХреНрддрдореН, рди рддреБ рдХреЛрд╖реНрдардкреНрд░рд╛рдкрдгрдорд┐рддрд┐| The prAna vAyu being present in the head – рдкреНрд░рд╛рдгреЛрд╜рддреНрд░ рдореВрд░реНрдзрдЧрдГ, is responsible over here only for sending the food downwards into the oesophagus from the oral cavity by means of the swallowing reflex. It need not be confused with, that the prANa vAyu has its action potential, spreading across the entire digestive system in controlling the peristaltic movement.

This above facts need to be cleared when we read the statement mentioning the involvement of “prANa anilA hrtam, annam abhyavaha hrtam koShTam” as seen in this verse – so, clarifies ChakrapANi.

And from the region of agni, albeit it is only the samAna vAyu which takes control of the movement of the chyme as has been mentioned as “рд╕рдорд╛рдиреЛрд╜рдЧреНрдирд┐рд╕рдореАрдкрд╕реНрдердГ рдХреЛрд╖реНрдареЗ рдЪрд░рддрд┐ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рддрдГ|” elsewhere in the context of A.H.sU.резреи/рео).

vii) рддрд╕реНрдп рдЕрдиреНрдирд╕реНрдп рдЗрджрд╛рдиреАрдореН рдЕрдЧреНрдирд┐-рд╕рдореАрдкрд╕реНрдерд╕реНрдп рдпрд╛ рдЕрд╡рд╕реНрдерд╛: рддрд╛: рдХрдердпрдиреН рдкреБрди: рддрдВ рдПрд╡ рдкрд╛рдХрдВ рдирд┐рд░реНрджрд┐рд╢рддрд┐—A.Hr.ShA. рей/релрен|| What happens when the food gets in contact with the agni and how the 3 stages of pAka named avasthApAka takes place will be henceforth discussed.

рдЖрджреМ рд╖рдбреНрд░рд╕рдореН рдЕрдкрд┐ рдЕрдиреНрдирдВ рдордзреБрд░реАрднреВрддрдВ рдИрд░рдпреЗрддреН| рдлреЗрдиреАрднреВрддрдВ рдХрдлрдВ,…. ||релрен|| To begin with the explanation, though the food is inclusive of all the six tastes, the food attains madhura pAka and produces the kapha in foamy appearance. Hence the first stage of annapAka gets denoted as madhurAvasthapAka of annam.

ChakrapANI, in this verse рддрддреНрдкрдЪреНрдпрдорд╛рдирдВ рдордзреБрд░реАрднреБрддрдВ-рдЕрдордзреБрд░рдВ рдордзреБрд░рдВ рд╕рдореНрдкрдиреНрдирдВ рд╕рддреН, рдХрдлрдореАрд░рдпреЗрддреН|, mentions that the taste of the chyme at this stage will be either amadhuram (less sweet) or madhuram.

“………рдпрд╛рддрдВ рд╡рд┐рджрд╛рд╣рд╛рджреН рдЕрдореНрд▓рддрд╛рдВ рддрддрдГ| рдкрд┐рддреНрддрдореН  рдЖрдорд╛рд╢рдпрд╛рддреН рдХреБрд░реНрдпрд╛рддреН рдЪреНрдпрд╡рдорд╛рдирдВ,…..”| The pittam moving or circulating (cyavamAnam) in the AmAshaya, by the virtue of its amlatA (acid or sourness) causes vidAha (burning) of the food particles. This second stage is amlAvasthapAka of annam.

“…… рдЪреНрдпреБрддрдВ рдкреБрдирдГ рдЕрдЧреНрдирд┐рдирд╛ рд╢реЛрд╖рд┐рддрдВ рдкрдХреНрд╡рдВ рдкрд┐рдгреНрдбрд┐рддрдВ рдХрдЯреБ рдорд╛рд░реБрддрдореН|| A.Hr.ShA. рей/релрео|| Moving out from the grahani to pakvAshaya (ChakrapAni – рдЪреНрдпреБрддрдВрдкреБрдирдГ – рддрдд рдЖрдорд╢рдпрд╛рддреНрдкрдХреНрд╡рд╛рд╢рдпрдВ рдкреНрд░рд╛рдкреНрддрдВ ||) the chyme which had been dried up, post the process of digestion,  by the interference of pitta, attains the shape of a bolus (ChakrapANi – рдЬрд╛рдард░рд╛рдЧреНрдирд┐рдирд╛ рдкрдХреНрд╡рдВ рд╢реЛрд╖рд┐рддрдордиреНрдирдВ, рддрдерд╛ рдкрд┐рдгреНрдбрд┐рддрдВ-рддрджрд╛рдиреАрдореН рдкрд┐рдгреНрдбрдВ рд╕рдЮреНрдЬрд╛рддрдВ рд╕рдВрд╣рддрдВ рд╕рдореНрдкрдиреНрдирдВ, рддрдерд╛ рдХрдЯреБрдХрдВ рдЬрд╛рддрдВ ||). The chyme attins katu taste and hence this third stage gets referred as Katu pAkAvastha of annam. The dosha that which gets produced at the end of this avastha paka is vAta.

Chakrapani guides that, “рдПрддрдЪреНрдЪ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рдВ рд╕реНрд╡рднрд╡рд╕рд┐рджреНрдзрдВ рд╕реНрд╡рд╕рдВрд╡реЗрджреНрдпрдкреНрд░рд╛рдпрдВрдХрд╛рд░реНрдпрд╛рдиреБрдореЗрдпрдВ рдЪ”| Though the above concept of pAkavastha gets mentioned with the resultant taste of the end product, it is in actual to be taken as an inferred statement, based on the basic principles.

рдХрд┐рдЯреНрдЯрдВ рд╕рд╛рд░рд╢реНрдЪ рддрддреНрдкрдХреНрд╡рдордиреНрдирдВ рд╕рдореНрднрд╡рддрд┐ рджреНрд╡рд┐рдзрд╛ | рдХрд┐рдЯреНрдЯрдордкрд┐ рдпрджреЗрддрдиреНрдирд╕реНрдп рдкрдХреНрд╡рд╕реНрдп, рддрджрдкреНрдпрдЪреНрдЫрд╛рдирдЪреНрдЫрднреЗрджреЗрди рджреНрд╡рд┐рдзреЗрддреНрдпрд╛рд╣ ———————–| рддрддреНрд░рд╛рдЪреНрдЫрдВ рдХрд┐рдЯреНрдЯрдордиреНрдирд╕реНрдп рдореВрддреНрд░рдВ рд╡рд┐рджреНрдпрд╛рджреНрдзрдирдВ рд╢рдХреГрддреН||ремрез|

The digested chyme ends up as two by products namely the Kittam (residual product) & sAram (nourishing product). Where in the residual products of annarasa, post the stage of annapAka presents as accham (clear) & anaccham (turbid) in consistency and presentation.  The clear residue of the kitta annarasa gets further processed to become mUtra and the turbid one as shakrut.

By Vd.A.Rangaprasad Bhat
тАЬPadmanilayamтАЭ, (Ayurveda & Non Conventional Marma Chikitsa Clinic) 49/46,
Kanagaraya Malaiyappan St,
Raja Annamalaipuram,
Mandavelipakkam, Chennai- 600028.
Email: [email protected]

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