Abstract

Rahul Panditrao Surnar*, Avinash Deshmukh and Deepali Amle

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of life sciences and Medicine, its historicity going back to the Vedas. Ayurveda has described an important factor of digestion and metabolism in our body as Agni. Agni is responsible for strength, health, longevity; vital breath and it determines the quantity of food to be consumed. Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life, and is performed by Agni in Ayurveda. the term “Agni” is used in the sense of digestion of food and metabolic products. According to the functions and sites of action, Agni has been divided into 13 types, i.e. 1 Jatharagni, 5 Bhutagni and 7 Dhatvagni. About the importance of Agni, Acharya charak has mentioned that after stoppage of the function of Agni, the individual dies, and when the Agni of an individual is sama, then that person would be absolutely healthy and would lead a long, happy, healthy life. But, if the Agni of a person is vitiated, the whole metabolism in his body would be disturbed, resulting in ill health and disease. Hence, Agni is said to be the base (mool) of life.