Ashayapakarsha

The Sanskrit word ‘ashayapakarsha’ includes two words: ‘ashaya’ meaning a space or site and ‘apakarsha’ meaning to draw off or take away. Thus, the word ‘ashayapakarsha’ means taking away from one’s site. Ashayapakarsha is explained in detail in Madhukosha commentary in the context of the movement of dosha (gati). In this context, primarily the commentary of Bhattarharishchandra on kiyantah shirasiya adhyaya of Charak Samhita has been referred.[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 17/45-46] Dosha are primary regulatory principles of physiology. They move from their own seats to other places in the body for performing various functions and come back to their own abodes. This movement of dosha in the body is called 'dosha gati’. Decrease (kshaya), normalcy (sthana), and increase (vriddhi) are the three types of dosha-gati. It represents various states of doshas in body physiology. The factors which are responsible for the causation of diseases are named ‘hetu or nidana’. Dosha are important causative factors in disease pathology. In vriddhi state, doshas are increased quantitatively and qualitatively. In sthana state, doshas are in the state of equilibrium. Whereas in kshaya state, doshas are decreased qualitatively and quantitatively. They are unable to perform their normal functions. Vriddhi and kshaya are pathological states of doshas, whereas sthana is indicative of its physiological state. However, in some instances even though doshas are in their abodes, it may lead to pathological symptoms due to ashayapakarsha phenomenon. In ashayapakarsha, the increased dosha forcibly takes out normal dosha from its own place. Thereafter it moves to other places resulting in various symptomatology, wherever it lodges in the body. Sometimes even doshas are not vitiated by their own etiological factors, but features of their vitiation are observed clinically. In many disorders, where clinical symptoms are not in accordance with the doshas involved in the pathogenesis (vikriti vishama samavaya), a physician needs to think of ashayapakarsha. Vata dosha is responsible for all types of movements in the body. Vata dosha has the capacity to move or take away other dosha and dushya from their own abodes to others places. This produces various inconsistent symptoms, due to the mobility (chala guna) of vata dosha. A proper understanding of ashayapakarsha opens many dimensions of treatment, where one cannot get results after routine treatment.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Ashayapakarsha
Authors	Mali Pavan 1, Deole Y.S. 2
Reviewer & Editor	Basisht G.3,
Affiliations	1 Chief Medical Officer, NFSG, Directorate of Ayush, Delhi Govt., Delhi, India 2 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
Correspondence emails	rigvedvp7@gmail.com, dryogeshdeole@gmail.com, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	July 31, 2023
DOI	10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.142

Etymological derivation

• Gati is derived from root verb ‘gam’ meaning going away, deportment, passage, procedure, progress, movement, path, way, course, manner or power of going, state, condition, situation, proportion, mode of existence, motion. [Monnier Williams Dictionary pg.347]
• Ashaya means place, seat, abode, resting place, receptacle, reservoir; any recipient or containing vessel or viscus of the body, any recipient.[Monnier Williams Dictionary pg.157]
• Apakarsha means drawing or dragging off or down, detraction, diminution, decay, decline, destruction, pulling down, bringing low, lowering, depressing. 2. Inferiority, infamy, degradation, sinking, drawing away, taking off, diminution.[ [Monnier Williams Dictionary pg.48]

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