Pitta dosha
Pitta dosha is responsible for maintaining body temperature, digestion and metabolism. Pitta dosha is agni mahabhuta predominant. [Code:SAT-B.401][1] This chapter describes the physiological functions and pathological importance of pitta dosha.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Dosha/Pitta Dosha |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Bhojani M. K. 1, Tanwar Ankur Kumar 1 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.2, |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.3 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | December 16, 2022 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2022.e01.s09.122 |
Etymology and derivation
The word ‘Pitta’ is derived from Sanskrit root “tap”.[2] [Su. Sa.Sutra Sthana 21/5]The root word ‘tap’has three meaning:1) tap dahe means to burn, 2) tap santape means heat generator and 3) tap aishwarye means able to procure eight types of attainments of a yogi (animadi aishwarye).[3] Dahana denotes transformation or conversion (paka) in the living body. This explains the function of pitta is the transformation or modification of one substance to other.
Synonyms[3][4]
Mayu, teja, ushma, agni, anala, bile, to inflame, to nourish, a type of kala in the body.
Bhautika composition
Pitta dosha has dominance of teja mahabhauta.[5][A.S. Sutra Sthana 20/1]Pitta dosha is originated from agni or teja mahabhauta.[2][Chakrapani on Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/8][Figure 01]
Pitta dosha and triguna
All the living & nonliving things originate from panchamahabhuta which originate from trigunatmaka prakriti as described in evolution process (utpatti karma). Dosha are evolved from panchamahbhuta, so these dosha bear triguna property. Pitta is evolved from agni that has sattva and raja predominance.[2] [Su. Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/20] Sharangdhara and Bhavaprakasha opines that pitta has sattva predominance. [Sha.Sa.Pratham Khand 5][6] [Bh. P. Purva Khand 3/103][7]
[Figure 01]
Figure 01: Relation between triguna, mahabhauta and pitta dosha.
[Figure 01]
Sites of pitta
Dosha are present in every part of the body. [Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/9] General location of pitta dosha is the middle part of the body, marked between the heart(hridaya) and umbilicus(nabhi).[A.S. Sutra Sthana 1/4] Pitta is predominately present in body parts between the large intestine(pakvashaya) and stomach( amashaya). [Su. Sa.Sutra Sthana 21/6][2]
The specific seats of pitta are (Figure 02):
The specific seats of pitta are (Figure 02):
- Sweat(sweda)[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8] [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8] [K.S. Sutra Sthana 27/11][9]
- Nutrient body fluid or plasma (rasa)[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8] [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8]
- Lymph (lasika)[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8] [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8] [K.S. Sutra Sthana 27/11][9]
- Blood (rudhira)[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8][A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8] [K.S. Sutra Sthana 27/11][9]
- Duodenum (lower part of amashaya)[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8] [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8] [K.S. Sutra Sthana 27/11][9]
- Umbilicus (nabhi) [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8]
- Eyes (drika) [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/2][8]
- Skin(twacha) [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 12/1][8]
Among all these sites, duodenum (amashaya) and umbilicus (nabhi) are the prime sites of pitta.[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8][K.S. Sutra Sthana 27/11][9] Amashaya (stmach) is located in between the breast(stana) and umbilicus(nabhi). In amashaya, the digestion of all types of food takes place. [Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 2/17] Duodenum is the area of the digestive tract where maximum digestive process occurs. Acharya Chakrapani clears that the location of pitta is lower part of amashaya( i.e. duodenum). [Chakrapani on Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8]
References
- ↑ National AYUSH Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic Portal by Ministry of AYUSH Available on http://namstp.ayush.gov.in/#/Ayurveda
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Edited by JadavajiTrikamjiAacharya. 8th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia;2005.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Amarkosa. Amarsimha, Edited by Pt. Haragovinda sastri. Reprint Ed. Varanasi:Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, 2020.
- ↑ Monier-Williams. Monier William's Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 2nd Ed., Oxford University Press;1899.
- ↑
- ↑ Vagbhata. Ashtanga Samgraha. Edited by Shivprasadsharma. 3rd Ed., Varanasi: Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office; 2012.
- ↑ Sharngdhara. Sarngadhara Samhita. Edited by Parashuram Shastri Vidyasagar. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Surbharati Prakashan ;2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Bhava misra. Bhavprakasa, Edited by Brahmasankara Mishra, Rupalalaji Vaisya. 5th ed. Hindi Commentary Vidyotini; Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, 1969.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Vagbhata. Ashtanga Hridayam. Edited by HarishastriParadkar Vaidya. 1st ed. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy; 2000.