Classification of Agni by Acharya Charaka Based on Bala Bheda

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

We know that Agni – digestive fire is of four types. They are –

1. Mandagni
2. Tikshnagni
3. Vishamagni and
4. Samagni

This classification is made on the basis of dosha influence on these Agnis. Mandagni, Tikshnagni and Vishamagni are found in persons predominant with kapha, pitta and vata respectively. Samagni is a status when the agni is influenced by balanced tridoshas. This is also a state of agni in healthy individuals and forms an important indicator for Swastha – healthy individuals. The same doshas which are predominant in the person will also by nature influence the agni.

Bala Bheda Agni Vargikarana by Charaka & Need to Know

Need for Study – Acharya Charaka has described the same four kinds of Agnis in Charaka Vimana Sthana Chapter 6, Verse 12 from a different angle. He has described them from the perspective of Bala Bheda i.e. strength of the Agni. This explanation will help us to clinically understand the strength, capacity and limitations of these Agnis. This knowledge in turn will help the physicians to address agni imbalances in the diseases that they are treating.

Types of Agni based on Bala Bheda

But in the fires of the bodies there are four kinds of distinctions by difference of strength For example, sharp, slow, even, and uneven| There, the sharp fire is tolerant of all treatments, but the opposite characteristics are slow, but the whole is deformed by treatment, but remains in nature by untreatedness, and the opposite characteristics are uneven These are the four kinds of fires of the four kinds of men There, the fires of the homogeneous wind, bile and mucus in nature are equal, but the fires of the windy are uneven in the position of the fire, but the fires of the bile are sharp in the position of the fire, and the fires of the mucus are slow in the position of the fire.||Cha.Vi.6/1

Depending on their strength and intensity (in terms of handling, digesting and transforming the food we consume), the Agni present in our body can be classified into four types. They are –

1. Tikshna Agni – severe, strong or intense digestive fire
2. Manda Agni – low digestive fire
3. Sama Agni – normal and balanced digestive fire
4. Vishama Agni – irregular digestive fire

Further, Acharya Charaka discussed these Agnis on the basis of their bala – strength and intensity.

Tikshna Agni: There is a sharp fire that can withstand all treatments

It is defined as Sarva Apachara Saha i.e. the fire which tolerates all kinds of insult, irregularities, and wrong-doings (food consumed breaking the rules and etiquettes of food) and food related misconducts. This means to tell that, in spite of taking liberties in relation to quality, quantity and timing of food and being experimental or adventurous about it, the fire will tolerate these foods and is not easily affected or influenced by irregularities or imbalances of the foods we consume. That doesn’t mean one needs to be out of ‘caution zone’ and go overboard or be overtly adventurous.

Manda Agni: The opposite characteristic is slow

Acharya Charaka describes this fire with the words ‘Tad Viparita Lakshanastu’ i.e. the digestive fire which has opposite features of those of Tikshna Agni. This Agni is Sarva Apachara Asaha i.e. unlike Tikshna Agni, Manda Agni, which is basically mild and weak in nature, will not tolerate insults, irregularities, wrong-doings or food related misconducts. That means to say that the person cannot take liberty in making choices regarding quality, quantity and timing of food and can definitely not be adventurous. They need to exercise extra caution in taking care of their Agni and also to keep it in a state of balance. Even small irregularities or indiscipline will disturb this type of agni and its functioning.

Same Agni: The whole, however, undergoes distortion by treatment, but remains in nature by non-treatment

Sama Agni i.e. a balanced state of agni gets disturbed, impaired and imbalanced even when it gets affected by minor Apachara – irregularities, insults, wrong-doings or misconducts. On the other hand, this Sama Agni maintains its normalcy as long as one does not get indulged in apachara. So, in order to keep it in a state of balance, one should monitor the quality, quantity, time and etiquettes of food on every single day and make it a habit of not deviating from good food practices.

Vishama Agni: The same characteristics and the opposite characteristics are odd

Vishama Agni is that which is irregular in nature. It sometimes shows sama lakshanas and sometimes viparita lakshanas due to the impact of apachara. This means to say that, unlike sama agni, vishama agni sometimes gets impaired, disturbed or imbalanced and sometimes it does not get impaired due to irregularities, insult, wrong-doings or misconducts related to food practices. These people can sometimes tolerate apachara related to food and the agni behaves normally. At other times, these persons cannot tolerate apachara and as a result, the agni behaves abnormally. The digestion pattern is variable and highly unpredictable. This is due to the influence of vata on the AGNI, which by itself is fluctuating and unpredictable in nature.

Further on

Acharya says that these four types of Agni occur in four types of individuals. In persons having balanced vata, pitta and kapha, the agni is also normal and balanced.

Vishama Agni and Vata – In those having predominance of vata, the agni will be irregular – vishama agni, due to the affliction of influence by vata on agni and its site.

Teekshna Agni and Pitta – In those having predominance of pitta, the agni will be sharp, strong, intense and penetrating in nature – tikshna agni, due to the affliction of and influence by pitta on agni and its site.

Mandagni and kapha – In those having predominance of kapha, the agni will be mild and weak in nature – mandagni, due to the affliction of and influence by kapha on agni and its site.

Samagni and Tridosha Balance – In those having balance of doshas, malas and dhatus in their body, the agni will be balanced in nature – sama agni, due to the influence of balanced tridoshas on agni and its site.

Related AIAPGET Question

1. Which of the following is Sarvapachara Sahah (Cha.Vi.6/12)
2. Mandagni
3. Tikshnagni
4. Vishamagni
5. Samagni

Ans-b. Tikshnagni.

2. The Agni which has been described by Acharya Charaka as 'tad viparita lakshanastu' is – (Cha.Vi.6/12)
3. Tikshnagni
4. Samagni
5. Vishamagni
6. Mandagni

Ans-d. Mandagni. (Mandagni has viparita lakshana of Tikshnagni)

3. The Agni which is Sarvapachara Asahaha is (Cha.Vi.6/12)
4. Tikshnagni
5. Samagni
6. Mandagni
7. Vishamagni

Ans- c. Mandagni.

4. Indeed, by treatment it attains deformation, but by non-treatment it remains in nature – as per Charaka, describes which Agni? (Cha.Vi.6/12)
5. Samagni
6. Vishamagni
7. Mandagni
8. Tikshnagni

Ans – a. Samagni.

5. The agni described by Charaka as – The same characteristics are the opposite characteristics is – (Cha.Vi.6/12)
6. Tikshnagni
7. Vishamagni
8. Mandagni
9. Samagni

Ans-a. Tikshnagni.

6. Acharya Chharaka has described Agnis on Bala Bheda in – (Cha.Vi.6/12)
7. Sutra Station
8. Vimana Sthana
9. Medical Station
10. Siddhi Station

Ans – b. Vimana Sthana.