Abstract

PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SAMANA VAYU IN TERMS OF SHAREERA KRIYA

Dr. Seema Patel*, Dr. Ashok Kumar and Dr. Gitanjali Sasmal

ABSTRACT

The term Vata is derived from the root ‘Va gatigandhnayoh’ i.e. to move, to enthuse, to make down and to become aware of, induction, and effort and to enlighten. Vata in its natural state is responsible for all the motor and sensory activities of the body. It is sustainer of life. In its morbid state it causes different diseases and death. Vata Dosha has five subdivisions namely Prana, Udana, Samana, Vyana and Apana. Among these five types of Doshas, Samana Vata is present near Antaragni (digestive fire). It moves inside the large intestine, stomach and small intestines, channels of the Doshas, Malas (wastes), Sukra (reproductive tissue of the female) and Ambu (body fluid), supports them in their functions, attends to functions such as retaining of food in the alimentary tract, digestion, separation of essence and wastes and moving the waste products downwards and such other functions. According to Acharya Vagbhata, the function of Samana Vata is said to be Grahana (taking), Pachana (digestion), Vivechana (differentiates into Sara and Kitta) Munchana (forward movement) of the ingested food. The gastrointestinal tract is regulated by an intrinsic set of nerves known as the enteric nervous system and by an extrinsic set of nerves that are part of the autonomic nervous system. The enteric nervous system coordinates digestion, secretion and motility to optimize nutrient absorption. The function of Samana Vata can be correlated to the function of Enteric Nervous system and also to the Autonomic Nervous system control over the same.

Keywords: Vata, Samana Vata, Jatharagni, Digestion, Enteric Nervous system.