Dhamani-Marma

Abstract

Marma Vigyan is one of the specialties of Ayurveda. The development of standards of treatment for the acutely injured has been closely related to several significant medical discoveries. Organized care of the acutely injured, though comparatively recent innovations has significately improved survival rates. It aligns closely with concept of marma, which emphasizes the critical importance of vital points in the body. The anatomy of Shushrut is near to present anatomy. In Sharirsthana, acharya Shushrut have asserted all the anatomical structures precisely with their functions. The “Marmasharir” is the basic fundamental theory of Ayurveda, well described in Sharir sthana six. Acharya Vagbhatt has described Marma in Ashtang Hridaya sharir sthan four “Marma vibhag sharir”. Marma are the significant anatomical points of the body where any cut, concussion, blow or injury can lead to death or deformity.

Introduction

Marma is an important concept in Ayurveda, representing vital anatomical points where injury can lead to death or deformity. Derived from “Mra-manin,” meaning the place of life, marmas are elaborately described in Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya. According to classical texts, there are 107 marmas, categorized based on tissues involved: Mansa (muscle), Shira (vein/artery), Snayu (ligament/tendon), Asthi (bone), Sandhi (joint), and, as described by Vagbhatt, Dhamani (arterial) marmas. Injury to these points can result in severe consequences, including death.

Types of Significant Dhamani Marmas:

• Guda Marma: Located in the anal canal; injury causes death via hypovolemic shock.

• Apsthamba Marma: In the thoracic region; injury can cause hemothorax, pneumothorax, and death.

• Vidhur Marma: Behind the ears; trauma may cause deafness due to arterial involvement.

• Shrangatak Marma: Confluence of vessels near eyes, nose, ears, and tongue; injury can cause intracranial hemorrhage or death.

Marmas are sites where muscles, bones, ligaments, arteries, veins, and joints converge, making them critical for vitality. Classical Ayurveda provides a detailed framework for their identification, with modern anatomy helping to correlate these points to arteries, veins, and neural structures, confirming their clinical significance.

Conclusion

Concluding it, I must say that these are indeed vital anatomical points. Acharya Shushrut is more precise and imminent to modern aspect, as he was a surgeon and had complete practical knowledge. Newer techniques of investigations and management have changed the scenario of acutely injured patients but the anatomical importance of the structure and tissues like marma still holds the importance. That is, Dhamani marma by Acharya Vagbhatta is having its own importance in structural and functional aspect of human body. Dhamani is very significant structure which supplies nutrients, hormones, and Prana (oxygen) factor to the whole body. Trauma to a dhamani causes severe loss of blood leading to a state of anoxia, tissue necrosis, condition of shock and ultimately death. This is the fact that signifies and accepts the value of a Dhamani. So, it can be concluded that in Guda marma, beneath structures are arterial plexus. In Vidhura marma the structure beneath is Stylomastoid artery. In Shringatak marma the struture beneath is cavernous sinuses which are venous plexuses. In Apstambha the structure beneath is bronchial artery and brochus. In fact, marmas are having the anatomical configuration in mamsa, Sira, Snayu, Asthi and Sandhi terminology. Dhamani can be differentiated in another type of structure. Acharya Shushrut is very precise to anatomy but Dhamani marma is having its own importance.

References

[1] Shushrut sharir sthana 6, with Nibandhsangraha commentary of Shri Dalhanacharya by Narayan Ramacharya Kavyatirtha, Chaukhamba Orientalia Varanasi, 7th edition 2002 [2] Ashtang Hrdayam, Proff. K R Shrikant Murty, Vol II, Chaukhamba Orientalia Varanasi, 5th edition, 2004 [3] Anatomical Consideration of Dhamani Marma with Special Reference to Vidhur Marma in Ayurveda by Akanksha Bhatt,Associate Professor, Department of Rachna Sharir, Doon Institute of Medical Science, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. International Research Journal of Ayurveda & Yoga Vol. 7(3), pp. 33-36, March, 2024

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Piyushlata Maheshwari . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.