Marma - Vital Points

[Guest guest]

Marma - Vital Points

 

 

Ayurveda has explained the minute details of our body. Father of Surgery Acharya

Susrutha has explained about all these details 5000 years back in his book named

“Susrutha Samhitha”.Definition of Marma as follows

II " Maarayathithe marma ” II

means if any individual gets trauma to this point, he will die. The marma points

are of great importance to a person’s body, mind and spirit. The word 'marma'

was used for the first time in Atharva Veda (ancient Indian scripture). Marma

points are positions on the body where muscles, veins, arteries, nerves,

tendon, bones and joints meet. They may also be described as the junctions

where Vayu, Pitta and Kapha meet; where Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas meet; these are

the points that could be used to heal or harm. While a healer uses these points

to heal, for a warrior the very same spots could be used to harm.Acharya

Susrutha has mentioned regarding the marmas in detail. Susrutha Samhitha

Shareera Sthana Chapter 6th mentions one hundred seven (107) marma points

present on the body. This makes it much easier to remember and work with,

compared with the thousands of points in Chinese acupuncture. Áyurveda details

major (mahá) and minor

marma points. The major points correspond to the major shad chakras in the body,

while the minor points are found around the torso and limbs. Thus, healing

through marma abhyañga affects the chakras, physical health, and the

doshas.Like acupuncture, finger units (anguli or angula) to detect their

correct locations measure these points. Many marma points are larger than

acupuncture points. Thus, they can be found more easily.

Five Basic Categories Of Marma Points

Mamsa Marma ( muscles)

Asthi Marma (at bones)

Snayu Marma (at the Tendons & Ligaments)

Sandhi Marma (at the joints)

Shira Marma (at the nerves/veins/ arteries)

MARMA GROUPINGMarma points are grouped according to the region of the body

Arms

Legs

Abdomen

Chest

Back

Head and Neck

22 points

22 points (11 per limb)

3 points

9 points

14 points

37 points.

The marma points are also grouped according to

Muscles

Tendons/ligaments

Arteries & veins

Joints

Bones

11 points

27 points

41 points

20 points

08 points

Marma points are also divided on the basis of their Pancha mahabootas (five

elements) constitution into

Sadya pranahara (fire)

Kalanthara pranahara (water)

Vishalaya ghunam (air)

Vaikalyakara (earth)

Rujakara (space)

19

33

03

44

08

Dies Immediately on Trauma on this point

Period of time Dies on trauma

Dies as soon as the weapon or instrument is removed

Leads to deformity

Causes pain

Traditionally marma points are grouped into 3 categories:

Legs and feet (Sankha marma)

Trunk (Madhayamanga marma)

Neck and head (Jatrurdhara marma)

If these points are pierced or hit forcefully, it could result in disease,

trauma or even death.For example, if lohit marma present on the leg, is struck,

it results in paralysis. But the same marma is treated with moderate circular

and deep pressure to treat paralysis. Similarly, marma vipat near the groin,

when struck, can cause impotency while the same marma, when massaged, cures

impotency. When somebody hits the marma, the flow of prana is disturbed and can

be treated either by marma itself or acupressure.Systemic Diagram showing the

Marma sthana On Human BodyMarma AbhyañgaIn ayurveda importance is given to

Abyanga or snehana. It is said that when oil is applied daily to a dry stick it

is found that over a period of

time, dry stick can be bent into a different shape. However a dry stick without

applying oil breaks when it is bent. In the same way if a person is massaged

with oil daily he can overcome many diseases. The marma points in ayurveda are

similar to Chinese acupuncture. The only difference between them is in the mode

of treatment. This means in acupuncture needles are used for pricking and in

ayurveda these points are massaged.Abyanga at this marma sthansa will be

helpful in restructure or rebalance the system to function normally. Further,

abhyañga helps to develop the health and longevity of the body and mind by

ensuring the proper balance and flow of hormones, fluids, immune factors, etc.

The purpose of a marma abhyañga is to stimulate the various bodily organs and

systems.In case of Shirodhara a medicated oil or decoction is poured on the

head for a certain period of time and from a particular height. The medicated

oil falls on the vital marma points and this helps

to overcome the diseases.. In case of Nasya Karma also massage is done on the

face systamatically especially on Marma points to get relief from headaches,

migraines, sinusitus, and other ENT problems.Marmas are not only the weak

points but also strong points at the same time. This is because on treating

these points it helps in over coming the disease. For example a warrior may use

these points to harm enemies, whereas a Vaidya can use the same points to cure

the disease.For example, if lohit, a marma point on the leg, is struck, it

results in paralysis. But the same marma is treated with moderate circular and

deep pressure to treat paralysis. Similarly, marma vipat near the groin, when

struck, can cause impotency while the same marma, when massaged, cures

impotency. When somebody hits the marma, the flow of prana is disturbed and can

be treated either by marma itself or acupressure.Another form of abhyañga is the

use of the major and minor marma points.

Marma is discussed in one of the four main Vedas, and also detailed in the

classical Áyurvedic text, Sushrut Samhitá. The marma points are similar to

Chinese acupuncture, only no invasive use of needles is involved.Marma points

are positions on the body where flesh, veins, arteries, tendons, bones, and

joints meet. They may be seen as the junctions where Váyu, Pitta, and Kapha

meet; where sattwa, rajas, and tamas meet; or where eternity and relativity

meet. In short, they are points that have great importance to a person’s body,

mind and spirit.Although the marmas are the junctions of all five principles

(i.e., flesh, veins and arteries, tendons, bones, and joints), at each point a

predominance of one principle exists. It is at these points where abhyañga can

most effectively restructure or rebalance the system to function most

healthily. Further, abhyañga helps develop the preventive health and longevity

of the body and mind by ensuring the proper balance and flow

of hormones, fluids, immune factors, etc.The purpose of a marma abhyañga is to

stimulate the various bodily organs and systems. Like acupuncture, these points

are measured by finger units (anguli or angula) to detect their correct

locations. Many marma points are larger than acupuncture points. Thus, they can

be found more easily.

 

Posted by.

TOMS