MARMA SHAREERA – Introduction & classification

व्यत्ु पत्त्ि / derivation

म-ृ मनिि ् - जीवस्थािे, सत्धिस्थािे, िात्पये च । shabdha kalpa druma

म ृ िािु , मनिि ् प्रत्यय

According to ashtanga hridaya, Etmymological meaning of marma – mah –

prana, ma – residence

Place where prana resides.

Monier williams in sanskrit dictionary

• Martial sport

• Vulnerable point

• Any open, exposed, weak or sensitive part of the body

• Joint of a limb, any joint or articulation

• Core of anything

• Any vital member or organ

• Anything which is required to be kept concealed

• Secret in quality

• Hidden meaning

• Any secret or mystery

Definition/ निरुक्ति

1. ममााणि माांस ससरा स्िायु अत्स्थ सत्धि सत्धिपािा:

िेषु स्वभावि: एव ववशेषि

े प्रािात्स्िष्ठत्धि ॥ स.ु शा 6/15

 Marma is meeting point (conglomeration) of mamsa, sira, snayu, asthi

and sandhi. Prana resides at these points by nature. Any injuries to these
areas lead to serious consequences.
2. मारयत्धि इनि ममााणि । (डल्हि स.ु शा 6/3)

 Any injury to these points leads to death

3. ववषम स्पधदिां यत्र पीडडिे रुक च ममा िि ् । अ.शा 4/37

 Any injury to marma points leads to irregular pulasation and severe

unbearable pain

4. माांस अत्स्थ स्िायु िमनि ससरा सत्धि समागम: ।

स्यधममेनि च िेिात्र सि
ु राां जीवविां त्स्थिम ् ॥ अ.शा 4/27

 Marma is meeting point (conglomeration) of mamsa, sira, snayu, asthi

sandhi and dhamani. Any injuries to these areas lead to death.

5. मरिकाररत्वाधममा, मरि सदृश द:ु ख दानयत्वाद्वा । अरुिदत्ि अ.हृ शा 4/37

 Any injury to marma leads to death or death like pain/ suffering

COMPOSITION OF MARMA

1. ममााणि माांस ससरा स्िायु अत्स्थ सत्धि सत्धिपािा:

िेषु स्वभावि: एव ववशेषि

े प्रािात्स्िष्ठत्धि ॥ स.ु शा 6/15

2. माांस अत्स्थ स्िायु िमनि ससरा सत्धि समागम: ।

स्यधममेनि च िेिात्र सि
ु राां जीवविां त्स्थिम ् ॥ अ.शा 4/27

3. सोम मारुि िेजाांसस रज: सत्व िमाांसस च ।

ममासु प्रायश: पस
ु ाां भि
ु ात्मा च अवनिष्ठिे । स.ु शा 6/15

 marmas are not merely anatomical landmarks but they are location of
soma (kapha or watery elements), teja (pitta), marutha (vayu), satwa,
rajas and tama, panchamahabhutas (pruthvi, ap, teja, vayu,aakasha),
aatma.
 satwa rajas and tama are basic qualities of mind or mano gunas
  when marmas are injured one of these pranas will be afflicted leading to
death, severe pain or deformity.

ममााश्रिि प्राि

• "प्रािा अग्नधयादय: " डल्हि

• अत्ग्नि सोम वाय:ु सत्वां रज स्िम: पञ्चेत्धियाणि भि

ु ात्मा इनि प्रािा | स.ु शा ४/३

CLASSIFICATION OF MARMA

Total no – 107 – charaka, sushruta, ashtanga hridaya, sharangadhara, kashyapa

1. According to region/ site ( sthana)

2. According to structure / (rachana bheda)

3. According to effect of injury

4. According to pramana/ metric classification

1. ACCORDING TO REGION
REGIONAL CLASSIFICATION TOTAL NO

1. Upper extremity / जर्त्ध्

रू व ममू 22

2. Lower extremity / सक्ति ममू 22

3. Abdomen and thorax / उदर उरो ममू 12

4. Back of trunk/ पष्ृ ठ ममू 14

5. Head and neck/ शिरो ग्रीव ममू 37

2. ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE/ RACHANA BHEDA

According Astanga
to hrudaya
Sushrutha
samhita
1. Mamsa 11 10

2. Sira 41 37

3. Snayu 27 23

4. Asthi 8 8

5. Sandhi 20 20

6. Dhamani - 9

3. ACCORDING TO EFFECT OF INJURY

1. Sadyopranahara 19
Marma
2. Kalantara pranahara 33
marma
3. Vishyalaghna marma 3

4. Vaikalyakara marma 44

5. Rujakara marma 8

4. ACCORDING TO PRAMANA

Marma with 1 anjula pramana

Urvi
Kurchashira
Vitapa
Kakshadhara
 Marma with 2 angula pramana
Stanamula
Gulpha
Manibandha
Shringataka
Simantha

Marma with 3 angula pramana

Janu
Kurpara

Marma with 4 angula pramana

Hrudaya
Vasti
Guda
Kurcha
nabhi

Marma with swapanitala pramana

Nila
Manya
Kanthashira

Rest all other marmas are half angula pramana

Panchamahabhoota dominance in marma

ित्र सध्यप्रािहराणि आग्निेयानि, अत्ग्निगि

ु ेशु आशु क्षििेषु िपयत्धि….

कालाधिरप्रािहराणि सौम्य आग्निेयानि, अत्ग्निगुशु आशु िीिेषु क्रमेि च सोमगुिेषु

कलाधिरे ि िपयत्धि...

ववशल्यप्रािहराणि वायव्यानि..

वैकल्यकराणि सौम्यानि, सोमो हह त्स्थरत्वाि ् शैत्याि ् च प्राि अवलम्बिां करोनि…

Sadyopranahara marma – agni

Kalantarapranahara marma – agni + soma

Vishalyaghna marma – vayu

Vaikalyakara marma – soma

Rujakara marma – agni +vayu

Viddha lakshana of marma according to effect of injury:-

सध्योप्राणहर ममू

ित्र सध्यप्रािहराणि आग्निेयानि, अत्ग्निगि

ु ेशु आशु क्षििेषु िपयत्धि….

Total number – 19

: ।

च ॥

Shringataka – 4

Adhipathi – 1

Shankha – 2

Kanthasira – 8

Guda – 1

Hrudaya – 1

Basthi – 1

Nabhi – 1

ववद्धलक्षण :-

इत्धियाथैष्व सांप्रात्तिमािोबवु ि ववपयाया: ।

रुजश्चवववविास्िीव्रा भवधत्याशह
ु रे हिे ॥

 Non perception of sense objects

 Perversion of mind body and intellect
  Severe pain and finally death

कालाधिर प्रािहर ममा

 कालाधिरप्रािहराणि सौम्य आग्निेयानि, अत्ग्निगश

ु ु आशु िीिेषु क्रमेि च
सोमगुिेषु कलाधिरे ि िपयत्धि... |

: ।

च ।

च ॥

Total no 33

Sthanamula 2

Sthanarohita 2

Apalapa 2

Apasthambha 2

Seemanta 5

Talahrudaya 4

Ksipra 4

Indrabasti 4

Kateekataruna 2

Parshwasandhi 2

Bruhati 2

Nitambha 2

ममूववद्ध लक्षण :-

हिे कालाधिरघ्िे िु िव
ृ ां िािु ियो िि
ृ ाम ् ।
ििो िािुियाि ् जधिुवद
े िासभश्च िश्यनि ॥

Loss of dhatus

Due to which Pain and death

वविल्यप्राणहर ममू

ववशल्यप्रािहराणि वायव्यानि

Total no- 3

Utkshepa – 2

Sthapani-1

ममूववद्ध लक्षण :- शल्यमख

ु अवरुिो यावद् अधिवाायत्ु स्िष्ठनि िावज्जीवनि,
उदृिमात्रे िु शल्ये ममास्थािाश्रििो वायनु िाष्क्रामनि, िस्माि ् सशल्यो जीवनि;
उदृिशल्यो सियिे;(पाकात्पनिि शल्यो वा जीवनि)

As long as the weapon or foreign body lay in the area of impaction (marma
area) the person survives.

Once the foreign body or weapon is removed the person dies due to escape of
prana vayu or vital air force which is also called as life force

It is said that as long as the weapon is impacted in the site of marma , it blocks
the vayu. Once it is removed the vayu escapes causing immediate death

If the weapon falls off by itself after few days following healing of wound the
person may survive

वैकल्यकरममू

वैकल्यकराणि सौम्यानि, सोमो हह त्स्थरत्वाि ् शैत्याि ् च प्राि अवलम्बिां करोनि…|

Total no – 44

च :।

॥
 ।

च॥

Lohitaksha -4

Aani -4

Jaanu-2

Bahvi-2

Urvi-2

Koorcha-4

Vitapa-2

Kurpara-2

Kukundara-2

Kakshadhara-2

Vidhura-2

Krukatika-2

Amsa-2

Amsaphalaka-2

Apanga-2

Neela-2

Phana-2

Aavarta-2

ववद्ध लक्षण

हिे वैकल्य जििे केवलां वैध्यिैपण्

ु याि ् ।

शरीरां क्रीयया यक्

ु िां ववकलत्वातिय
ु ाि ् ॥
Causes deformity or vikalata , however if treated by nipuna vaidya i.e skilled
physician then functional deformity can be restored.

रुजकरममू

रुजाकराण्य अत्ग्नि वायु गुि भनु यष्ठानि, ववशेषिश्च िौ रुजाकरौ, पाांचभौनिकीां च

रुजामाहुरेके।

Total no -8

Gulpha -2

Manibandha – 2

Koorchashira – 4

ववद्धलक्षण

रुजकराणि ममााणि ििानि वववविा रुजा: ।

कुवात्धि अधिे च वैकल्यां कुवैध्यवशगो यहद ॥

Causes severe pain but if treated by quack leads to deformity

माांसादद ममूववद्द लक्षण अ हृ िा ४/४७- ५१

१. माांस ममाववि लिि
ववद्दे अजस्रम ् असक
ृ ् स्रावो माांस िाविवत्त्ि:ु ।
पाण्डुत्वसमत्धियाझािां मरिां चाशु माांसजे ॥
Injury to mamsa marma leads to continuous (अजस्र) loss of blood (असक
ृ ् ). The
flow of blood resembles meat washed water (माांस िावि) and is thin (tanu).
Due to severe loss of blood person becomes anaemic (पाण्डु) loss of perception
of sensory objects (indriya ajnanam) and finally leads to death.

 िलहृदय – 4
 इधिवत्स्ि -4
 गुद -1
 स्ििरोहहि-2
 Total 11 in no
२. अत्स्थ ममा ववि लिि
मज्जात्धविो अच्छ ववत्च्छधि: स्रावो रुक् चात्स्थममााणि ।
Injury to asthi marma leads to discharge (स्राव) of majja mixed clear (अच्छ)
fluid and it is not continous (ववत्च्छधि) like in mamsa marma viddha lakshana.
It is accompanied by severe pain (ruja)

Total – 8

 कटीकिरुि -2
 नििम्भ -2
 अांसफलक -2
 शांखा-2

३. स्िायु ममा ववि लिि

आयामािेपकस्िम्भा: स्िावजे अभ्यश्रिकां रुजा ।
याि स्थाि आसि अशत्क्ि वैकल्यम ् अथव अांिक:॥
 Bending of the body (both forward and backward)
 Convulsions/ tremors
 Severe pain
 Weakness and difficulty in movement or sitting
 Deformity or death
Total 27 in no
 आणि – 4
 ववटप -2
 कििर -2
 कूचा -4
 कूचाशीर-4
 बत्स्ि -1
 क्षिप्र -4
 अांस -2
 वविरु -2
  उत्िेपा: 2

४. िमिी ममाववि लिि

रक्िां सशब्िां फेिोष्िां िमिीस्थे ववचेिस : ॥
Blood oozes out producing sound and is froathy and is warm to touch
Loss of consciousness
Total 9 in no
 गद ु 1
 अपस्िम्भ 2
 वविरु 2
 श्रिांगाटक 4
५. ससरा ममाववि लिि
ससरा ममा व्यिे साधिां अजस्रां बहुअसक
ृ ् स्रवेि ् ।
ित्ियाि ् िट्
ृ भ्रम श्वास मोह हहध्मासभरधिक: ॥
 Flow of blood which is thick continuous and in large quatity
 Due to continous loss of blood person experiences thirst giddiness
breathlessness confusion hiccup and finally death.
 िील 2
 िमिी 2
 मािक
ृ ा 8
 िांग
ृ ाटक 4
 अपाांग 2
 स्थपिी 1
 फि 2
 स्ििमल
ू 2
 अपलाप 2
 अपस्िम्भ 2
 हृदय 1
 िासभ 1
 पाश्वासत्धि 2
 बह
ृ िी 2
  लोहहिाि 4
 Urvi marma 2
 Bahwi 2

Total no – 41

६. सत्धि ममाववि लिि

वस्िु शक
ू ै ररवाकीिं रूढे च कुणि खञ्जिा ।
बल चेष्ट िय: शोष: पवाशोफश्च सत्धिजे ॥
 The site of injury feels as if filled with thorns
 Functional deformity remains even after healing
 Loss of strength action or movement emaciation
 Swelling of joints

जािु 2
कुपार 2
सीमधिा 5
अश्रिपनि 1
गल्
ु फ 2
मणिबधि 2
कुकुधदर 2
आविा 2
कृकाहटका 2
Total 20 in no

CHARAKOKTA TRIMARMA

There are 107 marmas located in the trunk & limbs of the body. Affliction of
any of these produces excruciating pain because of specific association of
chetana in these parts.

Amongst the vital points the ones located in the trunk are more important
because the limbs of the body are dependent upon them.
Amongst the vital organs of the trunk the ones located in the hrudaya, shiras and
basti are called as trimarma and are considered most important because these
organs constitute very basic substratum of the body

The limbs are dependent on the trunk because of the following reasons

- If the trunk is destroyed then the limbs automatically cease to exist

- Limbs get nourishment from rasa etc which are produced by the digestion
of food in the trunk
- Injury to the vital points located in the trunk causes sudden death unlike
those located in the limbs.

one among the pranayatana

दिप्राणायिि- शांखौ ममात्रयां कण्ठो रक्िां शक्र

ु ौजसी गुदम ् ॥ च. सु २९/३

As the आिय(abode) gets destroyed the ashrayi(one who resides) also gets
destroyed . Similarly the destruction of any one among the trimarmas leads to
destruction of entire shareera.

Hence one should protect the trimarmas from external and internal injury.

: च च इ
। च. ९/४

As the spokes of a wheel are attached to the centre (nabhi) similarly dasha
dhamani, prana vayu, apana vayu, manas, buddhi, chetana and mahabhutas
resides in hrudaya

The dasha dhamani carry ojus.

Hrudaya considered as seat of ojus

Hrudaya marma viddha lakshanas

कास(cough), श्वास(difficulty in breathing), बलिय(loss ofstrength),

कण्ठशोष(dryness of the throat), मख
ु िालश
ु ोष(dryness of mouth and palate),
अपस्मार(epilepsy), उधमाद(psychiatric disorders), प्रलाप(delirium), श्रचत्ििाशा
(loss of consciousness)

इ इ : । (च.
९/४)

The sense organs, Sensory channels and channels carrying prana are located in
the shiras just as how the sun rays are present in sun.

Shiras is also consideres as uttamanga (first place among the vital organs)

It is substratum of prana and all the jnanendriyas (sense organs)

 Viddha lakshanas

मधयास्िम्भ (stiffness of the neck), अहदा ि(facial paralysis), हिग्र

ु ह (stiffness of
the jaw), मक
ू (unable to talk), गद्गदत्व (stammering), अक्षिनिमीलि (ptosis),
स्वरहानि –(aphonia), चिुववभ्रम (giddiness) मोह (confusion), उद्वेष्टि
(squeezing pain), चेष्टिाश(loss of functions), कास, श्वास , जम्
ृ भि (yawning),
लालस्राव(excessive salivation), वदित्जह्वात्वादीनि (diseases of the face and the
tongue)

The basti is located in the middle of sthulaguda (rectum), mushka (testicles),

sevani and seminal and urinary channels

It is आशय for मत्र

ू

It is आिय for all the अम्बव

ु हस्रोिस ्
It is the receptacle of mutra into which all channels carrying liquid elements
converge as all the rivers on the earth flow into the ocean.

 Viddha lakshanas

वािमर्त्
र वर्चोनिग्रह (Obstruction to flow of vata, mutra varchas), वांक्षण मेहि
बक्तििल
र (Pain in the groin region , pubic region,bladder), कुण्डल (spasm in the
bladed), उदाविू (reverse movement of vata) गल्
ु म (tumour) अनिलाष्ठील (hard
tumour caused by vayu), िाशि कुक्षक्ष गुद श्रोणणग्रहादय (stiffness of umbilicus,
pelvis, annual region, hip region etc..)

महाममू

दिप्राणायििानि मर्
र ाू क्जह्वाबन्र्िां कण्ठो हृदयां िाशिबूक्तिगद
ुू : िक्र
ु मोजो रतिञ्र्च
। िेषामाद्यानि सप्ि पि
ु मूहाममूसांझानि ॥

A.S. Sha 5/53

The following are considered as mahamarma

1. मर्
र ाू head

2. क्जह्वाबन्र्ि muscles of tongue

3. कण्ठ

4. हृदयां

5. िाशि

6. बक्ति

7. गुद

• Shira, basti and Hrudaya are considered as mahamarma by Acharya

Kashyapa
Importance of sira in marma

र्चिुववूर्ा यातिु िरीरे प्रायेण िा: ममूसु सक्न्िववष्टा: ।

तिाय्वक्तिमाांसानि ििैव सन्र्ीि ् सन्िप्यू दे हां प्रनिपालयक्न्ि ॥

स.ु िा ६/१८

4 types of siras namely vata, pitta, kapha and rakta are distributed in the
marma regions and they supply and provide nourishment to the marma

• On injury to the marma vata gets aggravated and spreads to the

surrounding structures through siras and produces severe pain in the body

• Increased pain in the body leads to gradual loss of consciousness and loss
of vital functions in the body

• Hence a surgeon while performing surgery should carefully protect the

marma pradesha

Samanya marma viddha lakshana:-

भ्रम: प्रलाप: पििां प्रमोहो ववर्चेष्टिां सांलयिोष्णिे र्च॥

स्रतिाांगिा मर्च
र ्ू िमध्
र वूवाितिीव्रा रुजो वािकृिाश्र्च िातिा: ॥

माांसोदकािां रुधर्रां र्च गर्च्े ि ् सवेक्न्ियािोपरमतििैव॥

दिार्ूसांख्येष्ववप ववक्षिेषु सामान्यिो ममूसु शलांगमत

ु िम ् ॥

[Link] 25/34-35

• Giddiness

• Delirium

• Falling down

• Confusion

• Loss of movements

• Stupor
• Increased heat

• Laxity of body parts

• Fainting

• Dyspnoea

• Various types of pain caused by vata

• Bleeding which resembles colour of washed meat

• Loss of sensory perception

Dr RASHMI NR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPT OF RACHANA SHAREERA
SDMCA UDUPI