Jatharagni, aka: Jathara-agni, Jaṭharāgni; 8 Definition(s)

Introduction

Jatharagni means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Jathara-agni (Food digestive force) metabolises food to chyle. It is powerful, yet subtle and minute, situated in the lower part of the stomach, duodenum, small intestine and pancreas. Its energetics are present in the Bhuta-agnis and the Dhatu-agnis. It is regarded as God in the body.

Jathara-agni is affected by the doshas in four ways:

1. Sama-agni:—Balanced influence of the tri-doshas. The ideal condition of agni, functioning properly.
2. Vishama-agni:—Errant, variable, unstable, ever-changing. Under the powerful influence of Vayu, found in persons of Vata-prakriti. Will cause indigestion from time to time.
3. Manda-agni:—Low, weak agni. Under the powerful influence of Kapha and found in people with Kapha-prakriti. These people have delayed digestion which always causes them to suffer from indigestion.
4. Tikshna-agni:—Sever agni; agni that’s too strong. Under the poweful influence of Pitta and found in people with Pitta-prakriti, who generally have powerful digestive power. But when tikshna-agni becomes uncontrollable, it creates a diseased condition.

Jāṭharāgni (जाठराग्नि, “digestive fire”):—Digestion is the process of conversion of ingested substances into assimilable form. As said earlier, this process is governed by agni which is known as Jāṭharāgni as it is situated in jaṭhara (abdomen) mainly in its gastrointestinal tract. Grahaṇī (the pyloric portion of stomach and duodenum) has been said as the seat of digestive fire. Evidently it consists of various juices and enzymes which participate in the process. This agni is said as the most important one because without its proper function no food cfould be assimilated which would ultimately lead to loss of life.

Jāṭharāgni (जाठराग्नि, “metabolic fire”) is of the prime importance in the maintenance of health as well as causation of diseases. Food which is consumed by the person shares the major responsibility for being healthy or manifestation of diseases. The relation between food and health is mediated by Jāṭharāgni (the metabolic agent in Ayurveda).

There are four different states of Jāṭharāgni viz,

1. Mandāgni (from manda; mild or weak state of metabolic fire),
2. Viṣamāgni (from viṣama; irregular state of metabolic fire),
3. Tīkṣnāgni (from tīkṣṇa; sharp or intense state of metabolic fire),
4. and Samāgni (from sama; Normal state of metabolic fire).

Samāgni (Normal state of metabolic fire) is said to be the normal State and maintains the health of an individual. All the other states are considered as abnormal.

Jaṭharāgni (जठराग्नि):—This ‘Agni’ finally digests the food. After the food reaches stomach, several digestive juices act on it. Gastric juice, pancreatic juice, and enterocytes in the intestines—all contain important digestive enzymes and act on food.

Jatṭharāgni, though is situated in its own site, has its fractions situated at the tissues. If these fractions become over active, there will be ‘Kṣaya’ (Catabolism) of ‘Dhātu’ and if they become depressed, there will be abnormal ‘Vṛddhi’ of ‘Dhātu’ (Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 11/34).

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Jatharāgni - the inner heat of the body essential for digestion.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

jaṭharāgni (जठराग्नि).—m (S) jaṭharānala S m Fire of the belly; i. e. the digestive power or gastric heat.

jaṭharāgni (जठराग्नि).—m The gastric heat.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Jaṭharāgni (जठराग्नि).—the digestive fire of the stomach, the gastric fluid; पञ्चाग्नेस्तस्य चान्यौ द्वावधिकं ज्वलतः क्षुधा । जठराग्नी सभार्यस्य दरिद्रस्य प्रजाधनैः (pañcāgnestasya cānyau dvāvadhikaṃ jvalataḥ kṣudhā | jaṭharāgnī sabhāryasya daridrasya prajādhanaiḥ) Ks.73.58.

Derivable forms: jaṭharāgniḥ (जठराग्निः).

Jaṭharāgni is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms jaṭhara and agni (अग्नि).

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