Role of Agni in growth and development in children

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REVIEW ARTICLE Nov-Dec 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | Nov - Dec 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 6 240 Role of Agni in growth and development in children Dr. Shruti 1 , Dr. Bhosgikar Anup 2 1 Post Gradauate Scholar, 2 Associate Professor, Dept. of Shareera Rachana, N.K. Jabshetty Ayurvedic Medical College, Bidar, Karnataka, INDIA. I NTRODUCTION Agni is invariable agent in the process of digestion, transformation. Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is necessary for the maintenance of life and this function is performed by the Agni. The entire basic physics and biology of Ayurvedic science are greatly differ from the modern science. Ayurveda has its own theories like theory of Triguna , theory of Panchmahabhuata , theory of Tridosha and the concept of Agni . Ahara is one among the three pillars of the body ( Ahara , Nidra , Bramhcharya ). Food nourishes the body and gives stability to all the living beings. Growth and Address for correspondence: Dr. Shruti Post Graduate Scholar, Dept. of Shareera Rachana, N.K. Jabshetty Ayurvedic Medical College, Bidar, Karnataka, INDIA. E-mail: shrutiganesh 0@gmail.com Submission Date: 24/11/2020 Accepted Date: 15/12/2020 Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: www.jaims.in Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization, Vijayapur, Karnataka (Regd) under the license CCby-NC-SA development are the normal biological phenomenon of all living beings; this journey begins from juvenile stage to the status of a complete organism. O BJECTIVE To know the superiority of Agni role in growth and development of child. A GNI Susrutacharya declared that ‘we can’t find any Agni other than Pitta’ [1] This Agni is not in the form of flame as the terrestrial fire but it is in the form of liquid which is c alled as ‘ Pitta’ in Ayurveda . Charakacharya also considered Pachaka Pitta as Agni [2] This clears all confusions and Agni in the body prevails in the form of Pitta . Pittadhara Kala is situated between the Amashaya and Pakwashaya (mainly duodenum) is considered as the site of Agni. [3] Agni enhances life span ( Ayu ), colour & complexion ( Varna ), strength ( Bala ), state of good health ( Swasthata ), enthusiasm ( Utsaha ), nourishment, growth & development ( Upachaya ), grace ( Kanti ), Immunity ( Oja ), Dhatvagni and Panchmahabhut Agni also depend on Jatharagni. [4] A B S T R A C T Ahara is considered as Bahyaprana in Ayurvedic science as it plays prime role in maintaining homeostasis of the body. In Ayurveda the term Agni is used in the sense of digestion of food and metabolic procedure. Nutrition is the basic fundamental need of every living organism also the human beings. To cope up the need of all physiological functions of human body, an uninterrupted supply of nutrition is necessary. It is more essential and subject of concern for infant and children during period of their growth and development. Growth is physical increase in size; development is growth in function and capability. Both processes highly depend on genetic, environmental factors and nutrition i.e. Ahara which is digested by Agni for its absorption. Agni is force of intelligence within each cell, tissue and system and it plays key role in growth and development of children. Key words: Ahara, Agni, Children, Growth, Development.

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Dr. Shruti et al. Role of Agni in growth and development in children ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE Nov-Dec 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | Nov - Dec 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 6 241 Ahara Food is said to be cause of stability for all the living beings. There is nothing else than diet for sustaining the life of living beings. Any other medicament just like diet is not available. Food is capable to make man disease free, diet is said to be the great medicament [5] Satisfaction, nutrition, patience, buddhi (critical understanding), enthusiasm, virility, strength, goodvoice, Oja (immunity), glow, life, geniousness and radiance etc. All such qualities in the human beings develop only from diet, that is why the person desires of long life should eat appropriate quantity of food with six Rasas in proper time [6] Growth and Development Growth and development is a journey from the juvenile stage to the status of a complete organism. Medical fraternity considered this journey in 2 aspects. a) Growth implies a net increase in the size or mass of tissues and occurs due to multiplication of cells and increase in the intracellular substance. B) Development is defined as maturation of functions. Depend on maturation and myelination of the nervous system and denotes acquisition of a variety of competence for optimal functioning of the individual [7] Influence of Samskaras on the growth and development of children . ▪ Jatakarma - This Sanskar is to be performed immediately after birth of new born. The first licking with Madhu (honey) and Ghrita (ghee) gives sufficient stimulation to gastrointestinal system, intristic nerve plexus, so as to stimulate Agni and start digestion. Madhu and Ghrita preparation acting as Medya, Ayushkara, Pushtikaram and also stimulate immune system of child [8] ▪ Nishkarmana - This Sanskar is done at third or fourth month of after birth. It is for the first time, child is exposed to some sort of external environment so that the responds to external stimuli mainly visual and auditory like looking at sun, moon, sound of temple etc helps to confirm the proper functioning of the sense organs especially eye and ear [9] ▪ Phalaprashana - This Sanskar is specially stated by Acharya Kashyapa . In this Sanskar child is supplemented with fruits, which are rich in vit c, which is absent in mother’s milk. vit c is an essential component in Agnivardhka and development of immune system and it also has antioxidant property [10] ▪ Annaprashana - Upto one year the child is considered as Ksheerda at second year known as Ksheerannad second year onwards turns as Annanda [11] Above second year child starts getting food with required nutrients, so that requirement of tissues in the body get fulfilled leading to proper growth and development. If Agni is hampered in the body obliviously food digestion is hampered, child will not get sufficient nutrition for the normal growth and development, this may leads to many diseases in child which can be compared with protein energy malnutrition. a) Karshya / Krushata - In Karshya child having symptoms like anorexia loss of interest in food, emaciated buttocks, neck, abdomen and child look like skinny and bony [12] b) Balashosha - Child suffers from lack of appetite, cough, fever, pallor of face and eyes [13] c) Phakka - It is the condition when child is unable to walk by his own after completion of one year is grossly considered as Phakka [14] DISCUSSION Agni is considered as the life of living being. The quality of Agni is very much important for proper digestion. Similarly Ahara is considered as Bahyaprana as it gives nourishment to body and protects from the infection improves functioning of sense organs imparts physical and mental well-being and enhances process of growth and development in child. More than the food quality, the Agni role is

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Dr. Shruti et al. Role of Agni in growth and development in children ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE Nov-Dec 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | Nov - Dec 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 6 242 superior because if food is not digested then no matter how much nutritional value the food possess it cannot be utilized by the body, thus retarding the children normal growth and development. Disturbed Agni is hampering the food digestion, absorption process and leading to malnutrition in the child. CONCLUSION Growth and development are normal biological phenomenon of all living beings. Child growth and development examines the physical, biological, Social and emotional growth of young child to adult. In this process family, playing, health and nutrition are vital theories which put impact on their normal growth and development. In Ayurvedic view Agni is the invariable agent in the process of digestion, transformation. Nutritional food ingested by the child is digested by Agni leading to normal growth and development in child. REFERENCES 1 Shastri Ambikadatta Kaviraj, Sushruta Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, 2014,114 pp. 2 Shastri Kasinatha, Chaturvedi Gorakhanath, Charak Samhita Part-1, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2013,251 pp. 3 Sharma Anantaram, Sushruta Samhita, 1 st Edition, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Subharati Publication, 2004, 317 pp. 4 Shastri Kasinatha, Chaturvedi Gorakhanath, Charak Samhita Part-2, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharati Academy,2013,452 pp. 5 Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati,2008,468 pp. 6 Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati,2008,469 pp. 7 K.S Dinesh, Kaumarabhrtya, Reprint, Newdelhi: Chaukhamba Publications,2019,117 pp. 8 Shastri Kasinatha, Chaturvedi Gorakhanath, Charak Samhita Part-1 ,Reprint, Varanasi:Chaukhamba Bharati Academy,2013,650 pp. 9 Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati, 2008,595 pp. 10 Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati,2008,599 pp. 11 Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati, 2008, Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati,2008,599 pp. 12 Shastri Kasinatha, Chaturvedi Gorakhanath, Charak Samhita Part-1, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharati Academy,2013,414 pp. 13 Tewari P.V, Kumar Neeraj, Kashyapa Samhita, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Visvabharati, 2008,243 pp. 14 Kunte Annamoreswar, Sastri Krisna Ramachandra, paradakar hari Sadasivam Sastri, Astanga hrdaya, Reprint, Varanasi: Chaukhamba Surabharati Prakashaa, 2007,784 pp. ******************************* How to cite this article: Dr. Shruti, Dr. Bhosgikar Anup. Role of Agni in growth and development in children. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci 2020;6:240-242. Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared. Copyright © 2020 The Author(s); Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization, Vijayapur (Regd). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.