Abstract

VIRTUAL STUDY OF KOSTHA AND AASHAY SHARIR

Swarup P. Kulkarni*

Abstract

Human body (Sharir) is divided into 6 parts called as Shadang Sharir. In this shadang sharir, there are 4 extremities (right – left upper and lower, madhya sharir i.e. Koshtha (Trunk region) and 6th part is Shir pradesh (Head region). Out of these, Madhya sharir is called as Kostha pradesh means trunk region which includes Thoracic and Abdominal cavities. So it is also called as Big Cavity. Aashay means Adhisthan (Space) in which the certain materials can be stored. As per Sushrutacharya, in general 7 aashayas are present in the human body (males) as, Vataashay, Pittaashay, Shleshmaashay, Raktaashay, Amashay, Pakwashay, Mootraashay and in females one additional aashay as Garbhashay. According to Sharangdhara, he has mentioned that, stree sharir is having 10 aashayas with inclusion of Garbhashay and 2 Stanyashay. So, Koshtha is big cavity situated in the middle part of the body into which certain organs are located. And Aashay is small cavity inside those certain organs which contains the respective material inside.

Keywords: Koshtha, Aashay, Trunk region, small, cavity inside the organs.