Abstract

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGNI AND THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE OF PANCREATIC ENZYMES

Dr. Rajat Chhabra*, Prof. (Dr.) Srikanta Kumar Panda

Abstract

Ayurveda the most ancient system of medicine which deals with the principles of life and health, has described an important principle, namely, Trayopstambh which includes Aahara (Diet), Nidra (Sleep) and Brahmacharya (Celibacy) as the three most important pillars of life which are responsible for the sustenance of life of human beings. The first and foremost importance has been given to aahara or the diet of an individual, the reason being that aahara is responsible for the maintenance of the physical stature of an individual as well as forms the structural and functional basis of a human being. In the process of digestion of this aahara, Ayurveda has also explained the concept of agni, which can be considered as the Digestive fire and helps in biotransformation of the components of the food so that the nutrition can be very well utilised in the body and helps in nurturing the body. Given the significance Pancreatic enzymes play in the body's digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food, an essential component of agni might be thought of as the Pancreatic enzymes. As part of the biotransformation processes occurring in the human body, pancreatic enzymes convert heterogeneous compounds into homogenous substances, aid in biochemical reactions at the tissue level, thus aids in food digestion. As a result, an effort is undertaken to link the roles of the pancreatic enzymes with agni.

Keywords: Agni, Pancreatic enzymes, Trayopstambha, Jatharagni, Mahabhutas.