PITHA

Dr. Farseena.k
1st year p.g
Roga nidana department
 “According to the rule that all the
mahabhuthas are represented in the
body,the Thejas mahabhutha is represented
in the body by pitha,though it is itself
panchabhautic in its composition.Functions
of dahana,paka,ushnatva are conducted by
agni in the physical world and it is stated
that these functions are conducted by pitha
in the body.”
Nirukthi
The word pitha is derived from the root “ iÉmÉç
” and it has 3 meanings.
(1) “ iÉmÉç xÉÇiÉÉmÉå ”
(2) “ iÉmÉç SÉWåû ”
(3) “ iÉmÉç LãµÉrÉåï ”
the root “ iÉmÉç ” itself means to generate
heat. It also refers to the act of burning of the
ingested food.
“ iÉÉmÉrÉÌiÉ SWûÌiÉ pÉÑssÉqÉÉWûÉUeÉÉiÉÍqÉÌiÉ
ÌmɨÉqÉç ”
[ÌxɬÉliÉ MüÉæqÉÑÌS]
synonyms

 Agni
 Anala
Composition of pitha

Panchabhautic composition
“ AÉalÉårÉÇ ÌmɨÉ:’’
Trigunatmaka composition
“ xÉiuÉUeÉÉåoÉWÒûsÉÉå AÎalÉ:’’
Locations of pitha
vagbhata charaka susrutha
Nabhi Amashaya
Amashaya Sweda pakvamashaya
Sweda Lasika madhyam
Lasika Rudhira Yakrit
Raktha Pliha
Chakshu Hridaya
Sparshana Drishti
Twak
Qualities of pitha
1.Colour- any colour other than white and red.
Acc.to susrutha-nila [in ama state]
-pita [in mature state]
2.Taste- Katu rasa [in prakrita state]
-Amla rasa [in vidagdha state]
“ MüOÒûUxÉÇ mÉM×ëÌiÉxjÉÇ ÌmɨÉÇ ÌuÉSakÉÇ
rÉÉqsÉuÉåÌiÉ |”
[ QûsWûhÉ on xÉÑ.xÉÔ. 21/11]
3.Smell- visrata and puti
4.Consistency- Drava
5.Other qualities-
Snigdha,ushna,tikshna,sara,laghu,vishada
Physical properties
vagbhata charaka susrutha
 Sneha Sneha Tikshna
 Tikshna Ushna Dravam
 Ushna Tikshna Puti
 Laghu Dravam Nilam
 Visram Amlam Pitam
 Saram Saram Ushna
 Dravam Katu Katu rasa
Amla [if
viagdha]
Normal quantity of pitha

5 Anjalis
Asrayas of pitha

 Sweda &
 Raktha

“ ÌmɨÉÇ iÉÑ xuÉåSU£ürÉÉå: |”

Atmarupas of pitha

“AÉæwhrÉÇ iÉæ¤hrÉÇ
SìuÉiuÉqÉlÉÌiÉxlÉåWûÉå uÉhÉïïvcÉ
vÉÑYsÉÉÂhÉuÉeÉï: aÉlkÉvcÉ ÌuÉxÉë:
UxÉÉæ cÉ MüOÒûMüÉqsÉÉæ xÉUiuÉÇ cÉ
ÌmɨÉxrÉÉiqÉÂmÉÉÍhÉç |”
[cÉ.xÉÔ. 20/15]
 Physiological functions of pitha
 Biological
- Ruchi (desire&relish for food)
- Kshut (appetite and hunger)
- Trishna (thirst)
- Pakthi (digestion and metabolism)
- Ushma (production of normal body

temperature)
- Darshana (visual perception)
- Ragakrit (imparting colour to rasa dhatu and
converting it into raktha dhatu and normal colour to
the skin).
 - Prabha (lusture)
- Deha mardavam (softness of the body)
- Ojaskrit (production of ojas by normal
metabolic process)
 Psychological
- Medhakrit,budhi and dhi (aids in intellectual
functions,understanding)
- Prasada (happiness)
- Sthairyam (courage and valour)
- Krodham (anger)
- Moham
“mÉYirÉÔwqÉÉÍpÉsÉÉwɤÑÉÎimÉ
mÉÉxÉÉmÉëpÉÉmÉëxÉÉS
SvÉïlÉqÉåkÉÉvÉÉærÉïqÉÉSïuÉÉÌ
SÍpÉ: ÌmɨÉqÉç |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ. 19/1]
Five fold action of pitha
according to susrutha

 Ragakrit
 Pakthikrit
 Ojas&Tejaskrit
 Medhakrit
 Ushmakrit
Pathological functions

It causes
 Burning sensations
 Increased body temperature
 Paka
 Excess perspiration
 Increased moisture by excess secretion
 Putrifaction
 Exudation
 Redness
 Pungent & sour taste in mouth
 Appearance of colour except sukla & aruna
“ÌmɨÉxrÉ
SÉWûÉåwqÉmÉÉMüxuÉåSYsÉåSM
üÉåjÉxÉëÉuÉUÉaÉÉ:
MüOèuÉqsÉUxÉiuÉÇ
vÉÑYsÉÉÂhÉuÉerÉïuÉhÉïiÉÉ cÉ |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ 20/16]
Divisions of pitha

pitha

pachaka ranjaka sadhaka alochaka bhrajaka

1. PACHAKA PITHA

LOCATION- b/w amashaya & pakvashaya

FUNCTION
 It attends to the function of dahana &
pachana,hence the name agni.
 It digests food
 Separates sara & kitta
 By remaining in it’s own place,supports
other pithas located in different places
 It is considered as the master of all agnis.
 It is produced from the pithadhara kala.
 The integrity of grahani depends upon the
proper functioning of pachaka pitha.
mÉÉcÉMü ÌmɨÉqÉç

“iÉ§É rÉSÉqÉÉvÉrÉmÉYuÉÉvÉrÉqÉkrÉxjÉÇ
mÉgcÉqÉWûÉpÉÔiÉÉiqÉMüiuÉåÅÌmÉ
iÉåeÉÉåaÉÑhÉÉåiMUçwÉÉiÉç
¤ÉÌmÉiÉxÉÉåqÉaÉÑhÉÇ iÉiÉ¶É irÉ£üSìuÉxuÉpÉÉuÉÇ
xÉWûMüÉËUMüÉUhÉæuÉÉïrÉÑYsÉåSÉÌSÍpÉUlÉÑaÉë
WûÉiÉç SWûlÉmÉcÉlÉÉÌSÌ¢ürÉrÉÉ
sÉoSÉÎalÉvÉoSÇÌmɨÉqɳÉÇ mÉcÉÌiÉ
xÉÉUÌMüOèOûÉæ ÌuÉpÉeÉÌiÉ vÉåwÉÉÍhÉ cÉ
ÌmɨÉxjÉÉlÉÉÌlÉ iɧÉxjÉqÉåuÉÉlÉÑaÉëºûÉÌiÉ iÉiÉç
mÉÉcÉMüÍqÉirÉÑcrÉiÉå |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ. 20/3]
2. RANJAKA PITHA

LOCATION
According to vagbhata-amashaya
susrutha-yakrit & pliha
FUNCTION
It imparts redness to rasa dhathu which is then known as raktha.

“AÉqÉÉvÉrÉxjÉÇ iÉÑ UxÉxrÉ UgeÉlÉÉiÉç UgeÉMüqÉç |”

[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ.20/3]
3. SADHAKA PITHA

LOCATION
Heart
FUNCTION
It helps to achieve the aims of life by
attending to functions such as
descrimination,intelligence,pride & enthusiasm.

“¾èSrÉxjÉÇ
oÉÑÌ®qÉåïkÉÉÍpÉqÉÉlÉÉåixÉÉWæûUÍpÉmÉëå
iÉÉjÉïÉxÉÉkÉlÉÉiÉç xÉÉkÉMüqÉç |
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ.20/3]
4. Alochaka pitha
LOCATION
Eye
FUNCTION
Visualisation of external objects.

“SØØÌ· xjÉÇ
ÃmÉÉsÉÉåcÉlÉÉSÉsÉÉåcÉMüqÉç |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ.20/3]
Classification
according to bhelacharya

alochaka pitha

Budhirvishesha
chakshurvishesha
CHAKSHUR VAISHESIKA
Located in the eye,begins to function
after the correlation of atma and manas
when the object has made its contact with it
leading to the production of the knowledge
of the characteristics like form,colour etc,in
chitta.
BUDHIR VAISHESIKA
Located in sringataka in b/w two
eyebrows.It enables concentration,response
and conjuction of objects.
 5. BHRAJAKA PITHA
LOCATION
Skin
FUNCTION
Expression of colour
It digests the materials used in the form of
abhyanga,parisheka,alepa.
It reflects complexion
“iuÉYxjÉÇ iuÉcÉÉå pÉëÉeÉlÉÉiÉç pÉëÉeÉMüqÉç|
iÉSprÉÇaÉmÉËUwÉæMüÉsÉåmÉÉSÏlÉç
mÉÉcÉrÉÌiÉNûÉrÉÉ¶É mÉëMüÉvÉrÉÌiÉ |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ. 20/3]
Pathological types

1. Pitha kshaya
2. Pitha vridhi
Pitha kshaya

“xiÉqpÉvÉæirÉÉÌlÉrÉiÉiÉÉåSSÉWûÉ
UÉåcÉMüÉÌuÉmÉÉMüÉÇaÉmÉÉÂwr
ÉMüqmÉaÉÉæUuÉlÉZÉlÉrÉlÉvÉÉæY
sÉÉÌSÍpÉ: ÌmɨÉqÉç |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÑ 19/5]
Stiffness
Coldness
Irregular pains
Anorexia
Indigestion
Roughness of body
Tremors
Feeling of heaviness
Whitish discolouration of the nails,eyes etc.
Causes for vitiation of pitha

“ ÌmɨÉÇ MüOèuÉqsÉ iÉϤhAÉåwhÉ

mÉOÒû¢üÉåkÉÌuÉSÉÌWûÍpÉ:

vÉUlqÉkrÉÉ»ûUɧrÉkÉïÌuÉSÉWûxÉq
ÉrÉåwÉÑ cÉ |”
[A.¾èû.ÌlÉ. 1/16]
Ahara
i] Ingestion of food in which katu,amla or lavana
rasa & tikshna or ushna virya are predominent and
those which are laghu or vidahi in nature.
ii] Intake of oil of tila,pinyaka or oil seed
cake,kulatha,sarshapa,atasi,the green leafy
vegetable known as harenuka,the flesh of
godha,fish orgoat,curd,buttermilk,masthu,sauviraka.
vihara
i]MENTAL:-anger,grief,fear and fright.
ii]PHYSICAL:-unsatisfactory or disturbed intercourse
and excessive exposure to sunlight,heat etc.
Season & time
summer and autumn,noon,midnight,middle
age,middle phase of digestion.
Physiological increase of pitha

“ uÉrÉÉåÅWûÉåU̧ÉpÉÑYiÉÉlÉÉÇÇ iÉå
AliÉqÉkrÉÉÌSMüÉ: ¢üqÉÉiÉçç|”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ. 1]

Pitha increases during the middle

stages of
 Age
 Day
 Night &
 Digestion
Pitha vridhi

“mÉÏiÉiuÉaasÉÉlÉÏÎlSìrÉ
SÉæoÉïsrÉÉæeÉÉåÌuÉxÉëÇxÉvÉÏiÉÉÍpÉsÉ
ÉwÉ
SÉWûÌiÉ£üÉxrɧÉçhqÉÔcNûÉsmÉÌlÉSìiÉ
É ¢üÉåkÉÉÌSÍpÉ: ÌmɨÉqÉç |”
[A.xÉÇ.xÉÔ 19/3]
 Yellowish discolouration of skin
 Fatigue
 Weakness of sense organs
 Decrease of ojas
 Desire for cold
 Feeling of burning sensation
 Bitter taste in mouth
 Thirst
 Fainting,anger etc.
 Pitha in different stages of
vridhi
“
cÉrÉmÉëMüÉåmÉmÉëvÉqÉÉuÉÉrÉÉåaÉëÏïvq
ÉÉÌSwÉÑ Ì§ÉwÉÑ |
uÉwËÉÌSwÉÑ
chaya iÉÑ ÌmɨÉxrÉ
varsha
vsÉåwqÉhÉ:ÍvÉÍvÉUÉÌSwÉÑ
(accumulation) ||”
prakopa sarat
(aggravation)
prashama hemantha
(alleviation)
 SYMPTOMS OF PITHA IN CHAYA AVASTHA

 mÉÏiÉÉuÉpÉxÉiÉÉ
PRAKOPAVASTHA
 AqsÉÏMüÉ
 ÌmÉmÉÉxÉÉ
 mÉËUSÉWû
PRASARA AVASTHA
 AÉãwÉ
 cÉÉåwÉ
 mÉËUSÉW
 kÉÔqÉÉrÉlÉ
STHANA SAMSRAYA AVASTHA / DHATHUSTHA PITHA
LAKSHNA

iuÉMçü ÌuÉxÄTüÉåOûMüÇ,qÉxÉÔËUM
U£üqÉç ÌuÉxÉmÉïqÉç,SÉWûqÉç
qÉÉÇxÉq qÉÉÇxÉmÉÉMüMüÉåjÉlÉqÉç
Éç
qÉåSxÉç xÉSÉWûaÉëÎljÉ,xuÉåSÉirÉѪqÉl
ÉqÉç,§É×wÉqÉç
AÎxjÉ SÉWûqÉç
qÉeeÉÉ WûÉËUSìlÉZÉlÉå§ÉiÉÉ
vÉÑYsÉq mÉÔÌiÉmÉÏiÉuÉpÉxÉÇ
Éç vÉÑYsÉqÉç
ÍxÉUÉ ¢üÉåkÉqÉç
xlÉÉrÉÑ §É×wÉqÉç
Sama pitha

“ SÒaÉïlkÉÇ WûËUiÉÇ vrÉÉuÉÇ

ÌmɨÉqÉqsÉÇ ÎxjÉUÇ aÉÑÂ
AÎqsÉMüÉ MühP¾è¬ÉWûMüUÇ
xÉÉqÉÇ ÌuÉÌlÉÌSïvÉåiÉç |”
[qÉÉ.ÌlÉ 1/4]
Nirama pitha

“AÉiÉÉqÉëmÉÏiÉqÉirÉÑwhÉÇ UxÉå
MüOÒûMüqÉÎxjÉUqÉç
mÉYuÉÇ ÌuÉaÉÎlkÉ cÉ ÌuÉ¥ÉrÉÇ
ÂÍcÉmÉÌ£üoÉsÉmÉëSqÉç |”
[qÉÉ.ÌlÉ. 1/4]