Agni is regarded in Ayurveda as the fundamental determinant in health, disease and therapeutic success in Ayurveda. Panchakarma, being the supreme purificatory therapy, is deeply governed by the status of Agni at every stage of its administration. The classical treatises of the Brihatrayee repeatedly emphasizes that the success, safety, and therapeutic excellence of Panchakarma depends on the proper assessment, protection and restoration of Agni. The present study is a comprehensive study elucidating the role of Agni in Panchakarma with special reference to Charaka samhitha, Susruta samhitha, Ashtanga hridaya. Textual references related to influence of Agni on Purvakarma, Pradhana karma, Paschat karma, indications and contraindications of various procedures on Agni status, panchakarma measures for Agni dipana, and complications arising from negligence of Agni have been critically analyzed. Thus prevention and regulation of Agni constitute the core principle for achieving Samyak Shodhana and long term maintenance of health. This study highlights that Agni serves as both a prerequisite for selecting dosage and a primary clinical indicator of successful detoxification.
Dr. B. Lekhya Reddy1*, Dr. Siri Chandana2, Dr. Geetha Kanchan3, Dr. Ch. Ramadevi4 (Sun,) studied this question.