E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Vitap Marma

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2023 Volume 8 Number 10 October
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

A conceptual review on Vitap Marma

Sahu T1*, Singh D2, Kumar K3
DOI:10.21760/jaims.8.10.27

1* Tripti Sahu, Final Year Post Graduate Scholar, Department Of Rachana Sharira, Shri Narayan Prasad Awasthi Government Ayurveda College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

2 Dileep Singh, Lecturer, Department of Rachana Sharira, Shri Narayan Prasad Awasthi Government Ayurveda College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

3 Kuldeep Kumar, Lecturer, Department of Rachana Sharira, Shri Narayan Prasad Awasthi Government Ayurveda College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

The term Marma (vital point) is defined as “Maryanti iti Marmani” that spot when injured kills the person. The Vitap Marma is considered as Snayu Marma by Acharya Sushruta and Sira Marma by Acharya Vagbhata with dimension of one Angula. The effect of injury in Vitap Marma is infertility or deformities in spermatogenesis and Oogenesis. According to WHO infertility is defined as failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwide and has an impact on their families and communities. Estimates suggest that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with infertility globally. Vitap Marma is situated between pelvis and scrotum. Vitap Marma should be identified as inguinal canal consisting of spermatic cord.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Vaikalyakara Marma, Vitap Marma, Inguinal canal

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Tripti Sahu, Final Year Post Graduate Scholar, Department Of Rachana Sharira, Shri Narayan Prasad Awasthi Government Ayurveda College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Email: 		Sahu T, Singh D, Kumar K, A conceptual review on Vitap Marma. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2023;8(10):179-181.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2826

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2023-08-16 2023-08-21 2023-08-26 2023-08-31 2023-09-25
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None declared Nil Yes 20.67%

© 2023by Sahu T, Singh D, Kumar Kand Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

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Tripti Sahu et al. A conceptual review on Vitap Marma

Introduction

Ayurveda is the science which deals with the knowledge of life or else longevity can be achieved through it, so it is called the science of life.[1] Marma are the vulnerable areas where muscles, vessels, ligaments, bones and joints meet together which by virtue of their nature are specially the seats of life.[2] There are 107 Marma. Different Acharyas have classified Marma depending upon their Rachna (structure), Sthana (location), Viddha Lakshana (traumatic effect) and Parimana (dimension). Depending upon Viddha Lakshan Marma are categorized into 5 groups - Sadhyapranahara, Kalantarpranahara, Vishalyaghna, Vaikalyakara and Rujakara.[3] Vaikalyakara Marma are the points if injured at the periphery would trouble the patient after some time and give rise to pain also.[4] When Vaikalyakara Marma are injured the person suffers deformities only, if the body is protected by the efficiency of the physician.[5] The Vaikalyakara Marma possess Saumya properties. The Soma maintains life by virtue of its stable and cooling qualities.[6] The Vaikalyakara Marma are 44 in number which are Lohitaksha (4), Ani (4), Janu (2), Urvi (4), Kurch (4), Vitap (2), Kurpar (2), Kukundra (2), Kaksadhara (2), Vidhura (2), Krikatika (2), Ansa (2), Ansaphalaka (2), Apanga (2), Nila (2), Manya (2), Phana (2) and Avarta (2).[7]

Materials and Methods

Ayurvedic Review

According to Acharya Sushruta, the Vitap Marma is situated between the Vankashan (groin) and the Vrishan (testis) and injury to this leads to Shandhata (impotency) or Alpa Shukrata (Oligospermia).[8] According to Acharya Vagbhata, Vitap Marma is located between Mushka and Vankshana and injury to this leads to Shandata.[9] Vitap Marma is mentioned as Snayu Marma by Sushruta[10] and Sira Marma by Vagbhatta.[9] The dimension of Vitapa Marma is one Angula.[11,12]

Modern Review

Inguinal canal[13]- It is an oblique passage through the lower part of the anterior abdominal wall. In the males, it allows structures to pass to and from the testis to the abdomen. In females it allows the round ligament of uterus to pass from

the uterus to the labium majus. The canal is about 4cm long in the adult and extend from the deep inguinal ring to the superficial inguinal ring.

Structure beneath inguinal canal

1)  Spermatic cord in males and round ligament of the uterus in
2)  Ilioinguinal

Contents of Spermatic Cord

1)  Vas Deferens
2)  Testicular Artery
3)  Testicular Veins
4)  Testicular lymph vessels
5)  Genital Branch of Genitofemoral nerve.

Covering of spermatic cord

1) External Spermatic fascia.
2) Cremasteric Fascia
3) Internal spermatic fascia.

Discussion

Vitap Marma is situated between Vankshan and Vrishana, Vankshan is Adhoshakhagata Sandhi[14] which is the hip joint. The midinguinal point is the indicator for the hip joint.[15] The Vitap Marma is situated between the mid inguinal point and lower part of pubic symphsis in the groin region at level of superficial inguinal ring. The dimension of Vitap Marma is one Angula. One Angula is approximately 2 cm. The average dimension of the superficial inguinal ring is 1.95cm. The Angula Pramana of Vitap Marma and dimension of superficial inguinal ring is approximately equal to each other. Vitap Marma is bilaterally situated Snayu Marma, Snayu are the binding structure in the body which binds the Mamsa, Asthi and Meda.[16] The corresponding structures in this Marma are the content of Superficial inguinal ring. They are ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerve with spermatic cord. Vagbhata included this in Sira Marma. The Sira are the structure which allows the continuous flow through it.[17] The superficial and deep external pudendal vessels, artery to ductus deferens, testicular artery, cremasteric artery are seen along the region of Vitapa Marma. These may be the Sira component of the Vitapa Marma. An injury to these structures may cause impotency. The ductus deferens in the spermatic cord are in charge of transporting the sperm.[18] If it is injured, the


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sperm flow is obstructed which leads to decreased sperm count or absence of the sperm in semen during ejaculation that affect reproduction. Interruption of testicular artery in the region of the spermatic cord and artery for ductus deferens and other arteries and pampiniform plexus of vein are in charge of maintaining the tissue perfusion with nutrition and oxygen. The impact of injury in these particular vessels result in the ischemic condition of the testis, ductus deferens, even the structures of spermatic cord etc. followed by infarction and necrotic changes which ultimately lead to infertility or sterility.

Conclusion

Acharya Sushruta contemplated Vitap Marma as Snayu Marma, so we can take spermatic cord in male and round ligament in the female, which are the contents of inguinal canal. Acharya Vagbhata contemplated it as a Sira Marma. So, we can take testicular arteries and cresmasteric arteries which are also a part of inguinal canal.

References

1. Singhal, G.D. Sushruta Samhita Ancient Indian Surgery with English Translation. 2nd ed. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan; 2007. (Su.Su.1/15)

2. Singhal, G.D. Sushruta Samhita Ancient Indian Surgery with English Translation. 2nd ed. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan; 2007. (Su.Sha.6/15)

3. Singhal, G.D. Sushruta Samhita Ancient Indian Surgery with English Translation. 2nd ed. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan; 2007. (Su.Sha.6/8)

4. Murthy, K.R. Srikantha. Susruta Samhita, text with English Translation. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012. (Su.Sha.6/22)

5. Murthy, K.R. Srikantha. Susruta Samhita, text with English Translation. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012. (Su.Sha.6/38)

6. Murthy, K.R. Srikantha. Susruta Samhita, text with English Translation. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2012. (Su.Sha.6/16)

7. Singhal, G.D. Sushruta Samhita Ancient Indian Surgery with English Translation.

2nd ed. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratishthan; 2007. (Su.Sha.6/13)

8. Shastri, Ambikadutta. Ayurved Tatva Sandipika hindi vyakhya, Vaigyanikavimarsh of Sushruta Samhita, Purvardha. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prakashan; 2012. (Su.Sha.6/24)

9. Tripathi, Brahmananda. Astang Hridyam of Srimadvagbhata, Edited with Nirmala Hindi commentary. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan; 2012. (A.H.Sha.4/7)

10. Shastri, Ambikadutta. Ayurved Tatva Sandipika hindi vyakhya, Vaigyanikavimarsh of Sushruta Samhita, Purvardha. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prakashan; 2012. (Su.Sha.6/7)

11. Shastri, Ambikadutta. Ayurved Tatva Sandipika hindi vyakhya, Vaigyanikavimarsh of Sushruta Samhita, Purvardha. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prakashan; 2012. (Su.Sha.6/29)

12. Tripathi, Brahmananda. Astang Hridyam of Srimadvagbhata, Edited with Nirmala Hindi commentary. Delhi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan; 2012. (A.H.Sha.4/60-63)

13. Snell, Richard S. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. New Delhi: Wolters Kluwer (India) Pvt. Ltd; 2012. p. 127.

14. Murthy, K.R. Srikantha. Susruta Samhita, text with English Translation. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2010.

15. Chaurasia, B.D. Human Anatomy - Regional and Applied Dissection and Clinical. 5th ed. New Delhi: CBS Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd.; 2009. p. 61.

16. Shastri, Vidyasagar. Sarangdhar Samhita, Deepika commentary of Adamalla and Gudarthadipika of Kashiram. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2002. p. 40.

17. Agnivesh. Charak Samhita of Chakrapani Datt, Edited by Vaidya Yadavji Trikamji. Varanasi: Chaukambha Prakashan; 2013. (Cha. Su. 30/12)

18. Gray, H. Gray’s Anatomy- The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 38th ed. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2006. p. 1557.


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