E-ISSN:2456-3110

Review Article

Fundamental Principal

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2024 Volume 9 Number 6 JUNE
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Concept of Maha Srotas - A literary review on the basis of fundamental principal

Rohit KP 1*,Shuchi D 2
DOI:10.21760/jaims.9.6.48

1*Rohit Kumar Patel , Md Kriya Sharir, Dept of Kriya Sharir, Pt Khusilal Sharma Govt Auto Ayurvedic College and Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

2 Shuchi Dubey , Associate Professor, Dept of Kriya Sharir, Pt Khusilal Sharma govt Auto Ayurvedic College and Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Background: Gastrointestinal tract is largest Srotas and term as Maha Srotas. The Doshas, Vata Pitta, Kapha also circulate through Srotas. But obstruction of Srotas is cause of Sroto Dusti (Sroto Vyadhi) and it disturbs Physiological functions of Dosha, Dhatu, Malas.

Material and Methods: Literary research based on Study of Ayurvedic Samhitas and published research articles.

Result: Srotas is internal transport system of the body and represents by Mahasrotas has been given a place of fundamental importance in Ayurveda both in health and disease. The obstruction of Mahasrotas responsible for many physiological abnormalities, similarly transportation of disturbed Doshas through Srotas leads various disease thus proper working of Maha Srotas is essential for retaining good health.

Conclusion: The Srotas not only help in nutritional transportation but also support healing process. Srotas maintain physiological balance through exchange of Doshas and Dhatu. Maha Srotas transports factors that cause the Prakopa (Aggravation) or Samana (Allevation) of Doshas. Dosha get vitiated due to Apathaya Aahar Vihara causing Khavagunya and disease process occurs. So as to know the prognosis and treat the disease, Knowledge of Maha Srotas is necessary.

Keywords: Srotas, Mahasrotas, Annavahasrotas, Channels, Sroto Dusthi

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Kumar Patel Rohit, Md Kriya Sharir, Dept of Kriya Sharir, Pt Khusilal Sharma Govt Auto Ayurvedic College and Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Email: 		Rohit KP, Shuchi D, Concept of Maha Srotas - A literary review on the basis of fundamental principal. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2024;9(6):299-301.
Available From
https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3503

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
Authors state no conflict of interest. Non Funded. The conducted research is not related to either human or animals use. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

© 2024by Rohit KP, Shuchi Dand 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].

J Ayu Int Med Sci 2024;9(6)299
Rohit Kumar Patel et al. Concept of Maha Srotas

Introduction

In Ayurveda great emphasis has laid upon concept of Srotas and got immense importance because the Sharir or Purush is assumed to be made of innumerable Srotas. The Ayurvedic Samhitas described anatomical and physiological concepts of Srotas is broadly.

Total 13 Srotas are described by Charaka and Sushruta has described 11 Srotas. Srotas is derived from “Sru Gatou” root which means filtering, flowing, leaking, secreting etc. Srotas is the functional channel within the living body, concerned with one exclusive vital functions.

Srotas are the base of transformation of nutrients in biological elements, being the metabolic center of that particular Dhatu, transport of nutrients and waste products. Srotas which is the transport system of the body has many synonyms like Srotamsi, Siras, Dhamnis, Rasayanis etc.

Ayurvedic Nidan (Diagnosis) & Chikitsa (Treatment) are built on fundamental principal like Panchmahabhuta, Triguna, Tridosha. Conceptually body has as many Srotas as it contains the biochemical entities and all metabolic activities take place in the concerned Srotas. Srotas is nothing but the space (Akash / Avakash ) defined by boundaries of Panchmahabhautik entity. The Doshas, Vata Pitta, Kapha also circulate through Srotas. But obstruction of Srotas is cause of Sroto Dusti (Sroto Vyadhi) and its disturb Physiological functions of Dosha, Dhatu, Malas.

Materials and Methods

Literary research based on Study of Ayurvedic Samhitas and published research articles.

Discussion

In Ayurveda, great emphasis has laid upon concept of Srotas and got immense importance because the Sharir or Purush is assumed to be made of innumerable Srotas.[1] Srotas is derived from ‘Sru Gatou’ root which means mooring, filtering, flowing, leaking, secreting etc.[2] Srotas is internal transport system of the body. Total 13 Srotas are described by Charak while Susruta has described 11 Srotas.[3] The Srotas is gastrointestinal tract is largest Srotas and term as Annavaha Srotas or Maha Srotas and Annavaha

Srotas is commonly described by both Acharya. Annavaha Srotas have their origin in Aamashaya and the left lateral side. The symptoms such as loss of desire for food, anorexia, indigestion and vomiting indicate the affection of Annavaha Srotas.[4]

Specific functioning of Srotas

Anna Vaha Srotas performs function of nutritional supply since it covers esophagus & gastrointestinal tract. Prana Vaha Srotas perform function of transportation of Vayu since it moves through heart & respiratory tract.

Rasa Vaha & Rakta Vaha Srotas transport Rasa & Rakta through the heart venous, arteriole circulatory system. Sweda Vaha & Meda Vaha Srotas performs detoxification since it covers subcutaneous fat tissue & sweat glands along with micro pores of the skin.

Mano Vaha & Majja Vaha Srotas responsible for neuronal and sensory transportation since Mula, Marga & Mukha of this Srotas belongs from brain, spinal cord & nervous systems along with sense organs & Marma points etc.

Sukra Vaha, Artava Vaha & Rajah Vaha Srotas transported essential component throughout the reproductive and sexual organs since these Srotas belongs from testicles, ovaries & aeriole of the nipples.

Stanya Vaha Srotas help in lactation since their routes covers lactation glands, lactiferous ducts & nipple. Purisha Vaha Srotas help for the circulation of Dushti Vayu from cecum, rectum and intestine then through anal orifice. Mutra Vaha Srotas helps for detoxification through urinary tract.[5-9]

Physiological significance of Srotas

There is much diversity in Srotas, as there is in elements that compose structure of body. All body entities which are present in body possess their own ‘Srotas’. All body entities get replenished in own Srotas. We can understand from this quotation that, at time of Charaka Samhita, knowledge of internal transport system of body had reached a high degree of development. The living body is nothing but resultant of aggregation of innumerable ‘Srotamsi’, that are transporters of factors which causes Prakopa (excitation) or Shamana (alleviation) of Sharira Doshas.[10]


J Ayu Int Med Sci 2024;9(6)300
Rohit Kumar Patel et al. Concept of Maha Srotas

Conclusion

Ayurvedic classics proclaim “Srotomayam hi Shariram” means living body is a channel system comprised of innumerable channels which are designed as inner transport system for divergent functions gross, tangle and intangible, biological and energetic. Annavaha Srotas describe in Ayurvedic epics is related to structural and functional units associated with mechanical and chemical digestion in esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Acharya Charaka in Vimansthan, and Acharya Sushrut in Sharirsthan, Explained Annavah Srotos in Srotas Sharir. Annavah Srotas are those channels in the body which transport the food and liquid. The group of organs conserved with Anna Grahana, Anna Pachana, Sara- Kitta Vivechana and absorption of Sara Bhaga is called as Annvaha Srotas.[11,12] So it is also called as a Mahasrotas.

The internal transport system of the body, represented by Srotas, has been given a place of fundamental importance in Ayurveda-both in health and disease - an importance, which recent developments in the field of medicine have begun to emphasis. No any structure in the body can grow and development or waste and atrophy, independent of Srotas that transport all seven Dhatus, which latter are constantly subjected to transformation. The Srotas sub-serve the needs of transportation. When the integrity of Srotas is impaired both Sthayi and Asthayi Dhatus involved, and morbidity spreads by one Dhatu vitiating other and Srotas another Srotas. The obstruction of Mahasrotas responsible for many physiological abnormalities, similarly transportation of disturbed Doshas through Srotas leads various disease thus proper working of Maha Srotas is essential for retaining good health.

References

1. Jadavji Trikamji Acharya, Charak Samhita of Agnivesh elaborated by Charak & Dridhabala, with Ayurveda Dipika Commentary, Chapter 5th, Vimansthan Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan, Varanasi 2005, Page no. 250.

2. Ranade S. Deshpande R. & Chobhe S. Sharirkriya Vijnan, Vol. 2, Chapter 5, New Delhi; Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan, Page no. 47.

3. Ghanekar B. G. Sushruta Samhita, Ayurvedrahasyadeepika hindi commentary, Sharirsthana, Chapter 9 verse: 11, Reprint edition, New Delhi; Meharchand laxman das publication; 2009; Page no. 238.

4. Sharma P V, editor, text with English translation, Charak Samhita, Volume - 1, Vimansthana; Chapter 5, Reprint ed. Varanasi; Chukhambha Orientalia, 5/4 2011; Page no. 330

5. V.Sharma editor–translator. Caraka Samhita Vol.I. Reprint ed. Varanasi: Vimansthana, Chapter 5 Reprint ed. Varanasi; Chukhambha Orientalia, 5/5 2011; Page no. 329

6. V. Sharma editor–translator. Caraka SamhitaVol.1 Reprint ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia, Vimansthana, Chapter 5, 5/6 2011; Page no.333

7. R. Srikantha murthy editor, Susruta Samhita Vol. 2 , 1 st ed. Varanasi Chaukhamba Orientalia, Sharir sthan 2001,Page no. 80.

8. R. Srikantha Murthy editor. Susruta Samhita. Vol-II. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia. Appendix, 2001; Page no. 224.

9. V. Sharma editor–translator. Caraka SamhitaVol.1 Varanasi: Chaukhamba Orientalia, Vimansthana, 5/6 Page no.333.

10. Agnivesha, Charaka Samhita Volume I, Vimana sthana Chowkhamba Sanskrit Santhana, Varanasi Prakashan; 6 ed. 2000, 5/3 Page no. 590.

11. Charak samhita with Ayurved Dipika Commentry of Chakrapanidatta, Purvardha, Vd. Y. G. Joshi, Vaidyamitra prakashan, reprinted, Vimansthan, 2013; 5/8: 541.

12. Vd. Athvale, Vd. P. G. Athvale,Drushtartha Sushrut chintan with Nibandh sangrah commentary of Dalhana, Nyaychandrika commentary of Gaydas and Padmini Tika of Part 1,Shree Dhanvantari Books Publishers, Nagpur, repainted, 2017; 9/12: 611.


J Ayu Int Med Sci 2024;9(6)301