Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 7
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
श्लेष्मणश्चामपित्ताभ्यां पक्वाशयस्तु पञ्चमः वायुमूत्राशयः सप्तः स्त्रीणां गर्भाशयो ऽष्टमः
śleṣmaṇaścāmapittābhyāṃ pakvāśayastu pañcamaḥ vāyumūtrāśayaḥ saptaḥ strīṇāṃ garbhāśayo 'ṣṭamaḥ
শ্লেষ্ম (কফ) ও আম-পিত্তের সঙ্গে সংশ্লিষ্ট পাক্বাশয় পঞ্চম আশয়। বায়ু-আশয় ও মূত্র-আশয় সপ্তম বলে গণ্য; আর নারীদের ক্ষেত্রে গর্ভাশয় অষ্টম।
Lord Agni (in instruction to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Clinical localization of doṣa/dūṣya processes by identifying āśayas (pakvāśaya, vāyu-āśaya, mūtrāśaya, garbhāśaya), aiding diagnosis of digestive, urinary, and gynecological conditions and guiding diet/lifestyle/therapy selection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Āśaya Enumeration: Pakvāśaya, Vāyu-āśaya, Mūtrāśaya, and Garbhāśaya","lookup_keywords":["pakvāśaya","āma-pitta","śleṣman (kapha)","mūtrāśaya","garbhāśaya"],"quick_summary":"Identifies pakvāśaya as a key receptacle linked with kapha and āma-pitta, counts vāyu-āśaya and mūtrāśaya among the āśayas, and adds garbhāśaya as an additional receptacle in women. Provides an anatomical-functional map for digestive, urinary, and reproductive assessment."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Body as an ordered system of ‘receptacles’ where functional principles (doṣas, wastes, reproductive capacity) reside; knowledge supports right action (yukti) in care.
Application: Use ‘seat-based’ thinking: identify where a process is rooted (pakvāśaya/mūtrāśaya/garbhāśaya) before intervening, avoiding purely symptom-based treatment.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Śārīra / Anatomy & Physiology)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An anatomical teaching scene highlighting the lower abdomen: pakvāśaya (large intestine) marked, vāyu-āśaya and mūtrāśaya indicated, and in a female figure the garbhāśaya shown distinctly; subtle color-coding for kapha/āma-pitta associations.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: two standing figures (male and female) with stylized transparent abdomen; pakvāśaya, mūtrāśaya, vāyu-āśaya labeled in traditional script; garbhāśaya highlighted in the female; bold flat colors and ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: devotional-instructional hybrid—Dhanvantari-like physician figure blessing, with gold-embossed anatomical medallions showing pakvāśaya and mūtrāśaya; separate inset for garbhāśaya in women; rich gold work and saturated palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear medical diagram style—teacher points to labeled organs in a scroll; color-coded kapha and āma-pitta notes near pakvāśaya; separate panel for female garbhāśaya; fine linework and legible layout.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: court physician demonstrating anatomical chart to students; male and female outlines with highlighted lower abdominal organs; meticulous detailing, calligraphic labels, scholarly ambience with books and instruments."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kharaharapriya","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śleṣmaṇaścāmapittābhyām = śleṣmaṇaḥ + ca + āma-pittābhyām; pakvāśayaḥ = pakva + āśayaḥ; vāyumūtrāśayaḥ = vāyu + mūtra + āśayaḥ; garbhāśayo 'ṣṭamaḥ = garbhāśayaḥ + aṣṭamaḥ (visarga sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Ayurveda-śārīra chapters on āśaya, koṣṭha, doṣa-sthāna; Agni Purana: sections on doṣa (vāta/pitta/kapha) and āma
FAQs
Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: it enumerates specific āśayas (visceral receptacles/organs) and links them with doṣic/physiological associations (kapha, āma-pitta, vāyu), including sex-specific anatomy (garbhāśaya).
It shows the Purāṇa functioning as a compendium by embedding technical Ayurvedic anatomy—organ classification, doṣa theory, and reproductive anatomy—alongside its broader religious, ritual, and cultural teachings.
By mapping the body in doṣa-based terms, it supports dharmic self-care (ārogya as a means to sustain sādhana and duty); understanding bodily seats of imbalance aids purification and disciplined living rather than being a direct ritual-atonement verse.