Pitta dosha is responsible for maintaining body temperature, digestion and metabolism. Pitta dosha is agni mahabhuta predominant. [Code:SAT-B.401][1] This chapter describes the physiological functions and pathological importance of pitta dosha.
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
The word ‘Pitta’ is derived from Sanskrit root “tap”.[2] [Su. Sa.Sutra Sthana 21/5]The root word ‘tap’has three meaning:1) tap dahe means to burn, 2) tap santape means heat generator and 3) tap aishwarye means able to procure eight types of attainments of a yogi (animadi aishwarye).[3] Dahana denotes transformation or conversion (paka) in the living body. This explains the function of pitta is the transformation or modification of one substance to other.
Mayu, teja, ushma, agni, anala, bile, to inflame, to nourish, a type of kala in the body.
Bhautika composition
Pitta dosha has dominance of teja mahabhauta.[5][A.S. Sutra Sthana 20/1]Pitta dosha is originated from agni or teja mahabhauta.[2][Chakrapani on Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/8][Figure 01]
Pitta dosha and triguna
All the living & nonliving things originate from panchamahabhuta which originate from trigunatmaka prakriti as described in evolution process (utpatti karma). Dosha are evolved from panchamahbhuta, so these dosha bear triguna property. Pitta is evolved from agni that has sattva and raja predominance.[2] [Su. Sa.Sharira Sthana 1/20] Sharangdhara and Bhavaprakasha opines that pitta has sattva predominance. [Sha.Sa.Pratham Khand 5][6] [Bh. P. Purva Khand 3/103][7] [Figure 01]
Figure 01: Relation between triguna, mahabhauta and pitta dosha.
Figure 01: Relation between triguna, mahabhauta and pitta dosha.
Sites of pitta
Dosha are present in every part of the body. [Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/9] General location of pitta dosha is the middle part of the body, marked between the heart(hridaya) and umbilicus(nabhi).[A.S. Sutra Sthana 1/4] Pitta is predominately present in body parts between the large intestine(pakvashaya) and stomach( amashaya). [Su. Sa.Sutra Sthana 21/6][2] The specific seats of pitta are (Figure 02):
Among all these sites, duodenum (amashaya) and umbilicus (nabhi) are the prime sites of pitta.[Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8][K.S. Sutra Sthana 27/11][9] Amashaya (stmach) is located in between the breast(stana) and umbilicus(nabhi). In amashaya, the digestion of all types of food takes place. [Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 2/17] Duodenum is the area of the digestive tract where maximum digestive process occurs. Acharya Chakrapani clears that the location of pitta is lower part of amashaya( i.e. duodenum). [Chakrapani on Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/8]
Figure 02. General (A)and specific sites(B) of Pitta dosha.
Figure 02. General (A)and specific sites(B) of Pitta dosha.
