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=== ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' ===

=== ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' ===

==== Importance of agni ====

==== Importance of ''agni'' ====

The functions of gut are vital for maintenance and preservation of health. Grahani is the seat of jatharagni, which is the initiator of digestive process and strengthens the other 12 agnis. Jatharagni transforms food into biological substance (ahar rasa) which is further trifurcated into madhura, amla and katu avastha pak which gets transformed into three biological energies kapha, pitta and vata respectively. From the physiological point of view, the Jaṭharāgni or the active form of pāchaka pitta is responsible for the digestion of all kinds of foods in the gut. Therefore, this should include all amylolytic, proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes secreted by various kinds of exocrine glands in the gut, which actually cause digestion, i.e., breaking down of different macromolecules into their constituent units.

The functions of gut are vital for maintenance and preservation of health. ''Grahani'' is the seat of ''jatharagni'', which is the initiator of digestive process and strengthens the other 12 ''agnis''. ''Jatharagni'' transforms food into biological substance (''ahara rasa'') which is further trifurcated into ''madhura, amla'' and ''katu avastha paka'' which gets transformed into three biological energies ''kapha, pitta'' and ''vata'' respectively. From the physiological point of view, the ''jatharagni'' or the active form of ''pachaka pitta'' is responsible for the digestion of all kinds of foods in the gut. Therefore, this should include all amylolytic, proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes secreted by various kinds of exocrine glands in the gut, which actually cause digestion, i.e., breaking down of different macromolecules into their constituent units.

There are five bhūtāgnis and their function is to metabolize panchabhautic components of the food that are homologous to them in their composition. For instance, bhauma agni acts on the component that is bhauma or pārthiva in its composition. Bhūtāgnis act on the products of digestion (jaṭharāgni pāka), hence, must be acting after the absorption of the nutrients, but before the action of dhātvāgni. The major site where the absorbed nutrients undergo biochemical transformation is in the liver, which plays an important role in metabolism, wherein several processes such as trans-amination, de-amination, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, glycolysis etc. take place. Therefore, the overall intermediary metabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins) can be understood as the functioning of the bhūtāgni.

There are five ''bhutagnis'' and their function is to metabolize ''panchabhautic'' components of the food that are homologous to them in their composition. For instance, ''bhauma agni'' acts on the component that is ''bhauma'' or ''parthiva'' in its composition. ''Bhutagnis'' act on the products of digestion (''jatharagni paka''), hence, must be acting after the absorption of the nutrients, but before the action of ''dhatvagni''. The major site where the absorbed nutrients undergo biochemical transformation is in the liver, which plays an important role in metabolism, wherein several processes such as trans-amination, de-amination, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, glycolysis etc. take place. Therefore, the overall intermediary metabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins) can be understood as the functioning of the ''bhutagni''.

Dhātvāgni acts at tissue-level (in fact, at cellular level) upon the products of bhūtāgni pāka and are responsible for the building of the respective dhātus. In other words, the bio-energetic processes of a cell seem to be under the regulation of dhātvāgni. For instance, the common product of intermediary metabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins) is Acetyl-Co-A, which enters into Kreb’s cycle in the mitochondria of a cell. This is followed by electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation. [ ] It is interesting to note that the Kreb’s cycle is also known as the ‘final common pathway’ in the process of catabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. However, for the entry of amino acids, glucose and fatty acids into the cell, certain other factors such as hormones too are needed. For instance, insulin promotes the transportation of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids into the cell. Therefore, all these hormones (such as insulin, growth hormone, thyroid hormones, testosterone etc.) that promote the transportation of various nutrients into the cells, along with the enzymes participating in the Kreb’s cycle are to be included under the term dhātvagni.

Dhātvāgni acts at tissue-level (in fact, at cellular level) upon the products of bhūtāgni pāka and are responsible for the building of the respective dhātus. In other words, the bio-energetic processes of a cell seem to be under the regulation of dhātvāgni. For instance, the common product of intermediary metabolism (involving fats, carbohydrates and proteins) is Acetyl-Co-A, which enters into Kreb’s cycle in the mitochondria of a cell. This is followed by electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation. [ ] It is interesting to note that the Kreb’s cycle is also known as the ‘final common pathway’ in the process of catabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. However, for the entry of amino acids, glucose and fatty acids into the cell, certain other factors such as hormones too are needed. For instance, insulin promotes the transportation of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids into the cell. Therefore, all these hormones (such as insulin, growth hormone, thyroid hormones, testosterone etc.) that promote the transportation of various nutrients into the cells, along with the enzymes participating in the Kreb’s cycle are to be included under the term dhātvagni.