Abstract

REVIEW OF THE CONCEPT OF AVASTHAPAKA IN AYURVEDA IN RELATION WITH THE PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTION IN MODERN SCIENCE

Dr. Vijay Khandagale* and Dr. Ravindra Bhurke*

Abstract

Food provides nourishment to deha dhatus. The agni is primarily located in the grahani and it helps in the digestion of food of appropriate quality taken in required quantity and in right time.[1] According to ayurvedic concept physiology of digestion, every food particle has to undergo a common path of digestion which include mainly three stages. The description, here pertains to the transformation process of the ingested food, beginning with the entry into the oral cavity. First stage of digestion is madhura avasthapak, second is amla avasthapak, and third is katu avasthapak for the completion of digestion process associated with development of kapha, pitta, vata respectively. Completion of all the three stages is important to get proper homeostasis of doshas, dhatus and malas otherwise it leads to development of various diseases.

Keywords: Avasthapaka, agni, digestion.