URDHVA SHAKHAGATA SNAYU MARMA AND ITS CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A REVIEW ARTICLE

In Ayurveda classics, Marma is illustrated as the vital point in the human body and its knowledge plays an im- portant role in Sharir Rachana. Marma was first documented by Acharya Charak but the detailed description of Marma Sharir is available in Sushruta Samhita. Acharya Sushruta stated every aspect of Marma like definition, types, signs, and symptoms related to injury of Marma. Marma is a very important structure present in the body which causes pain or even death when getting injured. According to Acharya Sushruta in the description of Eka- dash Indriya Hasta and Paad are included under the five Karmendriya and their function is mentioned as Aadan and Vihar respectively and Hasta (hand) is considered as the most important/superior Yantra among all the Yan- tras by Acharya Susruta. Although each part of the human body is important still extremities possess the most importance as all body activities depend on limbs as without limbs existence of the human body is hard to imag- ine. So Anatomical interpretation of Urdhva Shakhagata Snayu Marma along with its clinical importance is very much needed in the present era. An attempt has been made to explore structures present in Urdhva Shakhagata Snayu Marma through cadaveric dissection.Keywords: Ekadash Indriya, Snayu Marma, Yantra.