Distinction Between Charakokta and Vagbhatokta Langhana: AIAPGET Specials 10

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Langhana is a vital remedy inclusion in conventional Ayurveda Follow. Langhana is not only a small remedy however is a broad umbrella below which a lot of a very powerful and distinguished Ayurveda therapies and remedy modalities are included, together with the favored Panchakarma Therapies.

Langhana is any remedy – together with therapies, medicines, non-medicines, dietetic inclusions and actions which result in laghutva i.e. lightness within the physique. These remedies bestow lightness by both expelling the excessively gathered and troublesome morbid doshas and malas out of the physique (shodhana) or by palliating the identical when they’re aggravated to average or delicate proportions (shamana).

Distinction in Langhana described by Acharya Charaka and Acharya Vagbhata

Each Acharya Charaka and Acharya Vagbhata have described Langhana. Although many elements of the classification and indications therein are widespread amongst each treatises, the presentation of the identical in each texts has some variations. Within the following paragraphs we will talk about the variations in description of Langhana in each these revered treatises.

To begin with, we will take a look on the classification of Langhana by each Acharyas –

10 forms of Langhana described by Acharya Charaka

Acharya Charaka has described ten forms of Langhana. They embody –

1-4. Chatushprakara Samshuddhi – 4 forms of shodhana – vamana – emesis, virechana – therapeutic purgation, niruha – decoction enema and nasya – nasal remedy (cleaning sort)

5. Pipasa – withholding thirst
6. Maruta – publicity to wind
7. Atapa – publicity to the warmth of solar
8. Pachana – ama digesting medicines
9. Upavasa – fasting
10. Vyayama – train

12 forms of Langhana described by Acharya Vagbhata

Firstly, Acharya Vagbhata provides a broad classification of therapies. He says that the Upakramas i.e. remedies are broadly of two varieties –

1.   Santarpana – nourishing therapies
2.   Apatarpana – depleting or non-nourishing therapies

He additional says that Apatarpana can also be known as Langhana.

This Langhana is additional labeled into two varieties. They’re –

–        5 forms of Shodhana – cleaning therapies and

–        7 forms of Shamana – palliative remedies

Summing up, Langhana is of 12 varieties, towards 10 forms of Langhana described by Acharya Charaka.

The 12 forms of Langhana are thus distributed amongst Shodhana and Shamana –

5 forms of Shodhana –

1. Vamana – emesis
2. Virechana – purgation
3. Niruha Vasti – decoction enema
4. Shirovirechana – head cleaning / purgative errhines or nasal remedy
5. Raktamokshana – bloodletting

7 forms of Shamana –

6. Pachana – ama digesting medicines
7. Dipana – medicines which improve agni or digestive fireplace (digestive capability)
8. Kshut – withholding starvation (identical as Upavasa described by Charaka)
9. Trt – withholding thirst (identical as pipasa described by Charaka)
10. Vyayama – train
11. Atapa – publicity to the warmth of solar
12. Maruta – publicity to wind

Notable variations between Charakokta and Vagbhatokta Langhana Varieties

1. Variety of Langhana

Charaka – 10 varieties

Vagbhata – 12 varieties

2. Technique of classification

Charaka – has given direct classification and named the ten therapies therein.

Vagbhata – goes in broad classification. He opines that Upakrama is of two varieties – Santarpana and Apatarpana. He later says that Apatarpana is named Langhana. After this, he classifies Langhana as Shodhana and Shamana. Then, he subclassifies Shodhana into 5 varieties and Shamana into seven varieties. Such sub-classifications aren’t discovered within the description of Charaka.

3. Inclusions and exclusions

Charaka – has described 4 forms of Shodhana (Chatushprakara Samshuddhi) and has excluded Raktamokshana in his description. After this, he immediately enumerates six extra modalities / therapies which must be included below langhana. They’re – Pipasa, Maruta, Atapa, Pachana, Upavasa and Vyayama. Like Vagbhata, he has not named them as Shamana. Charaka has not talked about Deepana which has been described by Vagbhata.

Vagbhata – has described 5 forms of Shodhana. Raktamokshana is the additional remedy which he describes compared to Charaka. Vagbhata has included the opposite 7 therapies – Pachana, Deepana, Kshut, Trt, Vyayama, Atapa and Maruta below Shamana. Charaka has not used the phrase Shamana whereas describing these therapies and has included them within the ten varieties immediately.

Briefly – Vagbhata has included Raktamokshana (below Shodhana sort of Langhana) and Deepana (below Shamana) as types of Langhana, which aren’t included by Charaka below Langhana.

Notice – Whereas these are gross variations within the classification of Langhana between Charaka and Vagbhata, we will additionally discover variations in indications for each sort of Langhana.

4. Variations in Naming the forms of Langhana

Although many forms of Langhana are named alike in Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya, the names of some forms of Langhana are completely different, although they convey the identical that means and are synonymous. The variations are given within the tab beneath –

Associated Studying – from Simple Ayurveda

Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana – Chapter 22 – Langhana Brimhaniyam Adhyayam

Ashtanga Hridaya Sutra Sthanam – Chapter 14 – Dvividhopakramaniyam Adhyayam 

Associated AIAPGET Questions

1. Through which chapter of Ashtanga Hridaya Sutra Sthana has Acharya Vagbhata described forms of Langhana?
2. Chapter 12
3.   Chapter 14
4. Chapter 16
5.   Chapter 18

Ans – Chapter 14 – Dvividhopakramaniya Adhyaya.

2. Through which chapter of Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana has Acharya Vagbhata described forms of Langhana?
3. Chapter 1
4.   Chapter 11
5. Chapter 22
6.   Chapter 26

Ans – Chapter 22 – Langhana Brimhaniya Adhyaya

3. Through which Chatushka of Charaka Samhita has the outline of ten forms of Langhana been made?
4. Kalpana Chatushka
5.   Yojana Chatushka
6. Bheshaja Chatushka
7.   Nirdesha Chatushka

Ans – b. Yojana Chatushka (sixth Chatushka)

4. Which Acharya has described the classification of Langhana as Shodhana and Shamana?
5. Charaka
6.   Sushruta
7. Sharngdhara
8.   Vagbhata

Ans – d. Vagbhata – A.Hr.Su.14

5. Which upakrama talked about below Shamana Rupa Langhana by Acharya Vagbhata has not been described by Acharya Charaka?
6. Deepana
7.   Pachana
8. Kshut
9.   Vyayama

Ans – a. Deepana.

6. Which sort of Shodhana Rupa Langhana has Acharya Vagbhata described and Acharya Charaka has not described?
7. Nasya
8.   Raktamokshana
9. Niruha
10.   Vamana

Ans – b. Raktamokshana.

7. Acharya Charaka has described 10 forms of Langhana whereas Acharya Vagbhata has described __________ forms of Langhana
8. 8
9.   12
10. 9
11.   10

Ans – b. 12.

8. That are the 2 further forms of Langhana that Acharya Vagbhata described compared to Acharya Charaka?
9. Nasya and Pachana
10.   Deepana and Pachana
11. Deepana and Trt
12.   Deepana and Raktamokshana

Ans – d. Deepana and Raktamokshana