LAISHA · AYURVEDA

Marma

107 marma · Sushruta Samhita, Sharirasthana, chapter 6 (Pratyeka Marma Nirdesha)

One hundred and seven marma. Every one is classified three ways at once - by the region it lies in, by the structure it sits in, and by what its injury does - and a candidate is examined on all three. The counts are the examinable part, so they are checked here rather than trusted.

By what the injury does

The classification a candidate is examined on hardest.

Vaikalyakara — 44

Marma	Number	Where it is
Kurcha कूर्च	4	Above Kshipra, at the base of the thumb and great toe. Tremor and deviation of the hand or foot.
Kurpara कूर्पर	2	The elbow joint. Withering of the forearm.
Janu जानु	2	The knee joint. Lameness.
Ani आणि	4	Three angula above the elbow and above the knee. Swelling and loss of power in the limb.
Urvi ऊर्वी	4	In the middle of the thigh and of the upper arm. Wasting of the limb from loss of blood.
Lohitaksha लोहिताक्ष	4	At the lower end of Urvi, in the groin and in the axilla. Paralysis from severe bleeding.
Vitapa वितप	2	Between the scrotum and the inguinal fold. Impotence or scanty semen.
Kakshadhara कक्षधर	2	Between the shoulder joint and the chest, at the front axillary fold. Disability of the arm.
Kukundara कुकुन्दर	2	On either side of the spine above the buttocks. Loss of sensation and movement in the lower limb.
Amsaphalaka अंसफलक	2	Over the shoulder blade. Wasting and loss of sensation in the arm.
Amsa अंस	2	Between the shoulder joint, the neck and the arm. Stiffness and loss of power in the arm.
Nila नील	2	On either side of the trachea in the neck. Loss of voice and of taste.
Manya मन्या	2	On either side of the neck, beside Nila. Loss of voice and of taste.
Krikatika कृकाटिका	2	At the junction of the head and the neck. Instability and tremor of the head.
Vidhura विधुर	2	Below and behind the ear. Deafness.
Phana फण	2	On either side, at the passages of the nose. Loss of smell.
Apanga अपाङ्ग	2	At the outer angle of the eye. Blindness or impaired vision.
Avarta आवर्त	2	Above the eyebrow, at its outer end. Blindness or impaired vision.

Kalantara pranahara — 33

Marma	Number	Where it is
Kshipra क्षिप्र	4	Between the thumb and index finger, and between the great toe and second toe. Convulsions and death over time, from the drying of kapha.
Talahridaya तलहृदय	4	In the centre of the palm and of the sole, in line with the middle digit. Pain, then death over time.
Indrabasti इन्द्रबस्ति	4	In the middle of the calf, and in the middle of the forearm. Death over time from bleeding.
Stanamula स्तनमूल	2	Two angula below the nipple, at the root of the breast. Death over time, the chest filling with kapha and blood.
Stanarohita स्तनरोहित	2	Two angula above the nipple. Death over time from blood filling the chest.
Apalapa अपलाप	2	In the axilla, at its upper part. Suppuration, then death over time.
Apastambha अपस्तम्भ	2	On either side of the chest, along the great vessels. Breathlessness, cough and death over time.
Katikataruna कटिकतरुण	2	On either side of the spine at the pelvic brim. Pallor and death over time from loss of blood.
Nitamba नितम्ब	2	On the upper part of the hip bone. Wasting of the lower body and death over time.
Parshvasandhi पार्श्वसन्धि	2	On the sides, between the pelvis and the ribs. Internal bleeding and death over time.
Brihati बृहती	2	On either side of the spine in the back of the chest. Death from bleeding.
Simanta सीमन्त	5	The sutures of the skull, five in number. Loss of reason, fear, and death over time.

Sadyah pranahara — 19

Marma	Number	Where it is
Guda गुद	1	The anal canal and rectum. Immediate death.
Basti बस्ति	1	The urinary bladder, in the pelvis. Immediate death, unless the injury is a clean one that can be sutured.
Nabhi नाभि	1	The umbilicus, between the amashaya and pakvashaya. Immediate death.
Hridaya हृदय	1	In the chest between the two breasts, over the heart. Immediate death.
Matrika मातृका	8	Four on each side of the neck, the great vessels. Immediate death.
Shankha शङ्ख	2	The temple, between the ear and the outer eyebrow. Immediate death.
Shringataka शृङ्गाटक	4	Four junctions where the vessels of the nose, ear, eye and tongue meet. Immediate death.
Adhipati अधिपति	1	At the crown, the junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures. Immediate death.

Rujakara — 8

Marma	Number	Where it is
Kurchashira कूर्चशिर	4	At the wrist and the ankle, at the base of the kurcha. Pain and swelling.
Manibandha मणिबन्ध	2	The wrist joint itself. Pain and stiffness of the hand.
Gulpha गुल्फ	2	The ankle joint itself. Pain, stiffness and lameness.

Vishalyaghna — 3

Marma	Number	Where it is
Utkshepa उत्क्षेप	2	Above the Shankha, at the hairline. Death when the embedded weapon is withdrawn.
Sthapani स्थपनी	1	Between the eyebrows. Death when the embedded weapon is withdrawn.

By region

Where on the body the marma lies.

Shakha — 44

Marma	Number	Where it is
Kshipra क्षिप्र	4	Between the thumb and index finger, and between the great toe and second toe. Convulsions and death over time, from the drying of kapha.
Talahridaya तलहृदय	4	In the centre of the palm and of the sole, in line with the middle digit. Pain, then death over time.
Kurcha कूर्च	4	Above Kshipra, at the base of the thumb and great toe. Tremor and deviation of the hand or foot.
Kurchashira कूर्चशिर	4	At the wrist and the ankle, at the base of the kurcha. Pain and swelling.
Manibandha मणिबन्ध	2	The wrist joint itself. Pain and stiffness of the hand.
Gulpha गुल्फ	2	The ankle joint itself. Pain, stiffness and lameness.
Indrabasti इन्द्रबस्ति	4	In the middle of the calf, and in the middle of the forearm. Death over time from bleeding.
Kurpara कूर्पर	2	The elbow joint. Withering of the forearm.
Janu जानु	2	The knee joint. Lameness.
Ani आणि	4	Three angula above the elbow and above the knee. Swelling and loss of power in the limb.
Urvi ऊर्वी	4	In the middle of the thigh and of the upper arm. Wasting of the limb from loss of blood.
Lohitaksha लोहिताक्ष	4	At the lower end of Urvi, in the groin and in the axilla. Paralysis from severe bleeding.
Vitapa वितप	2	Between the scrotum and the inguinal fold. Impotence or scanty semen.
Kakshadhara कक्षधर	2	Between the shoulder joint and the chest, at the front axillary fold. Disability of the arm.

Urdhwajatru — 37

Marma	Number	Where it is
Nila नील	2	On either side of the trachea in the neck. Loss of voice and of taste.
Manya मन्या	2	On either side of the neck, beside Nila. Loss of voice and of taste.
Matrika मातृका	8	Four on each side of the neck, the great vessels. Immediate death.
Krikatika कृकाटिका	2	At the junction of the head and the neck. Instability and tremor of the head.
Vidhura विधुर	2	Below and behind the ear. Deafness.
Phana फण	2	On either side, at the passages of the nose. Loss of smell.
Apanga अपाङ्ग	2	At the outer angle of the eye. Blindness or impaired vision.
Avarta आवर्त	2	Above the eyebrow, at its outer end. Blindness or impaired vision.
Shankha शङ्ख	2	The temple, between the ear and the outer eyebrow. Immediate death.
Utkshepa उत्क्षेप	2	Above the Shankha, at the hairline. Death when the embedded weapon is withdrawn.
Sthapani स्थपनी	1	Between the eyebrows. Death when the embedded weapon is withdrawn.
Simanta सीमन्त	5	The sutures of the skull, five in number. Loss of reason, fear, and death over time.
Shringataka शृङ्गाटक	4	Four junctions where the vessels of the nose, ear, eye and tongue meet. Immediate death.
Adhipati अधिपति	1	At the crown, the junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures. Immediate death.

Prishtha — 14

Marma	Number	Where it is
Katikataruna कटिकतरुण	2	On either side of the spine at the pelvic brim. Pallor and death over time from loss of blood.
Kukundara कुकुन्दर	2	On either side of the spine above the buttocks. Loss of sensation and movement in the lower limb.
Nitamba नितम्ब	2	On the upper part of the hip bone. Wasting of the lower body and death over time.
Parshvasandhi पार्श्वसन्धि	2	On the sides, between the pelvis and the ribs. Internal bleeding and death over time.
Brihati बृहती	2	On either side of the spine in the back of the chest. Death from bleeding.
Amsaphalaka अंसफलक	2	Over the shoulder blade. Wasting and loss of sensation in the arm.
Amsa अंस	2	Between the shoulder joint, the neck and the arm. Stiffness and loss of power in the arm.

Uras — 9

Marma	Number	Where it is
Hridaya हृदय	1	In the chest between the two breasts, over the heart. Immediate death.
Stanamula स्तनमूल	2	Two angula below the nipple, at the root of the breast. Death over time, the chest filling with kapha and blood.
Stanarohita स्तनरोहित	2	Two angula above the nipple. Death over time from blood filling the chest.
Apalapa अपलाप	2	In the axilla, at its upper part. Suppuration, then death over time.
Apastambha अपस्तम्भ	2	On either side of the chest, along the great vessels. Breathlessness, cough and death over time.

Udara — 3

Marma	Number	Where it is
Guda गुद	1	The anal canal and rectum. Immediate death.
Basti बस्ति	1	The urinary bladder, in the pelvis. Immediate death, unless the injury is a clean one that can be sutured.
Nabhi नाभि	1	The umbilicus, between the amashaya and pakvashaya. Immediate death.

By the structure it sits in

Mamsa, sira, snayu, asthi or sandhi.

Sira — 41

Marma	Number	Where it is
Urvi ऊर्वी	4	In the middle of the thigh and of the upper arm. Wasting of the limb from loss of blood.
Lohitaksha लोहिताक्ष	4	At the lower end of Urvi, in the groin and in the axilla. Paralysis from severe bleeding.
Nabhi नाभि	1	The umbilicus, between the amashaya and pakvashaya. Immediate death.
Hridaya हृदय	1	In the chest between the two breasts, over the heart. Immediate death.
Stanamula स्तनमूल	2	Two angula below the nipple, at the root of the breast. Death over time, the chest filling with kapha and blood.
Apalapa अपलाप	2	In the axilla, at its upper part. Suppuration, then death over time.
Apastambha अपस्तम्भ	2	On either side of the chest, along the great vessels. Breathlessness, cough and death over time.
Parshvasandhi पार्श्वसन्धि	2	On the sides, between the pelvis and the ribs. Internal bleeding and death over time.
Brihati बृहती	2	On either side of the spine in the back of the chest. Death from bleeding.
Nila नील	2	On either side of the trachea in the neck. Loss of voice and of taste.
Manya मन्या	2	On either side of the neck, beside Nila. Loss of voice and of taste.
Matrika मातृका	8	Four on each side of the neck, the great vessels. Immediate death.
Phana फण	2	On either side, at the passages of the nose. Loss of smell.
Apanga अपाङ्ग	2	At the outer angle of the eye. Blindness or impaired vision.
Sthapani स्थपनी	1	Between the eyebrows. Death when the embedded weapon is withdrawn.
Shringataka शृङ्गाटक	4	Four junctions where the vessels of the nose, ear, eye and tongue meet. Immediate death.

Snayu — 27

Marma	Number	Where it is
Kshipra क्षिप्र	4	Between the thumb and index finger, and between the great toe and second toe. Convulsions and death over time, from the drying of kapha.
Kurcha कूर्च	4	Above Kshipra, at the base of the thumb and great toe. Tremor and deviation of the hand or foot.
Kurchashira कूर्चशिर	4	At the wrist and the ankle, at the base of the kurcha. Pain and swelling.
Ani आणि	4	Three angula above the elbow and above the knee. Swelling and loss of power in the limb.
Vitapa वितप	2	Between the scrotum and the inguinal fold. Impotence or scanty semen.
Kakshadhara कक्षधर	2	Between the shoulder joint and the chest, at the front axillary fold. Disability of the arm.
Basti बस्ति	1	The urinary bladder, in the pelvis. Immediate death, unless the injury is a clean one that can be sutured.
Amsa अंस	2	Between the shoulder joint, the neck and the arm. Stiffness and loss of power in the arm.
Vidhura विधुर	2	Below and behind the ear. Deafness.
Utkshepa उत्क्षेप	2	Above the Shankha, at the hairline. Death when the embedded weapon is withdrawn.

Sandhi — 20

Marma	Number	Where it is
Manibandha मणिबन्ध	2	The wrist joint itself. Pain and stiffness of the hand.
Gulpha गुल्फ	2	The ankle joint itself. Pain, stiffness and lameness.
Kurpara कूर्पर	2	The elbow joint. Withering of the forearm.
Janu जानु	2	The knee joint. Lameness.
Kukundara कुकुन्दर	2	On either side of the spine above the buttocks. Loss of sensation and movement in the lower limb.
Krikatika कृकाटिका	2	At the junction of the head and the neck. Instability and tremor of the head.
Avarta आवर्त	2	Above the eyebrow, at its outer end. Blindness or impaired vision.
Simanta सीमन्त	5	The sutures of the skull, five in number. Loss of reason, fear, and death over time.
Adhipati अधिपति	1	At the crown, the junction of the sagittal and lambdoid sutures. Immediate death.

Mamsa — 11

Marma	Number	Where it is
Talahridaya तलहृदय	4	In the centre of the palm and of the sole, in line with the middle digit. Pain, then death over time.
Indrabasti इन्द्रबस्ति	4	In the middle of the calf, and in the middle of the forearm. Death over time from bleeding.
Guda गुद	1	The anal canal and rectum. Immediate death.
Stanarohita स्तनरोहित	2	Two angula above the nipple. Death over time from blood filling the chest.

Asthi — 8

Marma	Number	Where it is
Katikataruna कटिकतरुण	2	On either side of the spine at the pelvic brim. Pallor and death over time from loss of blood.
Nitamba नितम्ब	2	On the upper part of the hip bone. Wasting of the lower body and death over time.
Amsaphalaka अंसफलक	2	Over the shoulder blade. Wasting and loss of sensation in the arm.
Shankha शङ्ख	2	The temple, between the ear and the outer eyebrow. Immediate death.

How the measure works

Sushruta locates the marma in angula, a measure taken from the patient's own finger, so every location here is relative to the body it is on and not to a chart. The correspondences to modern anatomy are interpretations and are not given as translations.

← Laisha's dravya library