Critical Analysis of role of Ranjak Pitta and Raktagni in Perspective of Modern Physiology

Abstract

Pitta dosh is one of the fundamental entities mentioned in Ayurveda. Ranjak pitta is one of the types. Ranjak name of pitta itself suggests its role. Rasasya ranjant is it’s function mentioned in compendia. It means coloring of rasa dhatu and converting it into raktadhatu which is of red color. All Acharyas Charak, Sushrut, Vagbhat, Sharangdhar all have mentioned the same function of this pitta. In spite of this, there is some discrimination related to the site of this pitta. Charak and Sushrut have mentioned the site of this in Yakrit, Pleeha and Vagbhat has mentioned it in Amashay. Sushrut has mentioned this Ranjak Pitta as Ranjakagni. In the context of Agni, total 13 types of Agni are mentioned which includes Raktagni. Raktagni is responsible for formation of Rakta and the role of Ranjakagni is colouring of ahara rasa. To know if these are same or different, the present review is made andwith the overview of modern physiology it can be concluded that agni and pitta have Ashray and Ashrayi relation. The discrimination relates to different sites of Ranjak Pitta and can be justified according to modern physiology. Ranjak Pitta mentioned by Vagbhat can correlate with the factor secreted by gastric glands which is called intrinsic factor of castle and Ranjak Pitta mentioned by Charak and Sushrut is extrinsic factor which is stored in Yakrit and participated in process of erythropoiesis. These intrinsic and extrinsic factors are equally important for RBCs formation which carries out the function of Rasasya Ranjanam. Raktagni is responsible for formation of Rakta Dhatu from Ahararasa and Ranjak Pitta or Ranjakagni is partially part of Raktagni.