“Probably it will come as a surprise to many as it did to myself to discover the amount of anatomical knowledge which is so descriptive and correct in ancient Indian literature,” quoted Dr. Hoernley in his book `Medicine in Ancient India’.

And one such body of knowledge from ancient Indian literature is called Marma Vidnyana – that might go into oblivion if not given due cognizance by the experts in the field, according to Dr. V. V. Doiphode, Dean, Faculty of Ayurvedic Medicine, University of Pune.

He said that Marma Vidnyana is the peculiarity of Ayurveda. In no other medical science this aspect is studied. This subject deals with particular sites in the body, which should be avoided during surgery. There are around 107 marmas in the body, which can be mainly classified according to the structure by which they are formed and by the effect of the blow.

Marma can be described as a vital point or place in the body which when hurt may result in severe pain or sudden death, he said. Elaborating on reasons that lead to severe consequences, he explained. The important organs or groups of important structures are held together hence if they receive a blow or an injury it will cause serious effects on the body, and the symptoms produced by an injury to a marma are peculiar to the place where marma is situated. Since all marmas are more or less the seats of `prana’ (energy points) that means they are in close association with `chetana’(consciousness) due to this fact injury to marma produces severe sufferings.

He further stated that a number of studies reveal the importance of marma vidnyana. And today, in the presence of advanced anaesthetic medication and excellent re-succitation measures, marmaghat or damage to marma points is a rarity during surgery. However, trauma of different manner will naturally cause marmaghat where treatment is necessary.

According to Dr. Doiphode the energy accumulated around marma can be used to save life or cure disease by marma massage on marma point, stimulating the function of surrounding organs. For instance, a gentle stroke on heart will cause stimulation of the temporarily stopped heart and help save life of the patient.

As marma are the spots on the body, some experts consider Marma Chikitsa as ‘ayurvedic acupuncture’. “In some countries attempts to establish a co-relation between these two systems are on. It is referred to as ‘Ayurvedic suchi karma’ some people go to the extent that acupuncture is an outcome of marma chikitsa.

Therefore, it will be interesting to find similarities and differences between these two popular systems,’’ noted Dr. Doiphode. However, he ruled out any similarity between acupuncture and marma as the former involves piercing the acupuncture points while marma points are to be protected.

He stressed on the need to develop chikitsa modality making use of enormous energy situated around marma to cure diseases of adjoining organs. ``Otherwise marma vidnyan may remain only having historical importance,’’ he lamented.