|
What are the Marma Points
Marma points are vital points in the body where flesh, veins, arteries tendon, bones and joints meet. Thy may
also be described as the junctions where your three vata, pitta and kapha meet; where Sattwa, Rajas and Tams meet; or where eternity and relativity meet. In the marital art of Kalaripayattu, a warrior is trained to attack the particular marma points of the opponent.
Marma can be called as the junctions between the physical, psychic, astral and spiritual bodies. The knowledge of marma points are of great importance to any practitioner of medicine and of course, for any common man to maintain healthy.
Marma points grouping
Marma points are grouped according to the region of the body, Arms-22 points; legs-22 points (11 per lib); abdomen-3 points, chest – 9 points, back – points, head and neck- 37 points. The marma points are also grouped according to muscles – 10 points; tenders/ligaments – 23 points, Arteries – 9 points, Veins, joints – 20 points bones – 8 points. Traditionally marma points are grouped in to 3 categories: those on the legs and feet, (sanakha marma : on the trunk (Madhayamanga marma ): neck and head (jatrurdhara marma ).
These marma points are measured in finger units (angula) to detect their correct location. One “angula” is the width of the finger, For example, ‘ani marma’ is a marma point existing just above the knee, four fingers above the middle of the knee. This point relates to the small intestine, and situated on the back of the leg, directly behind this spot. If we move the hands from the front ‘ani marma’ in a straight line to the back, this marma would be stimulated. So working on a marma point affects the front, sides and back of a marma.
Marma Abhyanga
The heart, forehead and throat are the most vulnerable areas, whereas the areas on the arms and legs are less vulnerable to severe injury. When imbalances exist in the body, these marma points turn sore - through they can be restored back through Marma Abhyanga.
The major marma points in our body correspond to the various chakras in the body, while the minor points are found around the torso and limbs. Thus healing through marma abhayanga affects the chakras, the doshas. However, the purpose of a Marma Abhayanga is to stimulate the various body organs and systems.
Marma and Astrology
There is a basic connection between the position of the planets, stars and the marma abhayanga. All the planetary rays have specific effects on the human body – for instance, the sun is very powerful at noon and the heat radiation is high at this time of the day. Hence the abhayanga is done during morning and evening, not in the afternoon. A good marma practitioner knows everything about the marma points, Ayurveda, Kalari Chikilsa and Astrology. |
