KATI AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

NIRUKTI                                                                                       

1.      Kati means movement.

2.      kati is the waist region where dress is worn.

3.      Kati stands for Shroni.

4.      Kati means region near ‗Shroni.

5.      kati means lumbar Vertebrae.

 DEFINITION

 The bony frame work formed between both thigh bones is termed as ‘Kati’.

Synonyms

1) Kati, kukudmati, Shroni, Nitamba, Kateerakam, Aaroha, Shroniphalakam, Kalatram, Rasanapadam etc.

2)  Shroniphalak, Shroni, Kukudmati and Kata.

Among all the synonyms, Shroni has been extensively used by various Acharyas and commentators.

Location

In samhitas, Shroni or Kati has been mentioned as a region rather than an organ. While numbering the siraas, Acharya Vagbhata has mentioned 32 siraas, amongst the 136 siraas present in the Antaraadhi, to be located in the Shroni. Thus to infer, that Shroni is a region in the Antaradhi or trunk.

Demarcation of Kati

Definite demarcation of the kati region is not given in the samhitas, but limitations could be inferred with the help of surrounding structures.

Upper limitation - could be taken as Nabhi.

Lower Limitation – could be taken as the Medhra and Mushka.

Pramana

Acharya Charak says that Pramana includes Utsedha (height), Vistaara (Diametre, expansion) and Parinaaha (Circumference). According to Charakacharya, Vistaara of Kati is 16 Angula. Chakrapani comments on this that the utsedha of kati is not mentioned since another sandhi of Uru and Antaradhi is present in this Utsedha.

Achaarya Sushruta says that Vistaar of kati region in males is 18 Angula which is equal to Urah pradesha of females. Dalhana quotes here the opinions of other authorities that 24 angula is the vistaara of Urah in males which is equal to that of shroni in females.

 Achaarya Vagbhata has mentioned the Vistaara of Kati as 16 Angula and Parinaaha as 50 angula.

Applied Anatomy of Kati

Kati has been mentioned as a Vaata Dosha Sthaana by all Acharyaas. It is the moolasthaana of Medovaha srotas according to Sushrutacharya. Kati has been mentioned as the region which gets affected in many disorders.

To name a few –

Kati Graha in Kshata Ksheena and Vaataj Pradara.

Kati Shoola in Vaatodara, Vaataj Arsha.

Kati dourbalya in darvikara vishavega.

Kati Bhanga in 7th vishavega.

Kati sthambha, ruja, toda in Grudhrasi.

Other contexts where importance of kati has been mentioned are – Pain over Kati-Prushtha region during Aasanna Prasava lakshana.

Kati a bhyanga in yoni vyapad.

Administration of sneha basti to provide sthirata to kati region.

Abhyanga over Kati Parshva in Leengarbha.

TRIKA SHARIR

Nirukti

1.      Trika is considered as the region where 3 structures or parts meet or come in unison.

2.      Trika forms the Aadhaar or base of Prushthavansha.

3.      Trika is the posterior part or extreme part of kati.

4.      Trika is the loin region.

Sthaana

Trika is the region present in the Madhya sharira.

Trika is considered as the Shroni kanda Bhaaga or stem part of hip bone.

Chakrapani comments that Trika extends from the Gudasthi till the Kati

kapaal above.

Pramaana

Acharya Charak tells that the Trika is 12 Angula in Utsedha (height).

Acharya Vagbhata also presents the same opinion.

Applied Anatomy of Trika

Trika has been mentioned in relation with many disorders. To name a few -

Trika Graha – Naanatmaja Vaata vyadhi, Sahaja Arsha

Trika Shoola – Apatarpanaj Vikaara, Vaataj Arsha etc.

Trika vedana – Guda gat vaata, Vishama Jvar etc.

PRUSHTHA VANSHA SHARIR

Nirukti

The term Prushtha Vansha is made up of 2 words, Prushtha‘ and Vansha‘.

Prushtha‘ means Standing forth prominently‘ or the Back, which is

prominent part of an animal.

Vansha‘ refers to Bamboo cane or Reed Pipe.

So, in the literal meaning, we can consider Prushtha Vansha as the Back

bone.

Synonyms

Prushtha Vansha, Prushtaasthi, Kaseru.

Sankhya

There is difference of opinion between Acharyas regarding the number of Prushtaasthis.

Acharya Charak and Acharya Kashyapa mention the number of Prushtaasthi as 45.

Acharya Sushruta and Vaagbhata mention their number as 30.

In 2nd chapter of Shiva Samhita, the term ‗Meru Danda‘ has been used for Prushtha Vansha.

Utpatti – There is a reference in Garbhopanishada that the Prushtha Vasha is formed in the 5th month of foetal life.

Applied Anatomy of Prushtha Pradesha

Prushtha region has been mentioned in context with many disorders in the samhitas. To name some –

Prishtashoola - Nanaatmaj Vatavikar, Gudasthita vata lakshan

Prishtashoolagraha – vrikkaj vidradhi lakshan

STRUCTURES PRESENT IN THE KATI-TRIKA-PRUSHTHA PRADESHA

1. Asthi

Acharya Sushruta says that 5 Asthis are present in the shroni or Kati region, namely- 1 Gudaasthi, 1 Bhagaasthi, 2 Nitambaasthi and 1 Trikaasthi.

As mentioned earlier, Trikaasthi forms the base of Prushtha Vansha and is situated between the two Kati Kapaalas. Acharya Charak mentions that 2 Shroni Phalakas and 1 Bhagaasthi are present in the shroni pradesha.

2) Sandhi

Acharya Sushruta has mentioned 2 types of Sandhi according to movement- Cheshtavanta (showing movement) and Sthira (immovable). Among these, Cheshtavanta Sandhi are present in the Kati region. Among the 8 types of sandhi, according to their structure, 3 types are present in this region-

In Kati Kapaala, 3 sandhis of Tunnasevani variety are present.

Trikaasthi forms 2 varieties of sandhis with different asthis present in

this vicinity-

Pratara variety with Prushtha vansha

Samudga variety with 2 Nitambasthi

Samudga variety with Gudaasthi

3) Sanghaata

These are the complex joints between Asthi in the body. Acharya Sushruta has mentioned 14 Asthi Sanghaata in the body, out of which 1 is present in the Trika pradesha. Here there is a communion of trikaasthi along with Gudaasthi and 2 kati kapaalasthi.

4) Sira

Among the 700 siras mentioned by Acharya Sushruta, 32 are said to be in the Shroni region. They are the Vaatavaha, Pittavaha, Kaphavaha and Raktavaha siraas, each 8 in number. Sushrutacharya has mentioned 24 siras in the Prushtha region, 6 each of Vaata, Pitta, Kapha and Rakta.

5) Dhamani

Acharya Sushruta says that out of total 24 dhamanis, 10 adhoga dhamanis nourish and support Pakvashaya, kati, Mutra, Purisha, Guda, basti, Medhra and Sakthi regions. Similarly, 10 urdhwaga dhamanis support and nourish the Udara, Parshva, Prushtha, Urah, Skandha, Greeva and Bahu regions.

6) Snayu

These are structures resembling the shape of Hemp. Acharya Sushruta has mentioned a total of 900 snayus in the body, out of which 230 are present in the Madhya shareera and out of these 60 are present in the Kati region. The Prushtha Pradesha contains 80 snayus according to him.

7) Kandara

Kandara are considered as strong and great Snayus. According to Acharya Sushruta, 16 Kandara are present in the body. These help in performing actions like extension and flexion. Among them 4 kandara are present in the Prushtha, which tightly bind the Shroni with the Prushtha and Nitamba and the other parts of the lower regions. Kaviraj Haraanchandra says that these Kandaras connect Shroni, Prushtha and Trikaasthi

8) Marma

Marma related to the Shroni, Prushtha and Trika Pradesha are Katikataruna, Kukundara and Nitamba Marmas. From the above references it can be inferred that the Kati Pradesh can be correlated to the pelvic girdle and its contents. The Trika Pradesh can be correlated to the Sacrum (Trikashti), the 2 sacroiliac joints and the Lumbosacral joint. The Prushtha Pradesh can be said to be up til the fourth lumbar vertebra. Kati Shoola or Low Back ache involves all 3 of these regions and therefore, as far as Kati Shoola is concerned, the word Kati in this study has been used for the Lumbosacral spine and associated structures.