A Comprehensive Guide to Ayurvedic Specialties
दक्षापमानसंक्रुद्धरुद्रनि:श्वाससम्भवः ।
ज्वरोऽष्टधा पृथग्द्वन्द्वसङ्घातागन्तुजः स्मृतः ।। १ ।।
Introduction to Jwara Nidanam (The Etiology of Fever)
1. The Mythological Origin (From the Shloka)
"Jwara was born from the wrath of Rudra (a form of Lord Shiva), who had been insulted by Dakṣa. It is of eight kinds..."
This is not merely a story but a deep symbolic representation of the nature of fever:
Rudra: Represents the destructive and transformative power inherent in the universe and within the human body. In the context of health, this is the power of the immune response.
Insult by Dakṣa: Dakṣa symbolizes ritualistic, orderly, and balanced functioning (Prakriti). The "insult" represents a breach in the body's natural balance (homeostasis) due to improper diet, lifestyle, or other factors.
Wrathful Breath of Rudra: When balance is severely disturbed, the body's inherent protective power (Rudra) reacts with immense, uncontrolled fury. This furious reaction is Jwara—a violent, heat-generating, systemic response to restore order by burning away the cause of the imbalance.
Thus, the myth establishes Jwara not as an external enemy, but as the body's own intense, aggravated defense mechanism.
2. The Eightfold Classification (Ashtavidha Jwara)
The shloka clearly classifies Jwara into eight types based on the causative Dosha(s):
1. Vataja Jwara: Fever caused by vitiated Vata Dosha.
2. Pittaja Jwara: Fever caused by vitiated Pitta Dosha.
3. Kaphaja Jwara: Fever caused by vitiated Kapha Dosha.
4. Vatapittaja Jwara: Fever caused by the dual aggravation of Vata and Pitta.
5. Vatakaphaja Jwara: Fever caused by the dual aggravation of Vata and Kapha.
6. Pittakaphaja Jwara: Fever caused by the dual aggravation of Pitta and Kapha.
7. Sannipataja Jwara (Tridoshaja): The most severe fever caused by the simultaneous aggravation of all three Doshas.
8. Agantuja Jwara: Fever due to external causes (trauma, poison, infections, evil spirits, psychological shock, etc.).
This classification is crucial because it dictates the entire treatment strategy. The therapy for a Vata-dominant fever is entirely different from that for a Kapha-dominant one.
3. The Core Etiology (Nidanam) - From the Second Shloka
मिथ्याहारविहाराभ्यां दोषा ह्यामाशयाश्रयाः | बहिर्निरस्य कोष्ठाग्निं ज्वरदाः स्यू रसानुगाः ||
"Due to improper diet and lifestyle practices, the Doshas (located in the stomach and intestine - Amashaya) become vitiated and lead to the formation of Ama (toxins). These Doshas, carrying Ama, move out of the gut, weaken the digestive fire (Agni) of the entire system, and spread through the Rasa Dhatu ( plasma / nutrient fluid) to cause Jwara."
This single shloka encapsulates the entire Samprapti (pathogenesis) of most endogenous fevers. Here is the sequence:
1. Root Cause (Mula Nidana): Mithyahara-Vihara (प्रमित्याहारविहाराभ्यां)
Mithya Ahara: Improper diet (untimely, unwholesome, incompatible foods, overeating, etc.)
Mithya Vihara: Improper lifestyle (irregular routine, excessive exertion, suppression of natural urges, etc.)
2. Dosha Vitiation (Dosha Prakopa): The improper practices cause one or more of the three Doshas to become aggravated (Prakupita).
3. Formation of Ama (Toxins): The aggravated Doshas impair the digestive fire (Jatharagni), leading to improper digestion. This undigested, toxic material is called Ama.
4. Spread (Prasara): The aggravated Doshas, now mixed with Ama (a combination called Sama Dosha), overflow from the gastrointestinal tract (Amashaya - the stomach and small intestine). They are expelled ("बहिर्निरस्य") into the general circulation.
5. Systemic Weakening (Dhatu Agni Mandya): These toxins circulate and weaken the metabolic fire in every tissue (Dhatvagni), leading to systemic dysfunction.
6. Obstruction and Manifestation (Srotho Rodha & Vyakti): The Sama Doshas travel through the Rasa Dhatu (the first and most pervasive tissue, plasma) and block the channels of circulation (Srotas), particularly the Rasavahi Srotas.
The body's intelligence, in an attempt to "burn" or digest these circulating toxins, dramatically increases its metabolic fire. This massive, systemic generation of heat is perceived as Fever (Jwara).
Symptoms: Shivering (chill, rigors), non-corresponding time of onset and exacerbation, severe dryness of the throat and lips, loss of sleep, absence of sneezing, roughness of the skin, pain in head, chest and body, bad taste in the mouth, hard and dry feces, abdominal distention/pain, and excessive yawning.
Śloka Reference: MADHAVA NIDĀNA Chapter 2 (8-9)
वेपथुर्विषमो वेगः कण्ठौष्ठपरिशोषणम् ।
निद्रानाशः क्षवस्तम्भो गात्राणां रौक्ष्यमेव च ॥ ८ ॥
शिरोहृद्गात्ररुग्वक्रवैरस्यं गाढविट्कता ।
शूलाध्माने जृम्भणं च भवन्त्यनिलजे ज्वरे ।।९।।
Detailed Explanation of Slokas
Symptoms: Very high temperature, diarrhoea, very little sleep, vomiting, ulcers in the throat, lips, mouth and nose, perspiration, delirium, bitter taste in the mouth, fainting, burning sensation all over the body, toxicity, intense thirst, yellow coloration of feces, urine & eyes, and giddiness.
श्लोक:
वेगस्तीक्ष्णोऽतिसारश्च निद्राल्पत्वं तथा वमिः ।
कण्ठौष्ठमुखनासानां पाकः स्वेदश्च जायते ।। १० ।।
प्रलापो वक्रकटुता मूर्च्छा दाहो मदस्तृषा ।
पीतविण्मूत्रनेत्रत्वं पैत्तिके भ्रम एव च ।। ११ ।।
Detailed Explanation of Slokas 10-11
Symptoms: Feeling of stiffness and cold all over the body, mild increase of temperature, lack of enthusiasm (laziness), sweet taste in the mouth, whitish urine and feces, stiffness of extremities, abnormal feeling of contentment, heaviness, cold, nausea, horripulations, excessive sleep. Other signs include obstruction to channels, mild pains, salivation, salty taste, vomiting, saliva flowing out, indigestion, running nose, lack of appetite, cough, and whitish eyes.
Śloka Reference: (12-13)
स्तैमित्यं स्तिमितो वेग आलस्यं मधुरास्यता ।
शुक्लमूत्रपुरीषत्वं स्तम्भस्तृप्तिरथापि च ।। १२ ।।
गौरवं शीतमुत्क्लेदो रोमहर्षोऽतिनिद्रता ।
[स्रोतोरोधो रुगल्पत्वं प्रसेको लवणास्यता ।
नात्युष्णगात्रताच्छर्दिर्लाला स्त्रावोऽविपाकता ।।
प्रतिश्यायोऽरुचिः कासः कफजेऽक्ष्णोश्च शुक्लता ।।१३।।
Symptoms: Thirst, fainting, giddiness, burning sensation, loss of sleep, headache, dryness of throat and mouth, vomiting, horripulations, loss of appetite, feeling of darkness before the eyes, pain in the joints, and yawning.
Śloka Reference: (14-15)
तृष्णा मूर्च्छा भ्रमो दाहः स्वप्ननाशः शिरोरुजेा ।
कण्ठास्यशोषो वमथू रोमहर्षोऽरुचिस्तमः ।।१४।।
पर्वभेदश्च जृम्भा च वातपित्तज्वराकृतिः । (सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
Symptoms: Feeling of stiffness/cold in the body, pain in the joints, too much of sleep, feeling of heaviness of the body, headache, and moderate increase of body temperature.
Śloka Reference: (15-16)
स्तैमित्यं पर्वणां भेदो निद्रा गौरवमेव च ।। १५ ।।
शिरोग्रहः प्रतिश्यायः कासः स्वेदाप्रवर्तनम् ।
सन्तापो मध्यवेगश्च वातश्लेष्मज्वराकृतिः ।। १६ ।। (सु.उ.तं.अ. ३९)
Symptoms: Coated tongue, bitter taste in the mouth, drowsiness, delusion, cough, loss of appetite, thirst, and alternate feeling of heat and cold.
Śloka Reference: (17)
लिप्ततिक्तास्यता तन्द्रा मोहः कासोऽरुचिस्तृषा ।
मुहुर्दाहो मुहुः शीतं श्लेष्मपित्तज्वराकृतिः ।। १७ ।। (सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
Symptoms: A complex presentation including: alternate feeling of heat and cold; pain in the joints; headache; eyes full of tears, dirty, reddish and bulging; ringing and pain in the ears; feeling of thorns pricking the throat; drowsiness; delusion; delirium; cough; difficult respiration; loss of appetite; giddiness; angry red and rough tongue; weakness of the limbs; expectation of sputum mixed with blood and bile; rolling of the head; thirst; loss of sleep; pain in the heart; scanty sweat, urine and feces; continuous moaning; dark red spots on the skin; ulceration of body orifices; heaviness of the abdomen; and very slow return of Doshas to normalcy (Pāka).
Prognosis: Incurable if Doshas are profound, digestion is completely diminished, and all symptoms are severe. Otherwise, curable with great difficulty. A profound swelling at the root of the ear may appear at the end of the course.
Śloka Reference: (18-25)
क्षणे दाहः क्षणे शीतमस्थिसन्धिशिरोरुजा । सास्रावे कलुषे रक्ते निर्भुग्रे चापि लोचने ।। १८ ।।
सस्वनी सरुजौ कर्णौ कण्ठः शूकैरिवावृतः । तन्द्रा मोहः प्रलापश्च कासः श्वासोऽरुचिर्भ्रमः ।। १९ ।।
परिदग्धा खरस्पर्शा जिह्वा त्रस्ताङ्गता परम् । ष्ठीवनं रक्तपित्तस्य कफेनोन्मिश्रितस्य च ।। २० ।।
शिरसो लोटनं तृष्णा निद्रानाशो हृदि व्यथा । स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषाणां चिराद्दर्शनमल्पशः ।। २१ ।।
कृशत्वं नातिगात्राणां प्रततं कण्ठकूजनम् । कोठानां श्यावरक्तानां मण्डलानां च दर्शनम् ।। २२ ।।
मूकत्वं स्रोतसां पाको गुरुत्वमुदरस्य च । चिरात् पाकश्च दोषाणां सन्निपातज्वराकृतिः ।। २३ ।।
(च.चि.अ. ३)
दोषे विबद्धे नष्टेऽनौ सर्वसम्पूर्णलक्षणः ।
सन्निपातज्वरोऽसाध्यः, कृच्छ्रसाध्यस्ततोऽन्यथा ।। २४ ।। (च.चि.अ. ३)
सन्निपातज्वरस्यान्ते कर्णमूले सुदारुणः ।
शोथ: सञ्जायते तेन कश्चिदेव प्रमुच्यते ।। २५ ।। (च.चि.अ. ३)
Fevers originating from factors other than the internal Doshas.
General Cause: Assault (Abhighāta), sorcery/witchcraft (Abhicāra), curses (Abhiśāpa), and possession by evil spirits/infection by micro-organisms (Abhisaṅga). Abhighata jwara
Note: Even in these fevers, the symptoms of the Doshas (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha) must be recognized for treatment.
Śloka Reference: (26)
अभिघाताभिचाराभ्यामभिशापाभिषङ्गतः । आगन्तुर्जायते दोषैर्यथास्वं तं विभावयेत् ।। २६ ।।
Specific Types:
अभिचाराभिशापाभ्यां मोहस्तृष्णा च जायते ।। २९ ।।
भूताभिषङ्गादुद्वेगो हास्यरोदनकम्पनम् । (सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
श्यावास्यता विषकृते तथाऽतीसार एव च ।
भक्तारुचिः पिपासा च तोदश्च सह मूर्च्छया ।। २७ ।। (सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
ओषधीगन्धजे मूर्च्छा शिरोरुग्वमथुः क्षवः ।
कामजे चित्तविभ्रंशस्तन्द्राऽऽलस्यमभोजनम् ।। २८ ।।
हृदये वेदना चार गात्रं च परिशुष्यति ।
भयात् प्रलापः शोकाच्च भवेत् कोपाच्च वेपथुः ।
(सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
कामशोकभयाद्वायुः, क्रोधात्पित्तं त्रयो मलाः ।। ३० ।।
भूताभिषङ्गात् कुप्यन्ति भूतसामान्यलक्षणाः । (च.चि.अं. ३)
दोषोऽल्पोऽ हितसंभूतोज्वरोत्सृष्टस्य वा पुनः ।। ३१ ।।
धातुमन्यतमं प्राप्य करोति विषमज्वरम् । (सु.उ.तं.अ. ३९)
सन्ततं रसरक्तस्थः, सोऽन्येद्युः पिशिताश्रितः ।। ३२ ।। मेदोगतस्तृतीयेऽह्नि त्वस्थिमज्जगतः पुनः ।
कुर्याच्चतुर्थकं घोरमन्तकं रोगसङ्करम् ।।३३।। (सु.उ. त.अ. ३९ )
सप्ताहं वा दशाहं वा द्वादशाहमथापि वा । सन्तत्या योऽविसर्गी स्यात् सन्ततः स निगद्यते ।। ३४ ।। अहोरात्रे सततको द्वौ कालावनुवर्तते । अन्येद्युष्कस्त्वहोरात्र एककालं प्रवर्तते ।। ३५।। तृतीयकस्तृतीयेऽह्नि, चतुर्थेऽह्नि चतुर्थकः । (सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
केचिद्भूताभिषङ्गोत्थं ब्रुवते विषमज्वरम् ।। ३६ ।। (सु.उ.तं. अ. ३९ )
चतुर्थको दर्शयति प्रभावं द्विविधं ज्वरः ।
जङ्घाभ्यां श्लैष्मिकः पूर्व शिरस्तोऽनिलसम्भवः ।। ३८ ।। (च.चि.अ. ३)
1. Further on, in all diseases, those varities which are caused by increase of any two dosas together are designated as Dwandwaja (Dwidoṣaja) and those caused by increase of all the three dosas together as Sannipätaja (Tridoṣaja)
Abhighata jwara