Avarta Marma: Location, Components, Effect Of Injury

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Aavarta is an important Marma i.e. vital or delicate point in the body. It is located above the eyebrow on each side. It is predominantly made up of sandhis (bony joints).    

Avarta Marma
भ्रुवोः उपरि निम्नयोः आवर्त्तौ नाम, तत्र अपि आन्ध्यं दृष्टि उपघातो वा।(सु.शा.६/२७)

Location

Aavarta Marmas are located above the eyebrows on both sides. We can find a small depression above the eyebrow. Aavarta Marmas are exactly located in line with these depressions above the eyebrows. They are 2 in number.

Categories

Categories in which the Aavarta Marma is included
i) Shiro-Greeva Gata Marma (Shiro = Head, Greeva = Neck)
ii) Sandhi Marma – Aavarta marma is predominantly made up of Sandhis i.e. bony joints. The other elements namely Asthi (Bones), Snaayu (ligaments, tendons, nerves), Sira (blood vessels, veins) and Mamsa (muscles) are also present but in a lesser proportion.

iii) Vaikalyakara Marma – (Vaikalya kara – deformity forming) Aavarta Marmas when injured are said to produce deformity of the body or part of the body wherein the Marma is damaged. Based on the impact of injury, Aavarta Marma is classified under Vaikalyakara Marma.

Measurement

Pramana (measurement of Aavarta Marma) –
Aavarta Marma occupies a space of ½ angula dimension (approximately equal to the horizontal dimension or breadth of middle segment of one’s own middle finger)

Effect of Injury

तत्र अपि आन्ध्यं दृष्टि उपघातो वा।(सु.शा.६/२७)
Injury of Aavarta Marma causes deformity.
Injury leads to Aandhya (blindness) and Drishti Abhighaata (Impaired Vision).

Modern perspective

Modern Perspective (Practical anatomy) of Aavarta Marma
Structures falling in the area of Aavarta Marma –

• Joints of Frontal, Zygomatic and Sphenoid bones
• Frontal lobe of Cerebrum, motor center of eye movements

Though all the elements which comprise a marma i.e. asthi (bones), mamsa (muscles), snaayu (ligaments and tendons) and siraa (veins) are all present in the site of this Marma, it is predominant in the sandhi (joints) making up the Aavarta Marma, therefore it is a Sandhi Marma.

When Aavarta marma gets damaged, the effect of injury will chiefly involve the joints around the eye in comparison to the extent of damage caused to other tissues.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)