Simanta Marma: Components, Location, Effect Of Injury

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Simanta is an important Marma i.e. vital or delicate point in the body. They are the joints located in the head and divide the skull into portions of anatomical importance. They are predominantly made up of Sandhis (joints).  

Simanta Marma
पञ्च सन्धयः शिरसि विभक्ताः सीमन्ता नाम, तत्र उन्माद भयः चित्तनाशैः मरणम्।(सु.शा.६/२७)

Location, number

Location –
Simantha Marmas are five joints located over the head. They are in the form of sutures (stitches). It looks like many bones of the scalp (upper portion of the skull vault) have been stitched with each other at these joints. They divide the skull or scalp into different portions.
Number: 5 in number.

Categories

Categories in which the Seemanta Marma is included
Seemanta Marma is classified into various categories. They are as below mentioned –

i) Shiro-Greeva Gata Marma (Shiro = Head, Greeva = Neck)
ii) Sandhi Marma – Seemanta marmas are predominantly made up of Sandhis i.e. bony joints.

iii) Kaalantara Praanahara Marma – (Kaalantara – Gradual, Pranahara – life taking) Seemanta Marmas are said to produce death over a period of time, gradually.

Measurement

Pramana (measurement of Seemanta Marma) –
Seemanta Marma occupies a space of 2 angula dimension (approximately equal to the horizontal dimension or breadth of middle segment of one’s own middle finger)

Effect of Injury

तत्र उन्माद भयः चित्त नाशैः मरणम्।(सु.शा.६/२७)
Any injury to the Seemanta Marma takes away the life gradually, in due course of time since it is a Kaalantara Praanahara Marma.

Injury to Seemanta Marma causes Unmaada (insanity), Bhaya (fear complex) and Chitta Naasha (psychological abnormality) which eventually leads to gradual death.

Modern perspective

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

• Sagittal sutures of the skull
• Parietal sutures of the skull
• Occipital sutures of the skull
• Frontal sutures of the skull

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

When Seemanta Marma gets damaged, the effect of injury will chiefly involve the joints of the scalp in comparison to the extent of damage caused to other tissues.

Just Before Finishing
Seemanta Marmas form the important sutural joints of the scalp (upper portion of the skull vault). They are delicate joints. Any injury to these joints might directly injure the brain causing insanity, mental disorders and gradual death. Therefore any injury to the scalp should be addressed immediately with medical attention.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)