Sthapani Marma: Location, Components, Effect of Injury

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Sthapani is an important Marma i.e. vital or delicate point in the body. It is located between the eyebrows. It is predominantly made up of Siraa (blood vessels, veins). 

Sthapani Marma
भ्रुवोः मध्ये स्थपनी, तत्र उत्क्षेपवत्।
शंखयोः उपरि केशान्त उत्क्षेपौ, तत्र स शल्यो जीवेत्, पाकात् पतित शल्यो वा, न उद्धृत शल्यः।(सु.शा.६/२७)

Location, number

Location –
Stapani Marma is located in between the eyebrows. Sthapanee Marma is one in number and is located exactly at the centre of the forehead.
Number: Sthapanee Marma is only one in number.

Categories

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

iii) Vishalyaghna Marma – (Vishalya – removing the impacted foreign body, Ghna – Death) Vishalyaghna Marmas are those which cause death when the foreign body impacted in them is removed. If a foreign body is impacted in the Sthapanee Marma, the person lives as long as the Shalya or foreign body stays impacted in the site of Marma. But when the Shalya is removed, the vital life force (Vayu, Prana) which had been blocked by the Shalya escapes and the person dies. But if the Shalya or foreign body falls off from the site of Marma after the wound gets healed, the person survives.

Measurement

Pramana (measurement of Sthapanee Marma) –
Sthapani 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

पाकात् पतित शल्यो वा, न उद्धृत शल्यः।(सु.शा.६/२७)
The person lives as long as the shalya (foreign body) has not been removed from the Marma site wherein it had been impacted. But if it is removed, it causes immediate death. If the wound heals by itself and the impacted shalya falls off by self (without being manually removed), the person survives.

Modern perspective

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

• Glabella i.e. the projection or protuberance at the centre of the forehead
• Frontal vein
• Frontal sinus
• Nasal notch

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

When Sthapanee Marma gets damaged, the effect of injury will chiefly involve the blood vessels in between the eyebrows, in the region of forehead in comparison to the extent of damage caused to other tissues.

Just Before Finishing
Sthapanee Marma is located in the forehead, in between the eyebrows. It is a very sensitive and delicate part. Any injury to the glabella or centre of forehead should be immediately brought to medical attention as the Sthapanee Marma may be involved. Constant frontal headache, sinusitis, swelling and pain in the frontal bone running a long course should be addressed without delay.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)