Utkshepa Marma: Location, Components, Effect Of Injury

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) and Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Utkshepa is an important Marma i.e. vital or delicate point in the body. It is located above the temples on either side of the head. It is predominantly made up of Snaayu (ligaments, tendons).  

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

Location

Utksepa Marmas are located above the Shankha (temple region), along the lower limit of the hairs (hair-line) of the scalp. They are 2 in number.

Categories

Categories in which the Utkshepa Marma is included
i) Shiro-Greeva Gata Marma (Shiro = Head, Greeva = Neck)
ii) Snayu Marma – Utkshepa marma is predominantly made up of Snayu i.e. ligaments and tendons.

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 Utkshepa 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 Utkshepa Marma) –
Utkshep 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.
The impacted shalya falls off by self (without being manually removed), the person survives.

Modern perspective

Modern Perspective (Practical anatomy) of Utkshepa MarmaStructures falling in the area of Utkshepa Marma –

• Temples (right and left)
• Temporal Fascia
• Temporal muscles
• Superficial Temporal arteries and its branches
• Zygomatic Temporal Nerve
• Brain and its meninges (coverings of the brain)

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

When Utkshepa Marma gets damaged, the effect of injury will chiefly involve the ligaments around the eye in comparison to the extent of damage caused to other tissues.

Just Before Finishing
Utkshepa Marma is located in the temples (above), one on either side of the head. They are very delicate spots in the body and include important structures including meninges, brain, arteries, muscles, fascia and nerves. Any injury to the temples should be immediately brought to medical attention as the Utkshepa Marma may be involved. Constant temporal headache, swelling and pain in the temples running a long course should be addressed without delay.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)