Meaning of term ‘Panchakarma’

The term ‘Panchakarma’ is comprising of two words namely ‘Pancha’ and ‘Karma’. ‘Pancha’ means five and ‘Karma’ means procedure. 

Vamanam Rechanam Nasyam Niruhaschyaanuvasanam| 

Atani panch karmani kathitani muneeshwarehe || Sha.U.A8/70 

Vamana (Emesis), Virechana (Purgation), Nasya (Errihne), Niruha (Medicine Decoction Enema) and Anuvasana (Medicine Oil Enema) are the Panchakarmas stated by Muneeshwar. 

Question is, Why only five karmas (procedures)? Why not more or less? Answer is that, such figure has been fixed or finalized according to Siddhanta (concept) of science as like 3 Doshas, 7 Dhatus, 3 Malas, 3 Agnis, 5 Mahabhootas, 5 Panchakas 6 Rasas, 500 Virechana Kalpas, 8 Angas of Ayurveda, 6 Anga of Sharir. 

Eha vamanadishu karma lakshanam bhietikartvyata yogi dosha nirharan shktijyayastwam| Ch.Su.2/15 

Panchakarma procedures have Doshanirharana pradhanta is the main property. In Vamana 1, 1 ½ , & 2 Prasta matra (1 Prastha= 54 Tola means 540 ml/gm) of Kapha Dosha, Virechana 2, 3 & 4 Prastha matra of Pitta and in Niruha and Anuvasana Vata Dosha in Prabhoota matra will be expelled out from the body. 

Another question is that, Which are these five procedures? Panchakarma names as per Acharya Charaka given in Apamarga Tanduliya Adhyaya, Panchakarmiya Siddhi Adhyaya, Kalpana Siddhi Adhyaya are to be- Vamana, Virechana, Niruha (Asthapana), Anuvasana and Shiro-Virechana (Nasya), these are accepted by Acharya Sharangdhara and Acharya Bhavprakash. 

Acharya Sushruta told Trividha karma i.e. Poorva karma, Pradhana karma and Pachyata karma and Commentator of Sushruta Acharya Dhallana given three impressions on these Trividha karma and his third impression is- 

Trividham karma-poorva karma pradhankarma paschyatkarmeti || Su.Su. 5/1 

Anye samshodhya pachana snehana svedanani poorva karma virechana bastinasya shira mokashanani pradhanam karma, peyadyaanna sansarjanam paschyatakarma | 

Dhallana commentary on above said verse. Acharya Vagbhatta not mentioned names of the Panchakarmas but his commentator Acharya Arunadatta told Panchakarma names as ‘Nuriho vamanam kaya shirovirekaastravistrutihi’ which are same panchadha shodhanam stated by Acharya Vagbhatta. 

The word ‘Karma’ means Chikitsa. Chikitsa is that which will produce Dhatu samya and way of remedies that not again forms Dhatu vayshamya. Sushruta has called Kriya for word Karma. Kriya is divided into two types Chedyadi Kriya and Snehadi Kriya. Acharya Dhallana which was Commentator of Acharya Sushruta has been given clarification of Snehadi word as Snehana, Svedana, Vamana, Asthapana, Anuvasana, Dhupa, Nasya, Kawalagraha, Gandusha, and Deepana, Pachana, Samshamanadi kriya. This is the Chikitsarthvachaka meaning of word Karma.