Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Anupa Desha, which means marshy lands, is one of the geographical divisions of the land as explained by Ayurveda, Jangala Desha and Sadharana Desha being the other two.

In this article we shall discuss Anupa Desha.

Anupa Desha

भूमिदेहप्रभेदेनदेशमाहुरिहद्विधा।
जाङ्गलंवातभूयिष्ठमानूपंतुकफोल्बणम्॥२३॥
साधारणंसममलंत्रिधाभूदेशमादिशेत्।
(A.H.Su.1/23)

अथानूपोहिन्तालतमालनारिकेलकदलीवनगहनः, सरित्समुद्रपर्यन्तप्रायः, शिशिरपवनबहुलः, वञ्जुलवानीरोपशोभिततीराभिःसरिद्भिरुपगतभूमिभागः, क्षितिधरनिकुञ्जोपशोभितः, मन्दपवनानुवीजितक्षितिरुहगहनः, अनेकवनराजीपुष्पितवनगहनभूमिभागः, स्निग्धतरुप्रतानोपगूढः, हंस-चक्रवाक-बलाका-नन्दीमुख-पुण्डरीक-कादम्ब-मद्गुभृङ्गराज-शतपत्र-मत्तकोकिलानुनादिततरुविटपः, सुकुमारपुरुषः, पवनकफप्रायोज्ञेयः;
(Cha.Ka.Sth.1/7-8)

तत्र, बहूदकनिम्रोन्नतनदीवर्षगहनो मृदुशीतानिलो बहुमहापर्वतवृक्षो मृदुसुकुमारोपचितशरीरमनुष्यप्रायः कफवातरोगभूयिष्ठश्चानूपः; (Su.Su.35/42)

Anupa Desha means marshy land.

Acharya Vagbhata in Ashtanga Hridaya, keeps the definition of Anupa Desha simple and says ‘Anupa Desha is predominant in Kapha’.

Below mentioned are the characteristic features of Anupa Desha –

Nature of the land – The lands are wet, moist and humid in Anupa Desha. The grounds are not even and has ups and downs as per Acharya Sushruta. Coastal areas can be included in Anupa lands. Soil is coppery or red in colour.

Location of Anupa Desha – The lands of Anupa Desha are generally located on the banks of rivers and sea. Therefore, due to the abundance of water bodies in the vicinity, the lands are wet in nature. Since these lands are located in the neighbourhood of rivers their banks are occupied by plants like Vanjula – Salix caprea, goat willow and Vanira – Wrightia tinctoria which makes these lands appear beautiful.

Mahabhuta Predominance – Since Anupa Desha is wet in nature, it is abundant in Jala / Ap Mahabhuta i.e. water element.

Temperature, Rain – Temperature is usually low in Anupa Desha. Rainfall is usually high, enriching the water bodies therein. As a result, there are large and many water reservoirs, water is more in quantity.

Nature of forests – Anupa Desha has deep, large, dense and evergreen forests. The trees in these thick forests weave with gentle breeze. The thick forest bears beautiful and blossoming trees. The land is covered with tender branches of trees.

Common trees available in Anupa Desha – Below mentioned kinds are commonly available in the deep forests of Anupa Desha –

–        Hintala – Date Palm

–        Tamala – Garcinia species

–        Narikela – Coconut

–        Kadali – Plantain / Banana

Paddy and sugarcane are also seen to grow in abundance. Varieties of fruits and vegetables are seen grown in Anupa Desha. Plants have large leaves.

Nature of Winds – In Anupa Desha, the winds which blow are mostly cold winds. Since Anupa Desha is wetland, it can be assumed that the winds are also wet rather than being dry. The winds are described as soft and cold by Acharya Sushruta.

Availability of water – There is abundance of water in Anupa Desha. This is due to the good amount of rainfall in these lands. The water reservoirs are filled with water. There are a good number of flowing rivers on these lands. Lakes, wells and rivers are found in great numbers. The underground water is also available easily since it is not deep.

Hills and mountains – Anupa Desha have mountains which are covered with beautiful creepers. Having plenty of high mountains and trees is a significant feature of Anupa Desha according to Acharya Sushruta. Hills are found in great numbers.

Common birds inhabiting Anupa Desha – The echoes of the sounds of below mentioned birds are heard from the branches of the trees in the forests of Anupa Desha –

–        Hamsa – swan

–        Chakravaka – ruddy shelduck

–        Balaka – type of crane

–        Nandimukha – river mouth bird

–        Pundarika – type of white-eyed bird

–        Kadamba – Anser indicus

–        Madgu – diver bird

–        Bhrngaraja – black drongo

–        Satapatra – woodpecker and

–        Inebriated Kokila – cuckoos

Animals commonly inhabiting Anupa Desha – In Anupa Desha, plenty of rabbits, bears, buffalos, deer etc. can be seen.

Predominant Doshas – Anupa Desha is predominant in Kapha dosha. Vata is also seen to be predominant along with Vata. Kapha, greatly and also vata is naturally found to be high in people living in these lands due to the influence of the land. Therefore, there is always a possibility of people in these lands to suffer from kapha disorders and sometimes vata disorders. The predominance of Kapha Dosha influences the herbs, birds, animals and human beings.

Predominant diseases – In Anupa Desha, diseases predominantly caused by aggravated kapha are common. Acharya Sushruta also mentioned that Vataja diseases can also be manifested in Anupa Desha.

Nature of people inhabiting Anupa Desha – People inhabiting Anupa Desha generally have soft, tender and well-built bodies and generally have vata and kapha predominance in them.

Strength and Health – People in Anupa Desha are considered to have more strength in comparison to those inhabiting Jangala Desha and Sadharana Desha. People have good compactness and complexion and also tender body nature due to kapha predominance.

Anupa Desha: Quick look

–        Wetlands

–        Cold and moist winds

–        More of rain, cloudy skies

–        More trees, mountains and water,

–        Predominant in Jala – water Mahabhuta

–        Has good amount of water reservoirs, rivers, sea and river and sea beds (banks) with pleasing nature

–        Has uneven lands and coastal regions

–        Cold weather

–        Has plants with big leaves, creepers

–        Thick forests inhabited by trees like Hintala, Tamala etc. dense and evergreen large forests have gentle breeze and beautiful blossoming trees

–        Predominant in Kapha (and Vata to an extent)

–        People are prone to Kapha disorders mainly and also Vata disorders

–        People living here are soft, tender and well built

–        People have more strength

–        Inhabited by swans, cranes, rabbits, deer etc.

Clinical perspective

Every land or geographical region has an immense impact on the people therein. Therefore, one needs to know about their desha, Anupa desha in this context, understand its features and also the influence it has on them and on everything around them.

The knowledge of Anupa Desha will help the physician to understand about the proneness of the inhabitants towards kapha afflictions and aggravations, and also those of vata. This will also help in understanding the diseases caused by these doshas. The physician would keep himself well equipped with preventive and curative strategies to deal with kapha and vata imbalances and also treat the diseases caused by them. He can also educate the people about the same.

Preventive strategies in Anupa Desha consists of keeping away all those factors including foods and activities which would tend to aggravate kapha on long or short term, so as to keep these doshas in check or see that the diseases caused by them are either cured or do not worsen. This is more important to persons having similar prakriti as that of the desha and in seasons favourable for aggravation of these doshas.

Excessive consumption of sweet, sour and salty dishes should be avoided and so also the activities like day sleep, lack of exercise etc. to keep the kapha under check. Anti Kapha foods and activities like indulgence in foods rich in pungent, bitter and astringent tastes, hot foods and comforts, Udvarthana, keeping awake at night, Vamana etc are inclusive.

From a curative perspective, since more of kapha or kapha-vata disorders are expected to manifest or worsen in Anupa Desha, the treatments for the same shall be done as and when they manifest.

Anupa Desha is a remedy for people who live in Jangala Desha and suffer from Vata aggravation or Vata disorders. The vice versa is also true.