Last verified: April 2026
Dhatu — Seven Body Tissues
Charaka Samhita documents seven Dhatu (body tissues) that form the entire physical body in a sequential chain — each formed from the previous through the action of tissue-specific metabolic fires (Dhatvagni). From food, Rasa (plasma) is formed first; from Rasa, Rakta (blood); from Rakta, Mamsa (muscle); through Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow), to the final and most refined tissue — Shukra (reproductive tissue) from which Ojas, the vital essence, is produced.
The formation chain
Each Dhatu is formed from the previous one through the action of its Dhatvagni (tissue-specific digestive fire). The sequence: food is digested by Jatharagni (digestive fire) into Ahara Rasa (food essence), which becomes Rasa Dhatu (plasma). From Rasa, through the action of Rasa Dhatvagni, a portion becomes Rakta Dhatu (blood). From Rakta through Rakta Dhatvagni, a portion becomes Mamsa (muscle). The chain continues through Meda, Asthi, Majja, to the final and most refined tissue — Shukra. From the finest portion of Shukra, Ojas is produced.
The classical metaphor: the formation process is like a sequence of pots — when the first pot overflows, it fills the second, which fills the third, and so on. Each Dhatu's formation takes approximately five days according to Sharangadhara Samhita's Dosha-Kala documentation, making the complete seven-tissue formation cycle approximately 35 days from food to Shukra.