Bhrajaka Pitta

Bhrajaka pitta is located in the skin. Its governing element is earth. It maintains skin color, texture, and temperature, and is responsible for stereognosis (the ability to perceive the form of objects by touch). The glow and luster of the skin are associated with bhrajaka pitta.

Bhrajaka pitta is located in the skin and keeps it warm, maintaining normal complexion and luster. It processes oils, pastes, and medications applied externally—when sandalwood or ginger paste is applied, the agni principle of bhrajaka absorbs and assimilates the substance. The skin is a gate or door kept functional by bhrajaka pitta.

The fire component of bhrajaka pitta is called bhrajaka agni, which maintains the tactile sense of touch, pain, temperature, and stereognosis—three-dimensional tactile perception. A blind person can recognize a coin or key by touch because the skin has the capacity to feel size, shape, and surface of objects. This knowledge is called stereognosis: touch with comprehension of qualities.

Bhrajaka pitta works in connection with ranjaka pitta and pachaka pitta. Oil is absorbed through the skin, and its quality penetrates deeply into the connective tissue all the way to the bone. The medium that carries and absorbs that oil is bhrajaka pitta. The skin is connected to the liver and to all internal organs. Underneath the skin, connective tissue accumulates unresolved anger, fear, and stress. When anger arises, the skin becomes hot and flushed through the connection of prana; subcutaneous breathing stops. Under stress or anxiety, breathing becomes constricted and shallow, and the skin becomes pale.