MUMURSHU LAKSHANA (SIGNS OF IMPENDING DEATH)

MUMURSHU LAKSHANA (SIGNS OF IMPENDING DEATH)

• The term Mumurṣu refers to a person who is nearing death, exhibiting signs of inevitable and irreversible detachment of life.

• In Ayurveda, observation of Arishta Lakshana (fatal signs) is an essential diagnostic tool to predict the non-survivability of a patient.

• Charaka Indriya Sthana, especially chapter 12, extensively explains such Mumurṣu Lakshanas.

• These signs help a physician to avoid unnecessary interventions and focus on palliative care.

• The knowledge of Arishta Lakshanas is both diagnostic and prognostic in clinical Ayurveda.

CLASSICAL SIGNS OF MUMURSHU AS PER CHA IN 12/9–25

ABNORMALITIES IN GOMAYA CHURNA (COW DUNG POWDER TEST)

• Cow dung powder is sprinkled around or on the body of the patient. If unusual phenomena occur, it is considered inauspicious.

Observations and interpretations:

• श्वेतः कृष्णो लोहितो वा गवामग्निच्युतः क्षरः ।
  कृशः स्थूलः पिच्छिलः कुर्यात्तद्रूपं विपर्ययात् ॥ (Cha In 12/9)
  If the cow dung powder catches fire spontaneously, becomes liquid, abnormally colored (white, black, red), too dry, oily, or sticky — it is a sign of impending death.

• वायोरपि निलीयेत चेत् स्वभावविपर्ययः ।
  ज्वलनं तद्भवेद् रोगे गवामग्निच्युतं पुनः ॥ (Cha In 12/10)
  Unnatural movement of smoke, reverse or obstructed wind flow in the test signifies serious derangement of the vital elements.

• ऊर्ध्वं विनश्यत्यग्निर्वा न विनश्यति नित्यवत् ।
  प्रवृत्तश्चाग्निचूर्णं तु विशीर्यते मृतिप्रदः ॥ (Cha In 12/11)
  If fire burns upward (against gravity), or behaves abnormally by not extinguishing when it should, it is fatal.

• समन्ताच्चोदकम् वह्निं यदा गृह्णाति सर्वतः ।
  पिबति वा शनैर्गत्याविकृतिर्मरणं स्मृतम् ॥ (Cha In 12/12)
  If water surrounds fire or slowly absorbs it with abnormal motion, it indicates death.

CHANGES IN BODY FUNCTIONS AND PERCEPTIONS

• स्पर्शो यदा विपर्येति न च ज्ञायेत किंचन ।
  नित्यं स्पृशेदपि स्निग्धं रूक्षं त्यजति जीवितम् ॥ (Cha In 12/13)
  Alteration or loss of touch sensation — inability to feel textures like rough or oily substances — is a fatal sign.

• दीप्तिर्देहेन यः कुर्यान्नास्नायीत् स्वेदमुत्सृजेत् ।
  तस्य प्राणविनाशोऽस्ति रोगैरप्यनभिसंस्थितैः ॥ (Cha In 12/14)
  Unnatural radiance, absence of sweating, despite not bathing — indicate loss of vital energy.

• आत्मानं पश्यति न स्वं विकृतं लक्षणं यदा ।
  न च विज्ञायते रूपं स्वरूपं पश्यतोऽपि वा ॥ (Cha In 12/15)
  If one cannot recognize their own image or body (in mirror or water), it indicates disconnection between body and consciousness.

• शब्दं न प्रतिपद्येत न च भाषेत तद्विधम् ।
  रूपाणां च विपर्यासः श्रोत्रस्य च न विक्रिया ॥ (Cha In 12/16)
  Inability to perceive sound or misinterpretation of visual stimuli despite intact auditory organs — fatal indication.

DEFORMED REFLECTIONS AND SHADOWS

• न प्रतिविम्बं जानाति स्वं चायां च पराङ्मुखीम् ।
  विकृतिं चेत्स्वमूर्तेः स्यान्मरणं तद्विनिश्चितम् ॥ (Cha In 12/17)
  Misrecognition or inversion of one's shadow or reflection is a strong indicator of death.

• छायायां विकृतिं पश्येद्यदा मूर्तेः स्वलक्षणम् ।
  श्यावां ह्रस्वां च नीलां च कृष्णां वा मृत्युचिह्नकम् ॥ (Cha In 12/18)
  Shadow appearing distorted, shortened, bluish, black or colorless — indicates death.

• निःस्वनं चायया युक्तं पश्चाद्गं च ततः पुनः ।
  विकारं चायतः स्वेदं पश्येद्देहं स मृत्युभाक् ॥ (Cha In 12/19)
  If shadow produces sound or follows the person unusually, or body sweats without cause — sign of death.

UNNATURAL BEHAVIOR OF FIRE, SHADOW, AND REFLECTION

• विपर्ययं स्पर्शरूपगन्धशब्दरसविक्रियाः ।
  स्मृतयः स्वप्नसन्देहास्तेजोमांसार्द्रताभवः ॥ (Cha In 12/20)
  Reversed perception of all five senses, hallucinations, unclear memory, moistness of muscles — are fatal.

• प्रमत्तवद् वदत्यात्मा मृतो वा भावमागतः ।
  नृत्तगीतप्रहासेन विनोदेनाप्युपेक्षणम् ॥ (Cha In 12/21)
  Sudden delirious joy, singing, dancing or laughter in terminal patients is seen as impending death.

MODERN CORRELATION (BASED ON CURRENT MEDICAL TEXTBOOKS)

• Neurological Symptoms:

  • Delirium, confusion, loss of proprioception, disorientation, and hallucinations suggest brain hypoxia, cerebral atrophy, or multi-organ failure.

  • Similar signs are found in terminal stages of neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or hepatic encephalopathy.

• Changes in Sensory Perception:

  • Loss of touch, hearing, and visual hallucinations correlate with sensory nerve degeneration or central nervous system failure.

  • Auditory and visual misperception often precede death in ICU settings and palliative care.

• Autonomic Nervous System Failure:

  • Altered sweating, temperature control, and spontaneous movements link with dysfunction in hypothalamic regulation and vegetative control centers.

• Psychological Manifestations:

  • Sudden euphoria, laughter, singing may mimic terminal lucidity — a phenomenon seen in some dying patients.

• Pupillary and Reflex Changes:

  • Unresponsive pupils, absent reflexes, and abnormal posture indicate brainstem death.

• Abnormal Shadow Perception:

  • While not scientifically measurable, this aligns metaphorically with severe disassociation or coma-like states.