The plants of Jeevaniya [inclusive of Ashtavarga, first 8 plants of the following] are considered highly medicinal but their botanical identity is disputed. The books themselves mention the use of substitutes like Ashwagandha, Shatavari in case of non availibility of this plants which term their rare nature. However interestingly the choice of substitutes like Shatavari (roots), Ashwagandha (roots), Vidarikand (sap) give us a faint guideline as to identification of this plants which may predominantly belong to the orchid and lily families. Also since their availability is depicted in cold mountains of Himalays the following plants are heavily discussed as source.
JEEVAKA
Malaxis acuminta D.Don.
RISHBHAKA
MEDA
MAHAMEDA
KAKOLI
KSHIRKAKOLI
RIDDHI
VRIDDHI
MUDAGPARNI
Crumingium virginianum (Linn.) Britt. in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 18:269, 1891;Almeida, FM 2:48 , 1998.
MAASHPARNI
JIVANTI
YASHTIMADHU
Abrus precatorius var. alba
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Ayurved Synonyms: Chirnjivi, Dirghayu, Harsanga, Ksveda, Kurchashira, Pranda, Shringaka and Svadu.
Family: Orchideaceae.
Description: Malaxis acuminta is a terrestrial, robust herb, up to 25 cm high. Stem tending to be psuedobulbous at base. Leaves 3-5, elliptic acuminate, sheathing at base. Flower deep pink in crowded, terminal dense to lax racemes, bracts deflexed.
Ayurved Synonyms: Bandhura, Dheera, Durdhara, Gopati.Indraksa, Kakuda, Matrika, Vishani, Vrisha and Vrishnabha
Microstylis muscifera Ridley
Family: Orchideaceae.
Ayurved Synonyms: Dhara, Manichhidra and Shalyaparni (one with pointed leafs)
Polygonatum verticillatum (L.)
Family: Liliaceae.
Description: Polygonatum verticillatum is a perennial growing to 1.2m by 0.45m. The leaves four to eight in a whorl; the flowers, two to three in a bunch in the axils of the leaves, are greenish-white. The fruits are red when ripe, and remain hanging after the leaves have fallen. The flowers are hermaphrodite.
English name: Whorled Solomon's seal
Ayurved Synonyms: Devamani and Vasuchhidra.
Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle
Family: Liliaceae.
Description: Whorls of delicate leaves and nodding little lilac bells on slender stems to 45cm. Shoots erupt from creeping rhizomes so late in the spring you fear something's wrong, and flower within a fortnight.
English name: King’s Solomon's seal
Ayurveda Synonyms: Dhawanksholika, Karnika, Ksheera, Madhura, Shukla, Svadumansi, Vayasoli and Vaysasha.
Roscoea procera Wall.
Family: Zingiberaceae.
Description: Roscoea purpurea is a much larger and lusher plant, forming clumps of thick, fleshy leaves from where arise fat stems topped by one or two two-tone purple hooded flowers in summer.
Fritillaria roylei
Family: Liliaceae.
Description: Bulb growing to 0.6m. The flowers are hermaphrodite
English name: Himalayan fritillary.
Ayurved Synonyms: Kshiramadhura, Kshiravishanika, Kshirshkula, Payasvani, Vayastha and Veera
Lilium polphyllum D.Don
Family: Liliaceae.
Description: Leaves are scaly. The plant originates from bulbs.
English name: White lily.
Ayurved Synonyms: Lakshmi, Mangala, Rathanga, Rishisrista, Saravajanpriya, Siddhi, Sukha, Vasu and Yuga.
Habenaria edgeworthii H.f.
Family: Orchidaceae.
Ayurved Synonyms: Lakshmi, Mangala, Rathanga, Rishisrista, Saravajanpriya, Siddhi, Sukha, Vasu and Yuga
Habenaria intermedia D.Don syn. Habenaria arietina H.f.
Family: Orchidaceae.
Most scholars infer Riddhi-Vriddhi as synonyms or varities of same plant. However documentation indicates them to be seperate species.
Ashtavarga ends, rest plants together constitute Jeevaniya Gana
Mudagparni forms of two discussed plants, the wild variety known as ARANYAMUDRAJ and the CULTIVATED variety
Crumingium virginianum (Linn.) Britt. in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 18:269, 1891;Almeida, FM 2:48 , 1998.
Local name: Raan Mug (Vd. Daji Pade., W.G.).(Marathi)
NOTE
Crumingium virginianum is accepted by certain scholars as the source of the classical plant Aranyamudraj. Aranyamudraj or wild gram is described by Shivdatt as a twiner bearing yellow flowers. Crumingium virginianum is a twiner but bears violet flowers. Hence its credentials as the probable source of Aranyamudagparni suffer a setback. Vigna radiata var sublobata is currently accepted as the source of Aranyamudraj. Contrastingly Crumingium virginianum leaves resemble Vigna mungo (Black gram) leaves and the seeds are also identical to black gram. Vigna mungo is currently accepted as the source of the classical plant Maash and there is a point of discussion as to whether Crumingium virginianum can be accepted as Maashparni. Maashparni is a classical Ayurveda plant which is described by Shivdatt as bearing leaves similar to the Maash plant (Vigna mungo). Currently Teramnus labialis is accepted as the source of classical plant Maashparni.
Vigna radiata (Linn.) Wilczek var. sublobata (Roxb.) Verdcourt in Kew Bull. 24:559, 1970; Almeida, FM 2:157 , 1998.
Indian names: Raan Mug (V.C. Bapat., W.P.), Mugvel (P.R.Doshi).
Vigna radiata (Linn.) Wilczek in Fl. Congo Belge. 6: 386, 1954; Verdcourt in Kew Bull. 24 : 558, 1970; Almeida Fl. Savantwadi, 148, 1990; Almeida, FM 2: 156 , 1998.
ESTD.by: Mudagparni
Indian name: Mug (FM 2:156).
Teramnus labialis (Linn. f.) Spreng., Syst. 3:235, 1826; Baker in Hook.f., FBI 2: 184,
1876; Cooke, Fl. Bombay Pres. 1: 363 , 1902;Almeida Fl. Savantwadi, 146, 1990; Almeida,
FM 2: 147, 1998.
ESTD. by : Maashparni (Bhavprakash Nighantu), (Chatterjee & Pakrashi).
Indian name: Raan Udid (FM 2:147).
Shivdatt has described Maashparni as plant bearing leaves similar to Maash plant (Udid, Vigna
mungo). Many species are described as Maashparni. Rhyncosia nummularia (Fabaceae),
Atylosia goensis (Fabaceae) are discussed. Certain scholars accept Vigna radiata var
sublobatus as Maashparni (See Vigna radiata for further discussion). Teramnus labialis closely
fit Shivdatta description and is currently accepted as the classical Maashparni plant.
Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn. in Wight, Contr. 47, 1834; Graham, Cat. Bombay Pl. 118, 1839; Wight, Icon. t. 350, 1840; Dalz. & Gibs., Bombay Fl. 152, 1861;
Almeida, Fl. Savantwadi 262, 1990; Almeida, FM 3: 250, 2001.
ESTD. by: Jivanti (Bhavprakash Nighantu) , Arkpushpi (Kirtikar & Basu)
Holostemma annulare (Roxb.) K. Schum., in Pfam. 4(2) : 250, f. 71 J-K, 1895; Almeida, Fl. Savantwadi 261, 1990; Almeida, FM 3: 247, 2001.
ESTD. by: Jivanti (Satyavati. et. al.), Arkpushpi (Kirtikar & Basu).
Indian name: Shirdodi (P.R.Doshi).
Dregea volubilis (Linn.f.) Benth. Ex Hook.f., FBI 4:46, 1883; Almeida, FM 3: 243,2001. Wattakaka volubilis (Linn.f.) Stapf in Curtis, Bot. Mag. sub. t. 8976, 1923; Almeida, Fl. Savantwadi 264, 1990.
Indian name: Haranvel (P.R.Doshi) (Vd. Daji Pade., W.G.), Harandodi (P.R.Doshi)
Though 3 species are mentioned the vaajikaran properties associated with Jivanti are not found wityh H.annulare . However that must not be the only criterion to exclude these species
Abrus precatorius var. alba
Ayurved Name: Shwet Gunja
This plant finds many a mention in traditional datra as source of Yashtimadhu. Its leaves are sweet as honey and its roots are effective for phlegm
Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
The now accepted source of Yashtimadhu. Interestingly the plant is introduced by greeks and we need to trace the history as to initial influences of Greek culture in India. As per Aryan theory, the race from the north divided into two one going to Iran and other to India due to some dispute and developed contrasting gods and demi gods. However the Aryan culture got absorbed and modeled by the then prevailing rich culture of traditional India. It could be possible that certain scholars or people from Iran may have come here and introduced G.glabra and hence cannot be ruled out of its mention in Charaka. Investigation needed
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The above data is a part of research thesis by Dr.Sumit Kesarkar currently a propert of Mumbai university. Please use the data with proper credits.
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1 comment:
With such a variety of potent possibilities, perhaps this is why Hanuman just picked up the whole mountain!
Thank you.
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