Forest Types based on products in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi
Plant Science in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –115
Information Compiler: Bhishma Kukreti
Ashtadhyayi by Panini is a grammar text for Sanskrit language. Panini took note of many words those related to plant kingdom plants, creepers, trees, wood , forests etc. (2) . Panini classified the forests (vana ) on the basis of produces as –
Aushadhivana ---------the forest regions producing herbs (AshtaVIII, 4.6)
Durvavana and murvavana ------------------- the forest regions producing fodders (VIII, 4.6)
Vanasptivana ------------------------ Forest producing big trees mainly producing timber (VIII, 4.6)
Panini classified forests on the following basis too –
Paragvana -------------------------Natural Forests (VIII, 4.4)
Mishrikvana ---------------------- Forest related to a region. (VIII, 4.4)
There is division of cultivated forest based on the fruits as (VIII 4,5)-
Amravana ----------------- forests producing mango
Khadiravana --------------------- Forests producing catechu
Ikshavana -------------------- ----Sugarcane forests
References
1-Vergiani, Vincenzo (2017), Bhartrhari on Language, Perception and Consciousness, in Ganeri, Jonardon ( edi ) The Oxford Handbook of Indian Philosophy , Oxford University Press
2-Agarawala, V.S, Ancient Indian Flora in Ashtadhyayi of Panini, Palaeobotanist (1952) 1:61-65
3- Vasudev Shran Agarawala , Panini Kalin Bhartavarsha (Digitalized book free down load )
3-Agarwal, Ashwini Kumar , Ashtadhyayi of Panini complete
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