MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

Gupta Empire: An Introduction

Glimpses of Botany in Gupta period -1
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –128   

Information Compiler: Bhishma Kukreti 

Mahajan rightly states that there are many sources for knowing the Gupta Empire (319-535 CE) as Literature works of that time; Tour memoir by Fahien a Chinese traveller; Inscriptions, Seals, Monuments, and other literature after Gupta era too.
 It is unknown about the land from where Gupta family started the rules.
From the reports of various Historians as Mahajan etc. (2), the following outlined data is available about Gupta emperors (almost all Indian subcontinent barring a couple of south sates) –
Chandragupta I (280-319) was son of Ghatotkatcha and got crown of Maghada .
 Samudragupta Parakramka (335- 375 A.D.) - Samudragupta got crown from his father around 335 (2)
Rama Gupta (375-380)
Chandragupta II ‘Vikramaditya (380- 415) – He was strong king as Samudragupta and expanded  Gupta empire.
Kumargupta I ruled for 42 years (415-457)
Skandagupta (457-467) very brave King as Chandragupta II
Punyagupta (467 -473) from here,  the Gupta empire started decline .Other Gupta Kings were Kumargupta II (467-476),
Budhagupta,
Narsinghgupta,
 Kumargupta III,
Vishnugupta,
and Bhanugupta -
References
1-Mahajan, V.D. Ancient India, 1998 page 466
2- Mahajan, V.D. Ancient India, 1998 page-477 
Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, //2020

Tooth Brushes and tooth paste description in Astanga Sangraha
Economic Botany or applied Botany in Vagbhata literature -1
Glimpses of Botany in Gupta period (3rd Century AD to 8th Century AD   -3
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –130   
Information Compiler: Bhishma Kukreti 
It is a fact that Vagbhata  studied the works of his predecessor medicine authorities  as  Gautama, Brihaspati, Kapilabala, Varuna, Khandkapya, Charaka, Sushruta etc. Vagbhata quoted their works in his literature as Astanga Sangraha.(3).
 However, Vagbhata did have his own theories and he mentioned those ideas in his works (3)
 From Botany point of views we shall discuss plants mentioned in Astangahridaya and Astanga Sangraha  those were not mentioned in Charaka Samhita, Sushruta and Bhel Samhita in following chapters.
In this chapter, the plants recommended for tooth brushes and paste by Vagbhata in Astang Sangraha (4)–
Plants name in A.S----------Botanical name
Vata----------------------------- Ficus bengalensis
Asana ------------------------- Pterocarpus marsupium
Arka --------------------------  Calotropis procera
Khadira -------------------- Acacia catechu
Karanja ----------------------- Pongamia  pinnata
Karavira ----------------------- Nerum indicum
Sarja --------------------------- Vateria  indica
Arimeda ----------------------   Acacia leucoploea
Apamarga ----------------------- Achyranthes aspera
Malati -------------------------- Jasminum arborescens
Kakubha ------------------------- Terminalia  arjuna
Dipping medium for tooth Brushing in Astanga Sangraha –
There is suggestion in Astang Sangraha that the toth brush should be dipped into dipping medium that is mixture of-
Vapya – Cordia dichotama
And Trivarga tritaya (Trikatu, Triphala and Trijataka) with honey (3 and 4)
Following plants were used (recommended on Vagbhata time  ) for preparing mixture of  Trivarga Tritaya-
Piper longum
Piper nigrum
Zingiber officianale
Terminalia chebula
Phyllanthus embllica
Terminalia belerica
Cinnamomum zylanicum
Elletria cardamomum

References:
1-Subhaktha P.K.J.P., Manohar ,S Gundeti and Ala Narayana , Vagbhata- His Contribution Journal of Indian Medical heritage Vol.39-2009, pp 111-136.
2-Ramarao, B., Sharma, P.V., 1992, History of Medicine in India: Vagbhata, NSA New Delhi pp. 205-221 
3- Sarma C.R.R . ,B. Rama Rao , Additional material in Astanga Sangraha, Bulletin , Ind.Inst.History Medical  Vo .lIX p 1 to 12
4- Astanga Sangraha Sutra 1 Chapter
Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, //2020

Plant Science Aspects in Ashtanga Hridaya of Vagbhata

Economic Botany or applied Botany in Vagbhata literature (Ashtanga Sangraha and Ashtanga Hridaya)   -3
Glimpses of Botany in Gupta period (3rd Century AD to 8th Century AD   -5
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –132   
Information Compiler: Bhishma Kukreti 
  Vagbhata is credited for writing Ashtanga Sangraha, Ashtanga Hridaya and Rasasamucchaya.
   The Ashtanga Sangraha mentioned 755 medicinal plants (1) .
 All three texts by Vagbhata are related to Ayurveda and not plant science. However, there are aspects of Plant Science in all the texts.
  The following chapters are there in Ashtanga Hridaya by Vagbhata (1) –
 Chapter (Botany subject) --------------------------- ----Page of Kanjiv Lochan’s book
Dravyadravya Vigyan (on Science of Herbs) --------------- --45
AnnasvarupaVigyaniyam (On Cereal Science) ----------------66
Annaraksha (on Proper Use of Cereals) ------------------------- 102
Matrasitya (on Approperate of eatables) ------------------------118
Sodhanadidigana Sangrah ------------------------------------------187
(On Groups of Herbs  for Purificatory  therapies )
Dhumapanavidhi (Smoke Therapy) ------------------------------  255
Appendix (of translation book)
Appendix -6—(Herbs and their Groups) -------------------------- 384-394
 
References:
1-Varghese Thomas et all, 2020, Controversial Identities of medicinal plants in classical literature of Ayurveda, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 16 February 2020

2-Dr. Kanjiv Lochan (Translated) , 2008Astanga Hrdaya, Chaukhambha Publications , New Delhi , contents 
Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, //2020

Applied Botany in Kalidasa Literature -1

Glimpses of Botany in Gupta period (3rd Century AD to 8th Century AD   -7
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –134   
Information Compiler: Bhishma Kukreti 
   As other  prominent poets recognized the importance of plants and flowers in life as well in creating similes or figures of speeches in their poems, Kalidasa  also described many flowers and their uses too. The plants especially flowers of Kalidasa literature are of various colors, varieties, timing of blooming and different regions too. Kalidasa used synonyms for many plats as Kalidasa used 30 different words or ro describing lotus in his various literature –Red Lotus, White Lotus, golden lotus , Blue Lotus  (5).  Kalidasa also described season of blooming , effects of clouding on blooming etc in his literature (5)
   The Indian scholars studied flora /plants mentioned in Kalidasa Literature as 
Apte (1), Pant(2), Pontilo Tiziana (3) and many more scholars offered details of plants described in Kalidasa literature.   
S.C. Banerji  offered details of flora of Kalidasa  literature too (4)-
Dr. Shiva Prasad Dabral described the flora of Uttarakhand mentioned in Kalidasa Literature (4) 
 After studying above literature, it might be said that following main plants were mentioned in Kalidasa literature –
References of Kalidasa literature –
Raghuvansham- RV
Vikrmorvshey – VK
Kumarsambhvaam KU
Meghdutam ------------- MD
Ritusanhghrama ------RS
Malvikagnimitram -----MV 
Abhigyan Shakuntalam –AS

Sanskrit Name – Reference Kalidasa ------- Common name -------Botanical name
Pryangu-  RsII.18—Priyangu -----------Aglaia elaeaggnoidea
Shaival ---RV 5.45------------ Algae
Pug- RvIV44= ----Pug ---------------Areca palm
Agu Nal-RV , I,84------------Reed----------------------------Arundo donax
ru -----------RV, IV 81 -------Agarwood ------------Aquilaria agallocha
Keechak venu  –Rv.II.13—------------------------Bambusa arundinacea
Kovidar ----  RS III6   Camel foot tree ------------Bauhunia variegata
Nichul- Vk, IV.13---- Cactus ------------------------Barringtonia acutangula
Bhurj-  Ku, I.55--- Himalayan Birch --------------Betula utilis
Shalmali – Rs.1.26—Silk Cotton Tree ----- Bombax ceiba
Sallaki –Vk.4.44-Indain Oil-benum –Bosewellia  serrata
Sarshap –Ku. 7.7------ Black Mustard – Brassica nigra
Neep- Me, 1.2- Swedish Turnip ---------------- Brassica nopobrassica
Tal- Tv.--- IV34,VI57----Doub Plam --------------- Brassus flabellifer
Chut -RSVI2,Ku VII78------Air Plant -------------Bryophillum pinnatum
Priyala-Ku III.31—Cheronjee--------Buchanania cochinchinesis 
Palash –Ku, III28 --------Bustard  teak ----- Butea monosperma
Nameru –Ku I,55—Beauty Leaf ---------------------Calophyllum inophyllum
Shar Ku.VIII.74—Australian Pine tree ---------------Casuarina equisetifolia
Devdaru – RVII, 36— Deodar cedar  ----------------------Cedrus devdaru
Tamal—RV,VI47,-----Indian bay leaf -----------------Cinnamomum tamala
Beejpurak-Mal-p-----Limon --------------   Citrus limon
Kutz-------------MEI ------------ Bharangi -----------Clerodendrum  indicum
Bimb-Ku.II6- Bimbi -----Ivy Gourd ---------Coccina  indica
Malti –MeII, Rs.III,2----Rangoon creeper -------------Combratum  indica
Aparijata -------AS -----------------Asian Pigionwings -----Convolvus pluricaulis
Kunkum -------RS V , 9 – Kumkum --------------Crocus sativus
Durva—Rv XVII12—Burmuda grass -----------------  Cynodon dactylon
Bhadramusta-RS11.7 ---Nut grass -------------Cyperus rotundus
Musta-Abh.II.65--- Nut Grass ---------- Cyperus rotundus
Kush --------Abh II,1--------Kush Grass -----------------Desmostachya bipinnata 
Dala ---------------RV IV, 47 ------Dala rose ------------Diascia barberae
Shyamak –bh 4.14------------Inferior rice –Echinocola frument acea
Vata-Rv , 13.53- Banyan ----- Ficus benghalnesis
Plaksh –RvVIII,.93--- White Fig---------- Ficus virens
Vinkangat –Rv11.25-Mauresis Plum –Flacourtia indica
Sthalkamal – KU 1.33   --Land Lotus – Hibiscus murabilis

Japa- MEI,39------    Hibiscus ---------- -------Hibiscus rosa-sinesis
Madhavi-Vk.II.4--- Hiptage ----------------Hiptage benghalensis
Yav-Rv I,53—---Barley------------Hordeum vulgare   
Mallika –RV.XVI.47--- Jasmine -----------------Jasminum Sambac
Akshot ---------- RV , IV69----------Walnut ----------------Juglans regia 
Kandal -----------ME I, 21-------- Kandal ----------------Kandelia candel
Vanjul-  Me, Rv, 13.30, 35 –Giant creep-myrtle ---------Lamgerstroemia speciosa

Kultha -------------MD II –Kulthi –Horse gram -----Macrotyloma uniflorum
Madhuka-RV.VI,.25—Mahuaa  --------------Madhuca longifolia
Champak –RSVI 2 ---- Champak ------------------------Magnolia Champaka
Bakul-RV Vm 64---- Spanish cherry –-----------------Mimusops elengi
Kadali ---------KU ,I ,36----- Banana ------------------ Musa paradisiaca
Kamal-------RV XVII, 75---------- Water Lily ---------------Nelumbo nucifera
Kadamb -----RV XV, 99 ----------Bur flower ---------Neolamarckia cadamba
Shefalika –RS III14-----------------Parijat –Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
Indivar ------- RS VI, 65 -------Blue Lily ----------- Nyphaea nounchali
Raktakamal --------VK IV 74---- Red Water Lily --Nyphaea pubescence
Kumud -------- RS III, 2----- Whiter Water Lilly -----Nymphaea pubescence
Shali –Rv.15.78.4-Paddy------------Oryza Sativa
Ketki----------MD I.24-----Kewada, Screw Pine------- Pandanus odorifer
Kharjur –RV IV.57-------Date Palm, -------------------- Phoenix dactylifera
Saral –Ku 1.19 -----------------Pine ------------------ Pinus roxburghai
Tambul----RV.VI64IV42---Betel Leaf ------------- Piper betle
Bandhuk,  RSIII.27 ----Plumeria ----------Plimeria obusta
Shami –Abh .IV.4---White Kutch --- --Prosopis cineraria
Karnikar ---------RS IV,5—----Bayur -----------Pterospermum  acerifolium
Raktachandn, harichandan –Ku69, RV etc ------- Pterospermum santalinus
Asipatravriksha -----RV XIV, 48---Sugar cane ----Sacchirum officinarum
Ikshu ---------------RV IV 20 --------- Sugar cane ------Sacchirum officinarum
Kash -------------KU IV, 5-------Grass -------- Saccherum sponteneum
Vetas –RvIV35—Goat willow ---- Salix caprea
Chandan –Abhip RV IV 48---- Sandal  --------- Santalum album
Ashoka --------RV IX 28 --------------- Ashoka -------------- Saraca asoca
Knkeli --- RS III , 18 , 19 –      Asoka ------------- Saraca asoca
Kusumbha ---- RS I.24-----Lac Tree -----------------Schieichera oleosa
Sal –RV 1.38-------------- Sal -------------- Shorea  robusta
Nirmali-Mal, II.7-------Clearing nut --------------------Strychnos potatorum
Lodhra—Rs, VI.33---------- Lodh Tree ------------Symplocos racemosa
Jambu –VKIV27,Me,I20 –Malabar pulm  ---------Syzygium cumini
Tintrini .-Abh p--- ----Tamrind Tree-------------------Tamrindus indica
Ingudi --------------AS I, 14-----------Country Almond ------Terminalia catappa 
Arjun ----------RVXVI , ME -------- Arjun ----------------- Terminalia arjuna
Patala- Rv XVI—-------Rose flower -------------Trichosanthes dioica
Ushari   ---------------AS------------ Khus Khus ---------Vetvirea zizanioides
Sindhuvar – KU.III.53---Chinese Chase tree --------------------Vetex negundo 
Draksha –Tv, 4,65-----Grape -------------------------Vitis vinifera

Tilak – RV IX.41, 44 --- Ashwagandha ----------------- Withania somnifera

Aushadhi, Mhaushdhi ---RS. IV, 75, 70
Kaleyak----------RS IV, 5   Kuntak ------------Abhi
Kurbak -----------RS IV 29 --- ? ‘
Niwar-RV V.9,15
 -
Vishvriksha –Rv. II.25-poisinus tree
Shilindhra –ME1.11
Spatcchad –RS,III.2---
 Kalidasa recognized the importance of plants in human life and recognized the value of flowers too. Kalidasa used around 94 medicinal plants in his poetries that shows that scholars were well aware about medicinal values of herbs in India.  Kalidasa used flowers and many plants for creating similes and images in his poems too.
References:
1-Apte, M.V.,  The Flora  in Kalidasa literature , Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute , Vo.32, no.1/4, (1951) pp 76-84 
2-Pant R., 2002, A Study of Kalidasa’s description of Himalayan Flora,
Agris.fao.org/agris/-search/search/.do?recordID=IN2003000442 ( accessed on 3/8/2020 )
3-  ), Pontilo Tiziana,  The names of fruits, roots, and flowers included in Kalidasa’s works and the Ashtadhyayi rules IV3,163-167 with their commentaries in the  book ‘Nature and in Literature and Ritual (edited by Jaroslav Vacek (2006) published by Charles University Press  Prague . pp 161 -176
4- Banerji, S.C. 1980 , Flora and fauna in Sanskrit Literature , Calcutta
Dabral S.P. 1969 Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 3 , Veer Gatha Press Dogadda , Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand pp 139
5- Sheshadri KG, Classification of flowers as gleaned from ancient Indian Literature and culture , Asian Agri-History Vol.20, No.3, 2016p 191-199 

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Flora mentioned in first Chapter of Harshacharita by Banabhatta

Glimpses of Botany in Harsha period 606-647  AD-1 
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –137   
Information Collection and Compilation: Bhishma Kukreti

  King Harsha ruled around half of the India (North, Northwest, central, East India) and touching the Deccan.  King Harsha ruled half of India including Nepal from 606-647 Thapar mentioned that the Harsha court poet Banabhatta wrote the biography of Harsha Vardhana as Harshacharita.  Banabhatta also created the first Sanskrit r novel Kadambari wherein Banabhatta provided some knowledge about him and his family tree. Harshacharita offers the ruling structure and incidents of Harsha Vardhana  Period .
Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita in ornate poetic prose style. There are eight ucchwas (chapters) in Harshacharita (2)
The following major plants are mentioned (reference 3)-
 Banabhatta  mentioned most of the plants for creating figures of speeches. Plants mentioned in the first Chapter (Parham Ucchchhwasa)-
   HarCha - Sanskrit name ------Common name --- Botanical name
Kusha ----------  --- halfa grass -----------------Desmostachya bipinnata
Sindhuvara -------- Chinese Chaste Tree -------Vitex Negundo
Alkata  dye ------------------
Silken Bark of tree
Kamal -----------------Lotus
Somarasa
White Lotus was compared to kamalu
Dandaka Forest
Chnadan ----------Red Sandal juice -------------Pterocarpus santalinus
Mallika ---------Jasmine ----------------------- Jasminum sambac
Malti---------------Rangoon creeper -----------Combretum indicum
Vakula -----------Spanish cherry -------------Mimusops elengi
White, Red and Blue Lotuses
Amra--------Mango ----------------Mangifera indica
Kakkola ---------Clove -------------Piper cubeba
Kadamba ---------Burflower---------Neolamarckia ---cadamba
Parijata----------Night fleering jasmine ---Nyctanthus arbor-tristis
Pundarik -----White Lotus –-------------Nyphaea lotus
Bandhuka ---------Midday flower -------Pentapetes phoenica

References
1-Thapar, Romila,1966,  A History of India Volume .One Penguin book  p 143-144
2-Basham, A.L., 1981, The Wonder that was India . Rapa & Co, Calcutta p 433
3- Harshacharita  of Banabhatta , Trans by E.B. Cowell and F.W. Thomas 1897 (available on net . Columbia –edu/itc/mealac/Pritchett/OOlitlink/harshacharita/index.html . accessed  on 29-8-2010)
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