MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

Plant Morphology Concepts in different Puranas

Botany History in Purana etc. 4
Economic or applied Botany aspects in Puranas -5
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –90

By: Bhishma Kukreti M.Sc. {(Botany), B.Sc. (Honours in Botany), Medical Tourism Historian)
-
  The older literature than Purana had been discussing Plant Morphology. The people of Purana period in India were conceptually clear about plant morphology and definitely scholars or sages were using scientific reasoning for understanding the concept of Plant Morphology.
  The scholars of Puranic age, botanical scholars were well acquainted about morphological features of various plants and trees as discusses in Chapter II (1) 63 -66) -.
In Vishnupurana (II7.32), there is complete description of a branch of tree as- pada (subterranean part) ,vistara (sub aerial part). Vishnu Purana (VP II7.37-38) also divides paddy plant into various parts –
Ankura (embryo)
Mool (root0
Nala (stem)
Ksira (milky sap)
Patra (Leaves )
Pushpa (flower)
Tusa (husk)
Vijakosha ( seed vessels)
Tandula(Rice )
Kana (endosperm in paddy seeds)
It is evident that the sages were well aware about internal and external morphology of plants.
In Agnipurana (. 169-30-31), there is references of following plant parts –
Mool (Root)
Pushpa (flower0
Phala (fruits)
Trana (tendril)
Kashtha (nut inside or wood)
Matsyapurana (218.21) also mentions the various part of plants –Phalam (Fruits), Patram (leaves), Pushpam (Flower), Twaik 9outer skin) of Sirsa Plant.
 Matsyapurana (161.49.59;180.31;118.15) divides parts of  tree differently in other Shlokas – Skandha , Mahashakah, sakha, Anusakha, Pratisakah, Prantasaha, 
The Puranas reveal that in Puranic age, there used to be extensive studies on Plant Morphology.
 The division of plant organs by Bhagwatapurana (IV .31. 14) and Vishnupurana (III, 4 .25) have references of sub divisions of plant parts too.
    Matsyapurana ((209.11-12; 161.49-55; 180.43) ) divided again plant parts differently as-manjari  (cluster ),  , ankura (Sprout)  stabka (Flower bunch), etc.
In Matsyapurana (118.45), different plants are divided by division of parts as- Dhanya (grain); Sasya (endosperm); saka (leafy vegetables); phala 9fruits), mool (roots), kanda (stem) and pushpam (flower)
In Agnipurana (29.3-8), there is mention of different parts of lotus as – pitha 9interior of lotus), vithika (wall) , karnika (pericarp of lotus) kesra (lotus filaments) and al (petals) .
 Agnipurana (29.3-8) divides lotus petals into dalgra 9front part of lotus petal)  and dalsandhi (the conjoining part of petal).
 Kalikapurana (69.106) divides flower into – pushpamula (flower root), pushpamadhya(middle of flower),  pushpagra (flower tip).
 Puranas divide leaves as per leaflets – ekpatra (single) dwipatra (two leaves), trpatra (thre leaves), satpatra (seven leaves )  as in Agnipurana ( 363.16) and Matsyapurana (161.52; 118.48)
  We find morphological division of seeds in Puranas.
Vishnu Purana (7.37-38) discusses about seeds parts as kas or vijakosha (seed vessel), Sasya (kernel within vessel) and vijajpatra (cotyledon) .
 Agnipurana(169.31)  and Matsyapurana (217.69,81) describe internal morphological division as tvac and sara.
Learned scholar rightly state that people in the Puranic age, studied the plant world with complete application of their objectivity and scientific bias and those bases became path finders for future botanical studies. ,(1)
- References
1-Chapter II, Flora in Puranas Shodganga,inflibnet.in/bitstream/10603/69840/13/13_chapter%202.pdf pp  63-

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com , Mumbai India,
 Plant Morphology in Purana; Plant Morphology in Vishnu Purana; Plant Morphology in Matsyapurana Purana; Plant Morphology in Agnipurana; Plant Morphology in Kurma Purana, Plant Morphology in Bhagvadapurana   

Plantation Processes in Puranas

Plant Physiology Concepts in Puranas -2
Botany History in Purana etc.6
 Applied Botany aspects in Puranas -7
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –92

By: Bhishma Kukreti M.Sc. {(Botany), B.Sc. (Honours in Botany), Medical Tourism Historian)
-
  The learned researcher rightly informs that   the science of planting developed with the knowledge of Vrikshaveda (1). In Maurya Period chapters, this author already detailed the horticulture and garden management.
 The analysis of Purana shows that at the time of Purana age , there was good formal and informal knowledge of tree plantation in India .
  Agnipurana (151.9) reveals that Vaishya class was responsible for performing farming and cultivating plants, vegetables etc.
 As we studied in Krishi Parashara that people used to prefer some days or constellations for sowing, planting or harvesting, same way, Purana also show that people preferred some days and constellations for plant plantation.
  Agnipurana (282.3) show that a couple of constellations as Dhruva, vayavia, prajsela, and vaishnva were preferable or favorable for plant plantation.
 Agnipurana (121.45-46) recommends the favourable asterisms as anila, three uttaras, rohani, marshira, mool, punarvasu, pusya,  stravana, hasta for  agriculture works. 
Agnipurana (121.46-49) also recommends Sunday and Monday and lagna./tithi  as  varsa, mithuna, kanya, and tihi as  are panchami,dashmi, saptami, tritiya, trayodashi of lunar days suitable for  seed sowings.
References
 Agnipurana (282.3) highly recommends worshipping Brahmins and Moon the lord of Vanaspati before of agriculture works.
People of Purana age were familiar of timing of fruiting or starch formation in seeds as of paddy.  Agnipurana (121.50) states that Agahn or agrahayana (asooj) moth is best timing for cutting paddy. Wile, Matsyapurana (229.24) states that in autumn season,  the grain develops and juices develop in the crop.
 The Puranas also deal with sowing and sapling methodologies and suggest techniques for seed sowing and saplings.
  In one verse, Agnipurana   (282.8-9) suggests that if plants  those are  grown in the distance of twenty cubits they develop well the trees planted at the distance of sixteen cubits those also produce good fruits and Agnipurana does not recommend to  plant trees at the distance or interval of twelve cubit or lower than twelve cubits.
Puranas also discuss the subject of watering plants, need of water at different seasons  and the reasons too.
  Agnipurana (282.7-8) suggests the rules of watering and states that during summer, the soil gets dried soon, and plants are required irrigated twice a day. And alter stage irrigation should be alternate day. Agnipurana (282.7-8) suggest watering is required when the soil becomes dry.
The people of Puranas age, were well versed with natural way of crops getting water .they used to dig well in such a way that fields used to get water automatically /naturally (Agnipurana 282.4).
1-Chapter II, Flora in Puranas Shodganga,inflibnet.in/bitstream/10603/69840/13/13_chapter%202.pdf pp.66
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com , Mumbai India,
Discussed - Rules for tree plantation in Agnipurana; Rules for  sowing  in Agnipurana; Rules for sapling   in Agnipurana; Rules for crop  watering  in Agnipurana;

Plant Disease and Disease Curing concepts in Puranas

Plant Physiology Concepts in Puranas -3
Botany History in Purana etc.7
 Applied Botany aspects in Puranas -8
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –94

By: Bhishma Kukreti M.Sc. {(Botany), B.Sc. (Honours in Botany), Medical Tourism Historian)
-
  From Vedas time, scholars were concerned about diseases in plants and curing tasks for plant diseases (pl. refer Veda and Mahabharata chapters) .
 Plant diseases and Plant disease Curing /Treatment concept was important branch of agriculture in Purana period.
   It is clear that there was systematic study of plant deceases and treatment in Purana times.
 Agnipurana (282.9)  took the subject of barrenness in trees a Agnipurana found the reason behind trees becoming barren 9fruitlees ) because of wrong way of planting(distance between two trees ).
   Agnipurana (282. suggests that the distance between two trees must be minimum of twelve cubits and maximum of twenty cubits .
 Agnipurana(247.26)  not only suggest for following  plant plantation in proper distance but also suggest that for enhancing flowering /inflorescences or fruiting  the grower should sprinkle ‘Vidanga (herbs from Primamulacea ) and Ghee ‘ a fertilizers .
 Apart from proper watering, Purana as Agnipurana s (247.30) suggests   that water used for fish washing should be used as fertilizer to mango trees for medical values and as fructifications enhancer.
   Agnipurana (247.31) suggests treating soil with salt for fast growth and good fruitification in coconut and desert palm trees.   
   Fruitlessness among fruiting trees was treated as disease in Purana period. Agnipurana advise s various treatments and a treatment. Agnipurana ( 282.13)  advices that if  mixture of Tla, dust of yuva , excreta of sheep , goat, beef   is treated  with water  for night and then poured the plants suffering fruitlessness will be treated. 
 Puranas  as Matsyapurana ( 232.13) suggests many rituals performances for treating diseased plants too .
  The above  discussions give us clear indication that  people and scholars were having good systematic  knowledge of plant diseases , the reasons and symptoms of diseases and then remedies too .
References
1-Chapter II, Flora in Puranas Shodganga,inflibnet.in/bitstream/10603/69840/13/13_chapter%202.pdf pp.72-75
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com , Mumbai India,

Environment Protection and Ecology concepts in Puranas
Botany History in Purana etc.8
 Applied Botany aspects in Puranas -10
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –96   
By: Bhishma Kukreti M.Sc. {(Botany), B.Sc. (Honours in Botany), Medical Tourism Historian)

 The learned scholar rightly states that the study of plant ecology  and environment protection is an important subject to analyse in Puranas..
The Padma Purana (59.7) states that the inhabitants of a house which has sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum) are fortunate.
Skand Purana (21/66) suggests that yam (death messenger) does not enter in to house if scared basil is worshipped daily in the house.
Varah Purana (172.39) suggests that one who plants a peeple,  (Ficus religosa), one Neem (Azadirachta indica) , two pomegranates (Punica Grantum) , two orange (Citrus reticulate) , five mango trees (Mangifera indica) and ten flowering plants and creepers shall never  go to hell .
The Practice of Vanamahotsava  (Tree Plantation ceremony) is over 1500 years old and Matsyapurana  describes the Vanomahotsva  (2)
 There is clarity about plant ecology in Puranas or could be said that Purana age people had good knowledge of  plant ecology as climatic condition plying role, soil condition effecting growth of plans etc.
  Agnipurana (360.92-93) describes plants growing exclusively in water as kokanad , sugnadhika,  ambubetsa etc .
 Matsyapurana (161.52) states that red variety of kuvalaya and blue kumuda, pundrika  are characteristics of some specific regions.
Matsyapurana (218.33-34) also offer references of soil effecting specific characteristics  of plants.
Puranas describe the relation between the characteristics of soil affecting specific plants growing in a region or soil affecting the pant characters. (1) 
   References
1-Chapter II, Flora in Puranas - Shodganga,inflibnet.in/bitstream/10603/69840/13/13_chapter%202.pdf pp.84 -88
2- Renugadevi R., (2012) Environment Ethics in Hindu Vedas and Purana in India , African Journal of History and Culture , Vo.4(1) (January2 012)  pp 1-3
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com , Mumbai India,

Charaka Samhita: Introduction and Creators

History of Botany in India in Kushana period -2
BOTANY History of Indian Subcontinent –98
By: Bhishma Kukreti
-
 Charaka Samhita one of the oldest Treatises of Indian Medical Science the 'Ayurveda ' had been stirring Indian medical world till date.
    Chrak Samhita initiated professionalism in Ayurveda medical practices in India. Charka Samhita also influenced foreign country medical practices  apart from India subcontinent countries.
 Charaka Samhita was originally cited by Guru Atreya to his disciple Agnivesha (1). Ahgnivesa wrote the teaching of his teacher around first  century . There are Pali or Buddhist words in Charaka Samhita as Avakranti, Jatank, Bhangodan , Khaddank , Bhutdhatri(sleep0. By that it is concluded that the oral Charaka Samhita was created after Upnishada period and before Buddha . Agnivesa codified the oral teaching of Atreya around 1000BCE (2) and then revised by Charaka in around Kanishka period ( 2). The original Charaka Samhita was then edited by Dridhbala around 400AD (2). Dridhbala added other sthana or chapters in original Charaka Samhita
          Dridhbala   supplemented   Charaka Samhita
 Dridhabala supplimented 17 chapters of Chikitsa Sthana and 12chapters of Kapil Sthana and Siddhi Sthanas . (3)
-
References –   
1-Atrideva, 1960, Ayurveda ka Vrihad Itihas, Hindi Samiti Banaras,   page  151    
2-Bhavana KR. and Shrivattsa (2014), Medical geography in Charaka Samhita 'Ayu' 35 (4) Page 371-377
3-Richa Vishwakarma and P.K Goswami A Revew through Chaaraka Uttara-Tantra   ( 2013),Ayu Jan-March 34(1) 17-20
 Copyright @  Bhishma Kukreti,