Abstract

PARYAYAMUKTAWALI – AN UNEXPLORED NIGHANTU OF ODISHA: A REVIEW ARTICLE

Dr. Nitin Jain*, Dr. Pratibha and Dr. O. P. Sharma

ABSTRACT

In Ayurveda, Nighantu is considered to be the available base literature on Ayurvdic pharmacology. From nineteenth century onwards available manuscripts are being transformed in to printed texts. Available manuscripts of Paryayamuktavali, a nighantu of Odisha, India, are one of such nighantu which has been printed both in Odia and Devanagari script. Even though the nighantu was very popular, there is no critical analysis done on its structure, contents or contribution. Literary research is considered as the base of all researches in Ayurveda. Present study is a literary research on available three printed versions, in Devanagari script. The process of research started with critical edition, and progress through critical analysis to draft the comparative version, its interpretation, comparison to other available information about author, time period, style of presentation, hierarchy and contents. Comparison has also been carried out among both the texts, to find out their relationship with Paryayamuktavali, noted to be the redacted or modified version of Paryayaratnamala, authored by Madhavakara. The nighantu is authored by Haricharana Sena, an inhabitant of Utkala desha, referring to modern day state of Odisha, India during later half of 16th century, or early 17th century. Paryayamuktavali describes 608 drugs and diet items in 23 Varga (chapters), among which 17 varga deals with 475 of plant drugs, 2 varga describes 38 minerals. One chapter for each on, 60 items in Bhukatadi kritanna varga (cooked food items) and 35 items in paniya varga (drinkables). Last two chapters deals with paryaya (synonyms) of common technical terms used in Ayurveda and multiple meanings of one single term respectively. Paryayamuktavali is a redacted version of Paryayaratnamala with certain modification in terms of style of presentation, chapter division and addition of new drugs and synonyms.

Keywords: Dravyaguna, literary research, Manuscripts, nighantu, Paryayamuktavali, Paryayaratnamala.