The document discusses several ancient Indian medical texts and nighantus (treatises on medicinal plants) that classify dravyas or substances. Key points: - Ashtang Hridya and Ashtang Sangraha classify substances into anna dravya (foods) and drava dravya (liquids), organizing them into categories. - Nighantus like Dhanvantri, Madanpal, Raj, and Kaidev classify dravyas into different groupings or "vargas" based on properties and uses. - Bhavaprakash Nighantu is praised for its relevant classification of dravyas into 22 vargas. It

1. Ashtang Hridya
• Written by Vagbhatt
• Classified drava dravya in 5 vargas:
- Jala varg
- Kshir varg
- Ikshu varg
- Tail varg
- Madya varg

2. • Classified anna dravyas in different vargas:
- Sukdhanya varg
- Shimbi dhanya varg
- Krittan varg
- Mansa varg
- Shaka varg
- Phala varg
- Ausadh varg

3. Ashtang Sangraha
• Classified dravyas in Anna dravya and Drava
dravya
• Anna dravya explained in Sutra sthana sixth
chapter
• Drava drvaya explained in Sutra stana seventh
chapter

4. Drava dravya
• Jala varg
• Kshir varg
• Ikshu varg
• Tail varg
• Madya varg
• Mutra varg

5. Anna dravya
• Shuka dhanya varg
• Shimbi dhanya varg
• Kritaan varg
• Mansa varg
• Shaka varg
• Phala varg

6. Ausadha dravyas
• Mainly two types:
- Urjskar:
- Rasayana - Vajikaran
- Rogaghan:
- Prashman - Apunarbhavkar
• Prashman:
- Dravya:
- Bhaum - Audhbhiv - Jangam
- Adravya

7. • Audhbhiv:
- Vanspti
- Vansptya
- Virudh
- Ausadhi

8. Nighantus
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9. 1. Dhanvantri Nighantu
 This nighantu was written between 10-13th
century.
 Earlier importance was given to dietary substances but now
more importance was given to medicinal plants.
 In this the dravyas are classified in seven groups.
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10. Seven varga in Dhanvantri Nighantu
1. Guduchyadi varga
 Guduchi by its cholagogue action is used in jaundice.
 Medicines having rasayana property are in this class.
 Eg. Guduchi, Madanphala, Danti etc.
10

11. 2. Shatpushpadi varga
 They include deepan, balya, mukhasodhan dravyas.
 Eg. Vacha, Ela etc.
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12. 3. Chandanadi varga
 These dravyas are fragrant.
 Eg. Chandan, Saffron etc.
4. Karviradi varga
 This include all type of dravya and no specific action is observed.
 Eg. Tulsi, Nakuli etc.
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13. 5. Amaradi varga
 The plants whose fruits, flowers and bark are used in
medicines.
 Eg. Mango, Arjuna etc.
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14. 6. Swarnadi varga
 It includes metals, wheat, barley and other shamidhanya
besides oil, milk, alcohol, meat etc.
7. Mishrakadi varga
 All remaining dravyas including triphala, trikatu etc.
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15. 2. Madanpal Nighantu
 It is also known as and was written in 14th
century.
 Thirteen varga are classified in it.
15

16. Varga in Madanpal Nighantu
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
16

17. 9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
 In Mishrak varga, some common discussions are done and no
dravya is mentioned in it.
 So total varga related to dravya are 12.
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18. 3. Raj Nighantu
 Raj Nighantu was written in 15th
century.
 There are many varga in it but related to medicine following
varga are mentioned:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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19. 6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
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20. Kaidev Nighantu
 The name of this granth is
 It was written in 15th
century.
 It contain nine varga in it.
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21. Varga in Kaidev Nighantu
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
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22. Bhavaprakash Nighantu
It contains “22” varga in it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
22

23. 8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
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24. 18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
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25. Comments
• Classification of dietary dravyas of Bhavaprakash is more relevant
and correct.
• A genuine attempt to make it correct has been made.
• Haritakyadi varga includes those dravyas whose fruits or roots are
used.
• Karpuradi varga includes dravyas having odours.
• Guduchayadi varga includes those dravyas whose panchang or
roots are used.
• Vatadi class includes the tall trees. 25

26. Shortcoming
• The only shortcoming is that, why are saindhav (rock salt),
samudra (sea salt) and bid lavana etc. included in haritakyadi
varga???
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27. Many compilers (nighantukars) followed
Bhavprakash like:
• Rajvallabh nighantu (1760)
• Nighantu Sangrah (1815)
• Nighantu Ratnakar (1924)
• Shaligram nighantu (1953)
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