The document discusses the evolution of Dravyaguna, focusing on various nighantus and their historical authors across different periods. It defines nighantu as a grouping of drugs and emphasizes its importance in Ayurvedic practice and philosophy. The conclusion highlights the need for further exploration of nighantus for better understanding and analysis of the drugs they describe.

1. Evolution of Dravyaguna Vigyan
with special emphasis on Nighantus
Scholar
Dr. Tejaswee Sahu
Dept. of Dravyaguna Vigyana
MGACH&RC
Guide
Dr. Rajkumar Gupta
Professior & HOD
Dept. of Dravyaguna
Vigyana

2. Objectives
• To know evolution of
Dravyaguna.
• To know different Nighantus
with their time period and
Authors.

3. Contents
 Definition of Nighantu
 Importance of Nighantu
 Nighantus in Ayurveda
 Evolution of Dravyaguna in Nighantus
 Conclusion

4. Definition of Nighantu
The word Nighantu means the
group of drugs, synonyms,
properties and their description
of parts used.
एकार्थवाचिनाम् पर्ाथर्शब्दानाां सङ्गो र्त्र
प्रार्ेण उपचिश्यते तत्र चनघण्टुशब्दः
प्रचसद्धः। (वािस्पत्यम्)
Nighantu throws light on to the
secret meanings of the terms
denoting different synonyms of
the vegetable kingdom,
Venimadhav shastri, Narayanahari Joshi, Ayurvediya Shabdakosha, Prathamakhanda,
Mumbai, Maharasthra Rajya

5. Definition of Dravyaguna
द्रव्याणाां गुणकर्ााणण प्रयोगााः णिणिधास्तथा।
सिाशो यत्र िर्ण्ान्ते शास्त्रां द्रव्यगुणां णि तत्।
(Acharya PV Sharma)
Dravyaguna is the science of Dravya(Drug)
which deals with the guna(properties),
karma(actions), prayoga(therapeutic use of
the drug) which are indicated mainly as
medicinal agents or dietic agents is known as
Dravyaguna sastra.
All thogh both the definition of Nighantu and
Dravyaguna are equivalent, can we replace
each other???

6. Nirukti
The word ‘Nighantu’ is based on
the term ‘Nigama’.
चनघण्टवः कस्मात् चनगमो इमे भवन्ति।
The roots of the word Nighantu
lie in Nigama; which means a
secretive thing. Nighantu
are considered to be nucleus of
Ayurvedic philosophy.
REF-Dr Kallianpur Supriya et al, A Text Book of Dravyaguna Vijnana, 2019, pg-239
Dr Singh Amritpal, Contribution of Dravyaguna to Herbal Materia Medica, Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 12: 599-602. 2008.

7. Importance of Nighantus
चनघण्टुना चवना वैद्यो, चवद्वान्याकरणां चवना। आर्ुधां
ि चवना र्ोद्धा स्त्रर्ो हास्यस्य भाजनम्। (रा चन)
The physician entering into practice
without any knowledge on Nighantus is
simile to a Pandit with out any
knowledge on grammar and a warrior
with out weapon.

8. Nighantu in Ayurveda
Ancient period :up to 7th century
A.D
Nighantu Author Timeline
Vedic Nighantu
Shushruta
Nighantu
Shushruta 5TH century
Rasa nighantu
Vaisheshika
Nagarjuna 5TH century
Ref-Lucas DS, Dravyaguna Vijnana,2016, pg-436
Dr Singh Amritpal, Contribution of Dravyaguna to Herbal Materia Medica, Ethnobotanical Leaflets
12: 599-602. 2008.
- Sharma Monika et al.TREASURE OF DRAVYAGUNA - THE NIGHANTU- A REVIEW, International
Ayurvedic Medical Journal, India 2023

9. Nighantu in Ayurveda
medieval period : 8-15th
century
Nighantu Author Timeline
1 Ashtanga nighantu Vagbhata 8th century
2 Paryaya ratnamala Madhava 9th century
3 Sidhasara nighantu Ravigupta 9th century
4 Haramekhala
nighantu
Mahuka 10th century
5 Chamatkaara
nighantu
Rangaharya 10th century
6 Madanaadi nighantu Chandranandana 10th century
7 Dravyaguna
sangraha
Chakrapanidatta 11th century

10. Nighantu in Ayurveda
medieval period : 8-15th
century
Nighantu Author Timeline
8 Dhanwantari
nighantu
Mahendra
bhaugika
11th century
9 Indu nighantu Indu 11th century
10 Nimi nighantu Nimi 11th century
11 Shabdachandrika Charadutta 11th century
12 Anekartha kosha Manaka 12th century
13 Nighantushesha/
abhidhana
chintamani
Hemachandra 12th century
14 Sodhala nighantu Sodhala 12th century
15 Madhava
dravyaguna/
bhavswabhaava
Madhava 13th century

11. Nighantu in Ayurveda
medieval period : 8-15th
century
Nighantu Author Timeline
17 Shadrasa
nighantu/
Abhidhana
ratnamala
Char=tura rasita 13th century
18 Siddha mantra Keshava 13th century
19 Hridaya deepaka
Nighantu
Bopadeva
(son of keshava)
13th century
20 Shatasloki Bopadeva 13th century
21 Raja nighantu/
abhidhana
choodamani
Narahari pandit 14th century
22 Ayurveda
mahodadhi/
sushena vaidyaka
Sushena 14th century
23 Madanavinoda / Madanapala 14th century

12. Nighantu in ayurveda
modern period :form 16th
century
Nighantu Author Timeline
1 Vaidhyavatamsa Lolimbaraja 17th
century
2 Dravyaguna shathasloki Trimallabhatta 17th
century
3 Shivakosha Shivadutta
mishra
17th
century
4 Hikamat prakasha Mahadeva 18th
century
5 Rajavallabha nighantu Rajavallabha 18th
century
6 Nighantu ratnakara Vishnu vasudeva
godbole
19th
century
7 Nighantu sangraha Raghunathji
indraji
19th
century

13. Nighantu in ayurveda
modern period :form 16th century
Nighantu Author Timeline
10 Vanaushadhi darpna Kaviraj birla
charana gupta
20th century
11 Vanaspati shastra Jaikrishna indraji
thakar
20th century
12 Nighantu aadarsha Vaidya baapalalji 20th century
13 Roopa nighantu Roopalaal vaishya 20th century
14 Sandigdha nirnaya/
vanaushadha shastra
Pt. Bhagirath
swami
20th century
15 Vanaushadhi
chandrodaya
Chandraraja
bhandaari
20th century
16 Dravyaguna vijnaana Y.T. Acharya 20th century
17 Dravyaguna vijnaana Priyavrat sharma 20th century
18 Priya nighantu Priyavrat sharma 20th century

14. Astanga nighantu
Manuscripts available in Tanjore
library.
Deals with the drugs mentioned in
Astanga Hridaya along with different
synonyms.
7th -9th century
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-405

15. Paryaya Ratnamala
 Written by Madhavakara.
 8th-9th AD.
 Deals with synonyms of drugs.
 Vijaya name is synonymously used for both Haritaki
and Tarkari.
 Vartaka term is replaced with Vatigan basing upon a
parsi word Vaardigaan.
 This Nighantu has a unique approach i.e. 13-216
slokas for synonyms, 217-578 are half slokas, 580-
1424 are Pada, 1425-1472 are names of Padartha
or Drugs. From 1474-1654 three types of sabdas
were used
1. The drugs with one meaning(1474-1504)
2. The drug with two meanings (1505-1586)
3. The drug with many meanings (1587-1754)
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-405

16. Dhanwantari Nighantu
 original name of the book appears to be “Dravyavali
Samuchchaya”.
 Author- Mahendra Bhogik, 13th century AD
 Totally there are 7 groups under which the plants
are described. Total drugs or drug groups ( excluding
Misraka Varga) are claimed to be 373 but the over
all number of individual drugs will be 527.
 He narrated drug on the basis of Rasa, Virya,
Vipaka.
 Merit of texts-
 Both Charak and Sushrut have mentioned one drug
under many Ganas/Vargas. But, this text described
one drug under one gana only.
 The drugs are named on the basis of the first drug
under that Varga. Then each Varga is divided into
different Ganas basing upon pharmacological
properties.
 Synonyms and properties are described in an order
for each and every drug .
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-407
-Dr Kallianpur Supriya et al, A Text Book of Dravyaguna Vijnana, 2019, pg-237
-Umakant N. Rabb,Review on dhanvantari nighantu - an important ayurvedic lexicon, International Journal of
Ayurveda and Pharma Research, IJAPR, August 2018, Vol 6, Issue 8

17. Sodhala Nighantu
Author- Sodhala
Otherwise known as ‘Guna Sangraha’ or
‘Nama Sangraha’.
Text classified into 27 vargas
Chetaki (a varities of Haritaki) is first
decribed
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-409

18. Siddha Mantra
 Author- Vaidyacharya Kesava
 Belongs to 12th AD
 The drugs are arranged according to
their effects on Doshas first followed
by their Rasa, Verya, Vipaka etc.
 He described about 57 types of sub-
groups of drugs according to variation
of effect on doshas and their
combination.
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-412

19. Madana Pala Nighantu
 Written by king Madana pala.
 Period- 1374 AD
 Described 494 (450 vegitables and 44 metallic
other drugs)
 13 vergas are
1. Abhyadi Varga (165 drugs), 2. Sunthyadi Varga
(39 drugs), 3. Karpuradi Varga (84 drugs), 4. Subarna
Varga (44 drugs), 5. Vatadi Varga (50 drugs), 6.
Phala Varga (56 drugs), 7. Saka Varga (56 drugs) 8.
panada Varga 9. Ikshukadi Varga 10. Dhanyaguna
Varga 11.Dhanya Kritannadi 12. Mamsa Varga 13.
Mishraka Varga
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-417

20. Bhavaprakash Nighantu
 Author- Bhavmishra
 13th cent. AD
 Peculiarities of Bhavprakash
1. Pushkaramoola has been said as a variety of
Kustha.
2. While describing swarnakshiri, its root has been
termed as choka.
3. Karpura has been said to be of two types i.e.
Pakwa and Apakwa.
4. Kasturi has been described as of three types
according to the place of origin as karpura(assam),
Nepali, Kashmiri.
5. Tagara is said to be two type- Tagara and Pinda
Tagara.
6. Asmantaka is mentioned as synonyms of
kanchanara.
7. Kukkuradru of Madanapala has been described as
Kakundara.
Dr Kallianpur Supriya et al, A Text Book of Dravyaguna Vijnana, 2019, pg-239

21. Raja Nighantu
 Also known as ‘Abhidana Chudamani’ and ‘Nighantu
Raja’.
 Deals with names of the plants in various
language.
 Author- Narahari Pandit
 First time gave first place to Dravyaguna among
Astangas of Ayurveda.
 This is the first lexicons which recognized the
importance of nomenclature in plants.
 This text contains 23 vargas. But only 10
vargas(3 to 12 vargas) are allotted for vegitable
drugs i.e. 780 herbs, excluding 74 drugs of
Suvarnadi varga. The remaining 13 vargas deal
with other general aspects and diet etc.
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-418
Dr Kallianpur Supriya et al, A Text Book of Dravyaguna Vijnana, 2019, pg-243
Dr Vyas Abhay, et al. Review on contribution of raj nighantu in dravyaguna, World Journal of
Pharmaceutical Research, Vol 9, Issue 2, 2020.

22. Kaiyadeva Nighantu
 Known as ‘Pathya pathya vibodhini’.
 Author- Kaiyadeva
 Text divided ito 9 vargas. i.e. Oushadhi
varga, Dhatu varga, Dhanya Varga, Drava
Varga, Pakwanna Varga, Mamsa Varga,
Vihara Varga, Mishraka Varga, Nanartha
Varga.
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-421

23. Nighantu Ratnakara
 Text is written by Vishnu Vasandeva
Godabole in 1867AD.
 The subject matter is discussed under two
parts viz Prathama khanda & Dwitiya
khanada.
 The first part (Guna Dosha Prakarana)
deals with Dravyaguna aspects followed by
Shareera, Astha sthana Pariksha, Mana
Paribhasa, Rasa Sastra, Arka Prakasa,
Ajeerna Manjari etc.
 the second part deals with Nidana and
Chikitsa.
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-424

24. Saligrama Nighantu
 Written by Lala Saligrama Vaidya of Muradabad.
 Completed in 1896 AD.
 Mentioned about many new drugs brought to India
by the foreigners in modern times.
 The text is divided into two parts viz Purvartha
and Uttarartha.
 First part contain 23 vargas. 1.Kapuradi
2.Haritakyadi 3.Guduchyadi 4.Pushpa 5.Phala
6.Vatadi 7.Dhatupadhatu 8.Visha 9.Dhanya
10.Saka 11.Vari 12.Dugdha 13.Dadhi 14.Takra
15.Navanita 16.Ghrita 17.Mutra 18.Taila 19.Arka
20.Madhu 21.Ikshu 22.Sandhana 23.Sankhya
vargas
 Second part possess only two vargas i.e. Anupadi
vargas and Mishraka vargas.
Ref- Dr Sastry JLN, Dravyaguna Vijnana, vol 1, 2014, pg-425

25. Conclusion
By the above discussion it reveals that
these Nighantu covers the entire
Dravyguna Vijnana with identification,
nomenclature and clinical applications of
the drugs.
The Nighantus have to be explore for
the more information like identification,
phyto-chemical analysis, physic-chemical
analysis knowledge about mentioned
drugs.

26. Thank You