Brief History of

Dravyaguna

History can be divided as

Prachina kala 4000 Bc-700 Ad
Madhayama Kala 800 Ad- 1500 Ad
Adhunika Kala- 1600 Ad onwards

Prachina kala 4000 Bc-700 Ad

Rugveda
Atharva Veda
Shatpatha Bramhana

Explanation related to Dravya

Rugveda - Oushadi sukta (10.97.1-23)
Atharva Veda 8.71-8 & 11.6.16-17

Sun & earth Considered as parents of plants

Water is base for growth of plant
Am Ux Awkp: xciq ( A.u
.z.4/5/2)
During yagna karma 4 materials are essential are
Sruva, Chamasa, Idhma & Upamanthini & these
prepared from Udumbara
Single drug therapy was popular during period of
vedas
Herbs like Bilwa, Khadira, Palasha, Rohitaka,
Kashmarya, Suganadi are popular.

Basics of Dravya
Rasa as aap which nourishes plants
Am ie eriUe os c
ulxmiUlqiurh ( A.u.z.1.30/3)

Rasa, Virya, Vipaka are expalined in Atharva

veda
Virya considered as active principle responsible
for action of drug
Diff karmas are explained like Pramehagna,
Vajikarana, Vishagna, Rakshogna, Kesa
vardhana,Vashikarana, Kriminasahana,
Kasahara, Rasayana, Nidrajanana, Balya,
Deepana, Rohana, Sandhana etc

Classification of dravyas-01
Atharvani- Drugs used for Rituals
Angirasi- which are used as
antimicrobial
Daivi Drugs used for Rasayan
karma
Manushi- in treatment of different
Diseases

Food & drugs-02

Oshadhi(Small)
Vanaspati(Big)

Virudha
vanaspathaya
vanaspathaya

&

Virudha

Classification On Habit-03

Vanaspati
Vanaspatya
Oushadhi
Veerudha

Morphological classification04
On basis of Stem:- Namasyanti
( Karveera )
On basis of Leaves:- Saptaparni
On basis of Flowers:-Apuspa
On basis of Fruits:-Sadaphala

On basis of Life span-05

Punarnava- takes rebirth every year
Dhruva- lives for many centuries
Purvajata- lives for about thousand
years

On base of Therapeutic
action-06

ViswabhesahjiVisha dushiniDurnama chatanaKilasa bheshajaKesa bramhini-

On basis of taste-07
Madhumad agram Madhumad madhyam Madhumad mulam-

On basis of colour-08
Sukla
Krishna
Rohini

Classification of Padartha (Dravaya)

as per Shatapata Bramhan
mzu Aqs: Awkr
qslr: ( z.o.-2-2-3-10)

Contra regarding Nomenclature in

Vedic period
Some plants remains as it is like Udumbara,
Aswattha
Some names are modified like Atasa to Atasi,
Guggula to Guggulu, Kashmarya to Kasmarya
Some like Dravanti, Jyotishamti, Trivrit,
Viswabheshja are names from Rugveda but they
are not representing same plants
Jeevanti- introduced from Atharva veda
Karnja & Aralu names of Rakshasa in vedas and
become names of Plants.
Mahabala & Muchukunda are the names of
God/Godess

Dravyaguna in Samhitas
Charka Samhita

Sootrastana
1. Chatuspada
2. Triskanda
3. Rasa & Dosha relation
4. Drugs In Panchakarma
5. Herbs Used For external application
6. 600 purgatives
7. 50 Kashaya vargas
8.Fundamentals of dravya guna
9.Agrya dravya sangraha

Vimanastana
1. Contraindication of Tridravyas
Chikitstana
1. Rasayana & Vajikarana
Kalpastana
1.15 drugs for Vamana & Virechana

Susruta samhita

Sutrastana

1. Basic classification of dravya

2. Hita & Ahita dravyas
3. Qualities of drug
4. Panchaboutikata of drugs
5. Drugs on Therapeutic effect
6. 37 ganas of Dravya on basis of main drug
7. Fundamentals of Dravyaguna
8. Rasa
9. Drugs having emetic & purgative property
10. Gunas

Chikitsa stana
1.Rasayana & Vajikarana
Uttarastana
1.Rasa & its combination

Astanga sangrha

Sutrastana
Rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka
Drug administration time
Shoadanadi gana
Rasabediaya

Astanaga hradaya

Sutrastana
Rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka, & prabhava
Types of desha
Drug administration time
Classification of drugs & Qualities of drugs
Fundamentals of dravyaguna
Panchabhutikata of dravyas
Rasa & types of rasa
Classification of drugs as per susruta

Lagutrayas
Sharngadhara samhita

Poorvakhanada
Method of collection of raw drugs
Time of drug administration
Various action of drug
Madyama khanda
Swarasa, Kalka, Kwatha, Avaleha, etc
Uttara khanda
Panchakarma

Bhavaprakash Nigantu
Best text on Dravyaguna
Which is like a link between ancient &
modern period

Nomenclature of dravya &

synonyms

I

II .

Imporatnce of Vaidya & Others in

Nomenclature & Use
amsximx urk r clr
ulcUh:
qsWU r ipr
pweurUwri

ipr: xMzSmspr ukr: m

zxw uqzr oS:
uMsmri
SurUxmpulumMurh
ir mrai ( U .l )

 Roodi:- (popularity in particular Area) These

names have no specific meaning but are used in
certain areas.
EX:-Pacham pacha ( Daruharidra ), Kinihi
( Apamarga )

Prabhava:- Krimigna, Hayamara, Vishagana

Deshokta :- (from particular place )Magadi,lanka,
malayaja,vaidehi.
Lanchana ( Special Feature )Ajasringi,Danti
,Astisrankala

Upama:- ( Simili )Meshalochana, vanari, Shukanasa ,

Panchangula

Veerya:- Ushana, ooshana, sheeta

Atidesha ( blame ):-Pootiganda, Kachhuri

Nomenclature of dravya in Nigantu

1. Swaroopabodaka:- Jatamamsi, Punarnava
2. Avayavabodaka:. Patra :- Panchangula, triparni
. Puspa :- Shatapuspa, nagapuspa
. Phala:- Avartini, Phala
. Beeja:- Indrayava,
. Moola:- Shatamooli, Danti
. Ksheeri:- Swarnaksheeri
. Kantaka:- Gokshura, Yugmakantaka
. Sara:- Raktasara, Peetasara
. Roma:- Kapiromaphala

3. Gunabodaka
Sabda:- Gunja
Sparsha:- Kharamanjari
Roopa:- Naktamala
Rasa:- Katuki, Kiratatikta,Amlika
Ganda :- Aswaganda, Vitkhadira
4. Prabhava:- Krimigna, Kustagna

5. Karmabodaka:Vamaka, Rechaka,Medya,Rasayana
6. Udbhavabodaka :- Kandaruha
7. Deshabodaka:- Magadi, Kalinga,
Nepali