Ayurvedic System of Indian Medicine: Or an Exposition, in English of Hindu Medicine: Vol.III

In preseming this Volume to the public, We do not claim originality: Ours is not the high aim of offering the scientific world a botanical work on the Indian Plants like that of Roxburgh. We dimply give the names of all Indian plants with their medicinal properties that are usful to the students of Ayurveda. We have included in the book the names of metals and a few other things that are used medicinally by Kavirajas. The usefulness of this volume is obvious. In the first and second volumes of 'Encyclopaedia of the Ayurvedic System of Indian Medicine" we have given the scientific names of medicinal plants. The Sanskrit and Vernacular names are indispensably necessary to the Indian student for easy indentification An Indian student will easily recognise a plant if both its Sanskrit and Vernacular names are known. To Europeans also they are most useful for the same purpose. We have availed of the labours of such great botanists as Linnaeus, Rexburgh. Carey, Lamark, and others Many of them worried Lifelong for the identification of the plants of India. No country, except the land of Bharata, can, perhaps boast of possessing such a large variety of vegetable creation. For the botanist this land has a peculiar fascination It is again, curious that thousands of years ago the Rishis studied almost all the plants that flourish in this country of continental proportions and discovered their medicinal properties. The very names they have given to many plans bespeak their principal characteristics. There is poetry, again in some of the names. The remark of the American essayist, Mr. Holmes, that words are fossilised poetry can nowhere be better illustrated than in the nomenclature of plants by the Rishis. To take the names of (Niladurva) for example we set its colour indicated by such names as she (Harita) and (Shyama), both meaning green; its cool touch, by a (Sheetal) and (Anushnavallika), its tuberous character (Shatamula mearing having hundred roots) are in auspicious ceremonies, by (Shiva), (Mangala) and (Jaya): its medicinal virtues by (Mahaushadhi), a highly beneficial herb. Its botanical peculiarities are indicated by such names as f (Shatagranthi meaning possessed of a hundred knots) and (Amrita which suggests its deathlessness or power of springing forth again and again). There is poetry, too in the name which suggests the idea of beautiful woman whose touch is warm in the cold season and cooling in the summer Sanskrit nomenclature of plants is thus a study for poets and scientists as well.