Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences revives two rare Ayurvedic manuscripts: Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu and Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu
Context
- Agency involved: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush.
- Event: Manuscripts unveiled at the RRAP Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Mumbai.
- Objective: Preservation and revival of India’s classical Ayurvedic knowledge through critical editions and translations.
Relevance : GS 1(Heritage ,Culture)
The Manuscripts Revived
1. Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu
- Author: Mudgala Paṇḍita, dated to 1480 AD.
- Content: 18 chapters with in-depth data on drug synonyms, therapeutic actions, and medicinal properties.
- Sources: Draws upon Dhanvantari and Raja Nighaṇṭu; introduces many new substances from plant, mineral, and animal origins.
- Historical relevance: Widely referenced in Maharashtra till the 19th century.
- Significance: Valuable for Dravyaguna (Ayurvedic pharmacology) and allied disciplines.
2. Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu
- Attributed to: Bhisma Vaidya.
- Nature: Serves as an appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu.
- Content: 182 verses + 2 colophon verses focused on homonyms in drug and plant names—a complex aspect of Ayurvedic pharmacology.
- Utility: Important for scholars of Rasashastra (alchemy), Bhaishajya Kalpana (formulation), and classical identification techniques.
Editorial Contributions
- Editor: Dr. Sadanand D. Kamat, a renowned manuscriptologist and Ayurveda scholar.
- Previous works: Known for work on Saraswati Nighaṇṭu, Bhāvaprakāsha Nighaṇṭu, and Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu.
- Contribution: Enhanced scholarly accessibility with critical editing, translation, and commentary.
Broader Significance
- Academic and educational utility: Manuscripts provide critical resources for students, researchers, educators, and practitioners.
- Digitisation and preservation: A step toward long-term digital archiving of ancient Indian medical literature.
- Bridging past and present: Revived texts serve as a bridge between classical knowledge and modern research frameworks.
- Promotion of Ayurveda: Reinforces the role of traditional systems in contemporary health discourse.
- Cultural renaissance: Revitalizes interest in indigenous medical systems and strengthens cultural identity through validated historical texts.
