Acquaintance with nama (names) and rupa (characters) is very important for identification of plants. Though their importance was recognised by ancient seers namarupajnana has developed recently as a part of Dravyagunavijnana in which the subject of identification of plants is studied in all aspects e.g. ancient and medieval approach to characterize the plants by way of names and synonyms, pharmacognosy proper and discussion on drugs which are still unknown or used differently in different regions of the country. Namarupajnana has been prescribed as a subject under the postgraduate course in Dravyaguna and is also a portion in undergraduate course in the subject. the present book is the premier publication on the subject and would serve as a guide for students, teachers and research scientists. About the Author: Prof. Priya Vrat Sharma, the editor-translator of this text, is well known for his valuable contributions in the field of Ayurveda. During the last four decades he has written on various aspects of Ayurveda-literary as well as scientific, conceptual as well as historical. Prof. Priya Vrat Sharma born on 1st November, 1920 in a small village (Mustafapur) near Patna, the ancient Pataliputra, in the family of traditional Vaidyas. School career in Vedarata Vidyalaya at the home village. University career in Ayurvedic College of Banaras Hindu University. Graduated in Ayurveda in 1940. Also did M.A. in Sanskrit and Hindi and Acharya in Sanskrit Sahitya later on. Teaching career started in 1946 as Professor and later Vice-Principal in Ayurvedic College, Begusarai (Bihar). In 1953 appointed, as lecturer in Ayurvedic College, B.H.U., in 1956 took over as Principal, Govt. Ayurvedic College, Patna and Superintendent indigenous Medicines Bihar. In 1960 appointed as Dy. Director of Health Services (I.M.), Bihar. In 1963 joined as Professor of Dravyaguna in P.G. Institute of Indian Medicine, B.H.U., and also worked as officer-in-charge and later as Director of the Institute and Dean, Faculty of Indian Medicine. Prof. Sharma has been participating in international conferences on human sciences and has been associated with several committees on Ayurveda on National level. He has authored about two dozen books and has published about 300 papers and articles. He has also edited a number of Sanskrit Medical Manuscripts which were hitherto unknown in the Ayurvedic world.
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