Nighantu Of Ayurveda

by Dr. D.Shanthakumar Lucas

'An Introduction to Nighantu of Ayurveda' is an unique work taken up for the first time on the subject of Nighantu. The Nighantu is one of the important aspect in the study of Dravyaguna vijnana. Much importance has not been given to this subject.

The importance of Nighantu was highlighted for the first time by Narahari pandita in his work on Raja Nighantu during 14th century A.D. He states that a physician without the knowledge of Nighantu, a scholar without the knowledge of Vyakaranam and a soldier without the knowledge of ayudha are laughing stalk in this world. It is believed that at the end of each samhita a Nighantu was there.

In this work a Nighantu of Susrta named Sausrta Nighantu and another by Vagbhata the Astanga Nighantu are discussed. Totally 60 Nighantu have been arranged in chronological order. For 50 Nighantu details have been collected and discussed in detail.The study of Nighantu has been included in the CCIM syllabus for undergraduate course and it is exclusively included in Post graduate course of MD Dravyaguna as paper IV titled.

"Nighantu swaroopa" by CCIM New Delhi from 1995. Keeping this in mind as a Post Graduate teacher in Dravyaguna this book was taken up by me. This will be useful for the teachers and students of Dravyaguna on the subject of Nighantu.