ISSN: 2394 – 1669 (Online)
International Journal Medicinal Plants of Ramayan period
for Exchange of Knowledge; 2 (1) : 41-44, 2015 Dipti Varma
==================================================================================
General Article
MEDICINAL PLANTS USED DURING THE PERIOD OF RAMAYANA
DIPTI VARMA
Asst. teacher
Govt. High School, Rahe, Ranchi
E. mail: deeptiswiss@yahoo.co.in
Ramayana, the oldest epic and one of the two
great works of Sanskrit literature, along with
the Mahabharata, basically explores human
values and the concept of dharma. Along with
this, the epic discusses the flora of the places
visited by Rama. All the mentioned herbs had
the medicinal qualities, which prove that the
learned persons of that period were much
concerned towards the study of medicinal
plants. They were quite aware about
indispensable role of plants for the very
sustenance of animal life. Saints or the
scientists of that period knew that the air we
breathe remains pleasant due to surrounding
flora. There are number of verses in the
Ramayana depicting this generosity of
vegetable kingdom. They had also realized
that there was no conduct of life where the
plant kingdom does not make the contribution
like food, fuel, shelter, fiber, fodder and the
most important thing of life, the medicine. No
wonder that many such plants have been
revered as God. This was the reason that
India in the ancient times was one of the
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foremost developed countries. In the present
communication various medicinal plants used
during the period of Ramayana has been
discussed in detail.
Explanation of medicinal herbs was not the
motive of the Ramayana. Its motive was to
explain an ideal voyage of an ideal character
Rama. During this, we get the mention of
many trees/plants, which are of medicinal use.
Among all those sanjivani is very much
famous. It is mentioned in the 74th sarga of
yudhkanda of the epic. Only through its smell
it saved not only the lives of Rama and
Laxhmana but also the lives of monkeys who
were badly wounded and almost dead.
According to the epic, it consisted of four
kinds of medicine- mritsanjivani,
vishalyasanjivani, suwarnasanjivani, and
sandhani. Its botanical name is Selaginella
bryopteris. At present it can be seen on the
hills of tropical areas, particularly the Arawali
mountain terrains from east to west in India.
In the Ramayana, many trees are termed as
equivalent to Amrit. As per traditional Sanskrit
 ISSN: 2394 – 1669 (Online)
International Journal Medicinal Plants of Ramayan period
for Exchange of Knowledge; 2 (1) : 41-44, 2015 Dipti Varma
==================================================================================
literature Amrit was a kind of medicine which
can make a person immortal. In 73rd sarga of
Aranyakanda, sage Matanggave suggestion to
have the fruits of the 21 kinds of particular
trees, which are likely to be Amrit and then
go forward. Some of the names of those
trees are –
1. Jambu - In Hindi it is called jamun. Its
botanical name is Syzygium cumini. It is found
throughout India.
2. Priyala or Chirongi - Its botanical name is
Buchanani alanzon. It is an evergreen tree
with a straight cylindrical trunk and found
throughout India in dry or moist deciduous
forests or in semi evergreen forests.
3. Panasameans jackfruit or kathal in
Hindi. Its botanical name is Atrocarpus
heterophyllus. It is a large evergreen tree and
native to parts of south and Southeast Asia. It
is Indigenous to India and grows wild in
Western Ghats.
4. Vata - In English it is known as Banyan
tree. Its botanical name is Ficus bengalensis.
5. Plaksha or Asvattha - Commonly known as
Paker or Sacred Fig or Pipal. Botanical name
is Ficus religiosa. It is native to India,
Nepal, Srilanka, Southwest China and
Vietnam.
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6. Tinduka or Tendu – It is a middle sized
evergreen tree, found throughout India. Its
botanical name is Diospyros melanoxylon.
7. Amba or mango – Botanically called as
Mangifera indica. It is a common tree
found all over India and also cultivated for its
delicious fruits.
8. Dhava - In Hindi it is called Balkiand and
Axle wood in English. Its botanical name is
Anogeissus latifolia. It is a small to medium
sized tree and native to India, Nepal,
Myanmar and Srilanka.
9. Tilak - Its botanical name is Cinnamom
uminers.
10. Naktamala or Indian beach - Botanical
name is Pongami apinata. It originated in
India and is found throughout Asia. Native of
Western Ghats and found all over India on
banks of river and streams. It is middle sized
glabrous tree.
11. Nila or Fig – Botanically called as Ficus
recemosa. A very large tree with many aerial
roots and endemic to Bangladesh, India and
Sri Lanka. Found in Sub-Himalayas tract and
western peninsula.
12. Ashoka – It is a middle sized evergreen
tree and cultivated in gardens through India.
Its botanical name is Saraca asoca.
 ISSN: 2394 – 1669 (Online)

International Journal Medicinal Plants of Ramayan period

for Exchange of Knowledge; 2 (1) : 41-44, 2015 Dipti Varma
==================================================================================
13. Kadamba - It is a large evergreen tropical
tree, native to south and Southeast Asia.
Botanically called as Anthocephalus
kadamba.
14. Karvira - In Hindi it is called Kannhera
and botanically named as Nerium indicum.
It is native to a broad area from Morocco and
Portugal eastward through the Mediterranean
region and southern Asia to Yunnan in
southern parts of China. It is an evergreen
shrub or small tree.
15. Surakta or red sandalwood - It is a tall
deciduous tree. Mainly found in south India,
particularly in Kadapa and Chittor on the
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh border and
neighboring areas of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
and Maharashtra.
16. Paribhadraka – In Hindi it is called
mandar and its Botanical name is Artocarpus
heterophyllus. It is a large evergreen tree,
native to South and Southeast Asia.
Indigenous to India and grows wild in
Western Ghats.
According to the 1st sarga of Kiskindha there
was a kind of sandalwood called Malay
chandan (Santalum album) which was used
for nullifying tiredness.
Apart from the above mentioned herbs/floras,
there were many herbs which were proved to
be of medicinal use at that time, but their
description in the epic makes one feel about
the then pleasant and healthy environment.
Many of them are now scientifically proved to
be of medicinal value and used in large scale.
Some of them are-
1. Parnas - In Hindi it is called Tulsi and is
mentioned in the Aranyakanda of Ramayana.
Its botanical name is Ocimum sanctum. It is
cultivated throughout India and generally used
for the cure of cough and cold. It is also
helpful in sharpening the brain.
2. Pippali - Mentioned in the Aranyakanda of
the epic, called Pipli in Hindi. Its botanical
name is Piper longum. Generally used for the
cure of stomach problem.
3. Padma or lotus - In Hindi it is called kamal
and botanically called Nelumbo nucifera. It
is mentioned in Kishkindha and
Aranayakanda of Ramayana. A very
beautiful aquatic herb, grown throughout
warm parts of India. Mainly used for the
purpose of gynecological problems.
4. Kichaka Venu - Commonly known as
Kaanta Baans. Botanically called Bambusa
asundinacea. A graceful spinous perennial
erect herb and mentioned in the Kishkindha
kanda. It is wild throughout India, especially
in hill forests. Medicinally used for the cure
of bone problems.

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 ISSN: 2394 – 1669 (Online)

International Journal Medicinal Plants of Ramayan period

for Exchange of Knowledge; 2 (1) : 41-44, 2015 Dipti Varma
==================================================================================
5. Arjuna – It is mentioned in the Kishkindha In conclusion we can say that although the
kanda of the Ramayana. Its botanical name is motive of The Ramayana was not to explain
Terminalia arjuna. It is cultivated all over the qualities of medicinal plants of that time,
India and indigenous to Africa and Indo- still this epic is full of such floras, which
Malaysia. Generally used in gynecological while studying, gives one the glimpses of a
problem. very healthy and pleasant environment.
6. Agnimukha– Its Indian name is Bhela or REFERENCES
Bhilawa. It is mentioned in the Aranya kand K P Sagreiya 2005. Forest and Forestry,
of the epic. Generally found in the outer National Book Trust, India
Himalayas. Botanically called Semecarpus S G Joshi 2004. Medicinal Plants, Oxford &
anacardium. IBH Publishing co. Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi
Similarly we get dozens of example of herbs Srimad Valmiki Ramayan, Gita Press, Part-1
having medicinal qualities like Badri (ber), Srimad Valmiki Ramayan, Gita Press, Part-2
Bilwa (bel), Ankola, Devadaru, Sami etc.

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