Presented by

Dr. Satish Chand Gupta,

Associate professor,
Dept. Of Dravyaguna-Vigyana,
Jeevan Jyoti Ayurvedic Medical College, Aligarh.
 INTRODUCTI
ON
 Paryaya or synonyms come under the healing of Dravya
Namakarana. Which is a part of Naamarupa Vigyan.
 Naamrupa vigyan includes 2 words-
 Naam Vigyan - Taxonomy
 Rupa Vigyan -Morphology

 Naming a drug is very Important step which is as similar as

naming a person. It mainly helps in the identification. But
Naamavigyan can not exist as a separate entity as it is evident
form our classics that the naming of a drug is mostly based on
the appearance or special morphological characteristics. Hence
this branch of Dravyaguna named as Naamarupa Vigyan.
 Since from the vedic period , the drug were named time
to time where it is mainly done under following headings-
 Udabhavbhodhak
 Swaroopbhodhak
 Gunabhodhak
 Karmabhodhak
 The method of nomenclature continued in Samhita
period also.But the basis for this nomenclature is
revealed during Nighantu period by Pandit Narhari in his
coxicon Raja Nighantu as follows.

 नामlनन क्वनिनिह :f<r% प्रभावात् िॆ श्योक्त्या क्वनिनिह

लान्छनॊपमाभ्याम् वीर्येण क्वनिनि,तराह्वर्यानि िॆ शात् द्रव्याणानमह
सप्तधोनितानन ll
- रा.नन.ग्रन्थ प्रस्तावना/१३
According to Vedic literature the Nomenclature pattern is as follows-
1. Udabhavbhodhak – Gives the knowledge about the place of
origin
Varshabhu-
Manduki –
Maagadhi –
Shailayam–
2. Swaroopbhodhak - knowledge about Morphological characters
Ananta –
Trivrata –
Mahavriksha-
Ashipatra -
3. Gunabhodhak – Gives the knowledge about Properties.
Madhuk –yasthimadhu
Swadukantak
Soma
Ashwagandha

4. Karmabhodhak – Gives the knowledge about

pharmacological action.
Apamarg
Atibala
Rohini
 According to Raja-Nighantu : Nomenculture of dravyas
depends on-
1. On the basis of Rudhi (Specific terms) :These names have
no specific meaning but are used in certain areas. Hence
are called as Rudhi .It may be a name or synonyms
proposed by the ancient Acharyas whose root meaning or
derivations are not frequently discussed in the text.
Dorali - Brihati
Tuntuk - Shyonak
Lagud - Rakta karveer
Aatarushak - Vaasa
 Synonyms on the basis of Rudi is nothing but the prevailing names
which are of unknown origin.

 They are commonly and widely used since ages by tribal and local
people which are the base for any type of nomenclature or drug
research as it is advised by Ch.Sam; Su.sam. and Dha. Ni. to gather the
preliminary information about any drug from Cowherds, Hunters,
Forest dwellers etc.

 ऒषधीनाा मरूपाभ्याां जानते ह्यजपा वनॆ l

अनवपाश्चैव गॊपाश्च र्ये िान्ये वनवानसनः ll ि.सू.१

 गॊपालस्तापसा व्याधा र्येिान्यॆ वनिाररणः l

मूलाहाराश्च र्यॆतॆभ्यो भॆषजव्यनतररष्यते ll सु.सू.२७; ध.नन./१२

 निरातगॊपालितापसाद्या वनॆिरास्तत्कुशलास्तथान्यॆ l
विन्ति नानानवध भॆषजानाां प्रमाणवणाा िॄनतनामजानत ll ध.नन./6
2.On the basis of prabhav : Some of the names are given to
herbs on the basis of their therapeutic efficacy or original
nature of action.
Krimighna - Vidang
Kusthaghna - Khadir
Pleehaghna - Rohitak
3. On the basis Desokti (place of originy) : Certain names are
given to the plants according to the place of availability.
Maalavi - Paatha / upodika
Maagadhi - Pipalli
Peruk - Amaruda
Vahlika - Hingu
Kalinga - Indrayava
Kashmiram - Kumkumam
4.On the basis of Lanchan (Special characters) : Certain herbs are
named on the basis of the special characters.
Chitratandul -Vidanga
Chitraparni -Prishnaparni
Chitrabija -Erand
Pancharajiphala -Patola
5. On the basis of Upama (simile) : Names of the herbs are also
coined as per the similarity of useful part etc., to other objects
or animals
etc.
Udumbarparni -Danti
Shamipatra -Lajjalu
Panchangula -Erand
Mayurshikha
6. On the basis of Virya : Virya word indicate Rasadi
guna.
Amala - Amalika
Katuk - Sasarpa
Tikta - Patola
Ushna - Shunti
7.On the basis of Itarahwaya (Miscellaneous) :
Different comparisons may be seen with the
nomenclature of herbs.
Sakrahya - Indrayav
Devahya - Devadaru
Kakahya - Kakamachi
Other basis of Dravya Nomenculture
 1.On the basis of prayojyang
मूल त्वि् सार ननर्याास नाल स्वरस पल्लवाः l
क्षाराः क्षीरां फलम् पुष्पां भस्म तैलानन िन्टिाः ll
पत्रानण शुांगाः िांिाश्च प्ररॊहश्चौन्तििॊ गणः l ि.सू.१/७४

A. On the basis of Moola (Root)

Sugandhmula - Lavali
Mulak - Muli
Satmula - Satavari
B. On the basis of Twak
Tanutwak/Gudatwak/Twak - Daalchini
Twaksugandh - Narang
C. On the basis of Saar
Pitasaar - beejak
Gandhasaar - Sweta Chandan
Ghansaar - Karpoor
Ambusaara - Kadli
D. On the basis of Naal
Nalottam - Mahanal
E. On the basis of Niryaas
Mocharasa - Salmalli Niryaas
Kundaru - Shalliki Niryaas
H. On the basis of pallava
Tamrapallav - Ashok
I. On the basis of Kshar
Ksharshrestha - Palasha & Mokshak
J. On the basis of Ksheer
Payasya - Ksheerkakoli
Ksheerparna - Arka
ksheeraa - Snuhi
Ksheeri - Vata
Dugdhagarbha - Krishnasariva
K. On the basis of phal (fruit)
Gudaphala - Pilu
Jalaphala - Sringatak
Pindiphala - Madanphala
Sadaphal - Bilva
Krishnaphala - Bakuchi
Netropamphal - Vaatad
Jaghnephala - Kakoudambar
J . On the basis of pushpa
Munipushpa - Agastya
Tamrapushpa - Kovidaar
Pitapushpa - Atibala
Gudapushpa - Madhuk

k. On the basis of Bhashm

Bhasmagarbha - Sinsapaa
Bhasmagandha - Renuka

L. On the basis of Tail

Tailparnik - Chandan
Tailaphala - Ingudi/Tila
Tailphalaa - Atasi
M. On the basis of kantak
Yugmakantaka - Babool
Tikshnakantak - Ingudi
Adhokantak - Satavari
Chakrakantak - Ikshurak
N. On the basis of patra
Triparna - Palashna
Hastaparna - Erand
O. On the basis of Suang
Suangi - Vata
P. On the basis of kanda
Vidarikanda
Ksheerkanda - Ksheervidari
Vaharikanda
2. On the basis of Indriyarth
A. On the basis of shabda
Ghosha - Mahakosataki
Mahaghosha - Karkatshringi
B. On the basis of sparsh
Kharmanjari - Apamarg
C. On the basis of Rupa
Shashiprabha - Utpal
D. On the basis of Rasa
Amlapatrak - Changeri
Madhupushpa - Madhuak
Alavana - jyotismati
E. On the basis of Gandha
Ugragandha - Vacha/yavani
Gandhamula/Sugandha - Rasna
Ajgandha
3. On the basis of Panchamahabhoot
Prithavika - Kalajaji
Jalja - Hijjal
Tejohva - Tejovati
Agnimanth
Jyotismati
Anal - Chitrak
Agnishikha - Langali
Vyomvalli - Aakashvalli
4.On the basis of Karma
Ashmaghna - Paashanbhed
Kaasmard
Keshahantri - Shami
Charmahantri - Chandrashur
Dantashad - kapitha
5. On the basis of Vyahvaarupayoga
Vastraranjan - Kushumbha/Manjistha
Lekhyapatra - Bhurja
Yagik - Khadir
6. On the basis of weight
Kanna - Pippali
Karshaphala - Vibhitaki
 तु ल्यानभिानानन तु र्यानन नशष्टै द्राव्यानण र्यॊगॆ नवननवॆनशतानन l
अथाानधिारागमस्ंपांप्रिार्यैः नवभज्य तिॆाण ि तानन र्युांज्यात् llध.नन./५

 Dhanvantari Nighantu suggests that- After attaining the

knowledge of Naama, Rupa etc. the wise physician should
confirm the basis for these nomenclature by practical
experiences by clinical trials (Either single drug or
Compound drug formulations)
 This will help to over come the controversies. To Decide/ to
Rule out/to re-considering the facts/data gathered
preliminarily.
 Discussion
 The synonyms gives a rough idea about macroscopic
features for identification e.g. lanchana , Upamaa
 It also gives an idea about the place from where a
particular drug can be procured abundantly. Hence helps
in the collection of genuine Dravya.
 It gives a gross idea about the quality, pharmacological
action and normal power of a Dravya.
 Along with the above said merits, there are demerits also
which is a major problem that the present day Ayurvedic
physicians are facing i.e. Confusion in identifying a drug as
either one drug has many synonyms or many drug has
one synonym.
Conclusion
Synonyms helps in-
1. Identification of plants
2. To know the place of origin
3. To know about the drugs to be imported
4. To clear controversy for some extent.
5. To find out karma.
6. To get an idea about Vishishta karma / Pradhaana Karma.
7. To determine historical time.
8. The synonyms have both merits and de merits with
reference to Identification.