Ashtavarga, Aṣṭavarga, Ashtan-varga: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Ashtavarga means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Aṣṭavarga can be transliterated into English as Astavarga or Ashtavarga, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaAṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग).—Meda, Mahāmeda, Kākoli, Kṣīrakākoli, Jīvaka, Iṭavaka, Ṛddhi, Vṛddhi (These are used in infusions for treating rheumatism).

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaAṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग) refers to an astrological calculation for determining the character of a birth, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 9.119.

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsAṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग):—Combination of following Rhizomes of Eight Plants:Jeevak (Malaxis acuminate), Risbhak(Malaxis muscifera), Meda(Polygonatum verticillatum), Mahameda(Polygonatum cirrhifolium), Kakoli(Roscoea procera), Ksheerkakoli(Fritillaria roylei), Riddhi(Habenaria edgeworthii), Vridhi(Habenaria intermedia).

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryaṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग).—m (S) A class of eight principal medicaments. 2 The ceremony of entertaining at dinner, with a boy about to be invested with the sacred thread, eight boys of whom the investiture has been already solemnized.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग).—
1) a sort of diagram (cakra) showing the good or bad stars of a person.
2) the 8 classes of letters; (avarga, ka°, ca°, ṭa°, ta°, pa°, ya°, śa°,).
3) a class of three principal medicaments, Namely ऋषभ, जीवक, मेद, महामेद, ऋद्धि, वृद्धि, काकोली (ṛṣabha, jīvaka, meda, mahāmeda, ṛddhi, vṛddhi, kākolī), and क्षीरकाकोली (kṣīrakākolī) cf. जीवकर्षभकौ मेदौ काकोल्यावृद्धिवृद्धिकी (jīvakarṣabhakau medau kākolyāvṛddhivṛddhikī).
Derivable forms: aṣṭavargaḥ (अष्टवर्गः).
Aṣṭavarga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms aṣṭan and varga (वर्ग).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग).—m.
(-rgaḥ) A class of eight principal medicaments, they are mostly the roots of plants from the hills, which have not been determined, and are named: Rishabha, Jivaka, Meda, Mahameda, Riddhi, Vriddhi, Kakoli, and Kshirakakoli. E. aṣṭa eight, and varga a class.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग):—[=aṣṭa-varga] [from aṣṭa > aṣṭan] mfn. being in rows of eight each, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a class of eight principal medicaments (viz. Ṛṣabha, Jīvaka, Medā, Mahāmedhā, Ṛddhi, Vṛddhi, Kākoli, and Kṣīrakākolī), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭavarga (अष्टवर्ग):—[aṣṭa-varga] (rgaḥ) 1. m. A class of eight principal medicaments.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAṣṭavarga (ಅಷ್ಟವರ್ಗ):—
1) [noun] a collection of eight important medicinal plants.
2) [noun] a set of eight things (of the same class).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashta, Varga.
Starts with: Ashtavargajataka, Ashtavargaphaladhyaya.
Full-text: Laghvashtavarga, Ashtavargya, Brihadashtavarga, Devamani, Ashtavarkku, Jivaka, Ashtama, Deveshta, Kakola, Rishabhaka, Medas, Riddhi, Paral.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Ashtavarga, Ashta-varga, Ashtan-varga, Aṣṭa-varga, Asta-varga, Aṣṭan-varga, Astan-varga, Aṣṭavarga, Astavarga; (plurals include: Ashtavargas, vargas, Aṣṭavargas, Astavargas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
Astavarga (group of eight medicinal plants): the wonder herbs of ayurveda < [2019, Issue 9, September]
A COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF ASHTAVARGAM KASHAYA AND GANDHARVAHASTHADI KASHAYA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF KATIGRAHA w.s.r. TO LUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS < [2020, Issue 8, August]
A controlled clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of karpasasthyadi taila nasyakarma in the management of greeva asthigatavata vis- a-vis cervical spondylosis < [2021, Issue 1, January]
Relevance of kakoli in Ayurveda and etymology of its synonyms. < [Volume 6, Issue 6: November-December 2019]
Meda, key astavarga member, faces identification and standardization issues. < [Volume 7, Issue 4: July - August 2020]
Riddhi (Habenaria intermedia): ancient Ayurvedic significance and use. < [Volume 7, Issue 2: March - April 2020]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Riddhi (Habenaria intermedia) - medicinal Ayurveda plant with adulteration. < [2020: Volume 9, August issue 8]
Relevance of Meda in Ayurvedic Nighantu and Kosh Grantha. < [2020: Volume 9, July issue 7]
Relevance and impact of pratinidhi dravyas in chikitsa < [2021: Volume 10, October issue 12]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 299 [Nara-Śakti-Śiva in Śakti’s empire] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 74 < [Volume 24 (1918)]
The folklore medicinal orchids of Sikkim < [Volume 33 (issue 2), Oct-Dec 2013]
Medico-botany of andaman and nicobar islands – iii ayurvedic drugs – i < [Volume 4 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 1984]
Rational use of ayurvedic literaature for drug development < [Volume 21 (issue 3), Jan-Mar 2002]
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