Elephant bone: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Elephant bone means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)
Source: Asian Agri-History: Drumavichitrikaranam—The Ancient Approach to Plant MutagenesisElephant bones (i.e., the nose bone) was used in a recipe to accelerate fruit droppings: which was one of the technologies known to ancient Indian agriculturists, which presents a safe technology and methodology regarding organic agriculture, according to treatises (such as the Vrikshayurveda). One such technology was to selectively ripen fruits as well as to delay or accelerate fruit dropping: Harvesting and fruit dropping are critical factors which can alter the shelf-life and the taste of the fruit by the time it reaches the end-user, the customer. [...] A number of queer raw materials such as wet hides of animal, bones of a monkey, ichor (elephant’s rut) and nose bone of elephant have been prescribed in the treatises to delay ripening. In order to accelerate fruit dropping concoctions of Tamarindus indica (tamarind), Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian jujube), Terminalia arjuna (arjuna) and Citrus limon (lemon) are prescribed.
Source: Shodhganga: Drumavichitrikarnam—Plant mutagenesis in ancient IndiaElephant Bones (denoted by the Sanskrit term Ibha-Asthi) are used by certain bio-organical recipes for plant mutagenesis, such as turning plants into creepers, according to the Vṛkṣāyurveda by Sūrapāla (1000 CE): an encyclopedic work dealing with the study of trees and the principles of ancient Indian agriculture.—Accordingly, “Musa paradisiaca creeper produces wealth in the form of plantains as big as elephant's teeth if the roots are pierced with an iron needle which is heated in the fire made of dry cow dung and bones (asthi) of pig, elephant (ibha) and horse”.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Elephant, An.
Full-text: Talpala, Kunjarasthi, Kunjara, Vyaghra, Vyaghrasthi, Ibhasthi.
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Search found 3 books and stories containing Elephant bone, Bone of an elephant, Bones of an elephant; (plurals include: Elephant bones, Bone of an elephants, Bones of an elephants). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Elephantology and its Ancient Sanskrit Sources (by Geetha N.)
Sushruta Samhita, volume 4: Cikitsasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
The Myths Of The North American Indians (by Lewis Spence)