Mahakashaya, Mahākaṣāya, Maha-kashaya: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Mahakashaya 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.
The Sanskrit term Mahākaṣāya can be transliterated into English as Mahakasaya or Mahakashaya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Mahākaṣāya (महाकषाय):—Caraka, in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna IV, classifies medicinal plants under fifty groups, called Mahākaṣāya. It is a Sanskrit technical term used in Ayurvedic literature.
The fifty groups are:
- Jīvanīya,
- Bṛṃhaṇīya,
- Lekhanīya,
- Bhedanīya,
- Sandhāniya,
- Dīpaniya,
- Bālya,
- Varṇya,
- Kaṇṭhya,
- Hṛdya,
- Kaphaghna,
- Arśaghna,
- Kuṣṭhaghna,
- Kaṇḍughna,
- Kṛmighna,
- Viṣaghna,
- Stanyajanana,
- Śukrajanana,
- Stanyaśodhana,
- Śukraśodhana,
- Snehopaga,
- Svedopaga,
- Vamanopaga,
- Virecanopaga,
- Āsthāpanopaga,
- Anuvāsanopaga,
- Śirovirecanopaga,
- Chardinigrahaṇa,
- Tṛṣṇānigrahaṇa,
- Hikkānigrahaṇa,
- Puriṣasaṅgrahaṇīya,
- Purīṣavirajanīya,
- Mūtrasaṅgrahaṇīya,
- Mūtravirecanīya,
- Mūtravirajanīya,
- Kāsahara,
- Śvāsahara,
- Śothahara,
- Jvarahara,
- Śramahara,
- Dāhapraśamana,
- Śītapraśamana,
- Udardapraśamana,
- Aṅgamardapraśamana,
- Śūlapraśamana,
- Śonitasthāpana,
- Vedanāsthāpana,
- Saṃjñāsthāpana,
- Prajāsthāpana,
- Vayasthāpana,
Together they are called the Pañcāśata Mahākaṣāya (‘fifty groups of astringent [plants]’).
Mahākaṣāya (महाकषाय):—Group of ten substances having similar pharmacological effect; described by Caraka; 50 in number
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahākaṣāya (महाकषाय).—Name of a plant (Mar. kāyaphaḷa).
Derivable forms: mahākaṣāyaḥ (महाकषायः).
Mahākaṣāya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and kaṣāya (कषाय).
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Kashaya, Maha.
Full-text (+30): Brimhaniya, Bhedaniya, Varṇya, Kanthya, Arshaghna, Jivaniya, Hridya, Kandughna, Snehopaga, Virecanopaga, Dubbalya, Lekhaniya, Sandhaniya, Dipaniya, Kaphaghna, Kushthaghna, Stanyajanana, Svedopaga, Vamanopaga, Asthapanopaga.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Mahakashaya, Mahākaṣāya, Maha-kashaya, Maha-kasaya, Mahā-kaṣāya, Mahakasaya, Mahakashayas, Maha-kasayas; (plurals include: Mahakashayas, Mahākaṣāyas, kashayas, kasayas, kaṣāyas, Mahakasayas, Mahakashayases, kasayases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Charakokta dashemani kashaya varga- a literary review < [2023: Volume 12, February issue 3]
Importance of arshoghna mahakashaya of charaka samhita < [2017: Volume 6, September issue 10]
Ginger: The Maha-Aushadha of Ayurveda and Its Therapeutic Benefits < [2016: Volume 5, February issue 2]
International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga
An Exploratory Study of Clinical Efficacy of “Shwasahar Dashemani” in Shwas Roga < [Vol. 5 No. 1: jan (2022)]
Clinical Study Of Charakokta Arshoghna Mahakashya In Suskh Arsh. < [Vol. 3 No. 10: Oct (2020)]
Diagnostic Evaluation and Management of Acute Abdomen in Ayurveda A... < [Vol. 5 No. 11: Nov (2022)]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
Clinical study on effect of shulaprashamana mahakashaya on udavartini yonivyapad vis-à-vis primary dysmenorrhea < [2023, Issue 12, December]
A study on drugs described in vayahsthapan mahakashaya of charak samhita as an age sustaining action < [2014, Issue VI Nov-Dec]
A clinical study on vedanasthapan mahakashaya ointment and vedanasthapan ghanvati in the management of parikartika w.s.r. to acute fissure-in-ano < [2024, Issue 02. February]
Truptighna mahakashaya is the remedy for Functional Dyspepsia < [Volume 10, Suppl 2: March-April 2023]
Study of Kustha (Saussurea lappa) in Brihattrayi and Laghuttrayi. < [Volume 3, issue 1: Jan- Feb 2016]
Management of Female Infertility Through Mahakashaya < [Volume 9, Suppl 1: July-Aug 2022]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
Therapeutic potential of Sandhaniya Maha Kashaya < [Vol. 9 No. 12 (2024)]
A review on Charakokta Kanthya Mahakashaya < [Vol. 5 No. 06 (2020)]
Role of Ayurveda in Chondromalacia Patella Grade IV - A Case Report < [Vol. 10 No. 4 (2025)]
Pharmaco – therapeutics of dasemani drugs < [Volume 3 (issue 3), Jan-Mar 1984]
Critical review of Ayurvedic Varṇya herbs and their tyrosinase inhibition effect < [Volume 35 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 2015]
Effect of Vasa Avaleha with Swarasa vs. Kwatha in Tamaka Shwasa < [Volume 28 (issue 3), Jan-Mar 2009]