The Sanskrit terms Mahauṣadhī and Mahṣadhi can be transliterated into English as Mahausadhi or Mahaushadhi or Mahsadhi or Mahshadhi, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Mahauṣadhī (महौषधी):—One of the sixty-four Divyauṣadhi, which are powerful drugs for solidifying mercury (rasa), according to Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara (chapter 9).

Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara, chapter 9

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि):—These are sixty seven in numbers and considered useful for sūta-bandhana and māraṇa etc. karmas (purposes). The names of Mahauṣadhis, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature), are:

1. Ṛddhī
2. Śoṣiṇī
3. Adhoguptā
4. Śrāvaṇī
5. Sārivā
6. Jyotiṣmatī
7. Tejavatī
8. Rāsnā
9. Bākucī
10. Vimbikā
11. Viṣāṇikā
12. Aśvagandhā
13. Varṣābhū
14. Śarapuṣpikā
15. Balā
16. Atibalā
17. Nāgabalā
18. Dantī
19. Mahābalā
20. Dravantī
21. Nīlinī
22. Śatapuṣpā
23. Prasāriṇī
24. Barā
25. Śatāvarī
26. Elā
27. Hapuṣā
28. Sātalā
29. Tṛvṛt
30. Svarṇakṣīrī
31. Tugā
32. Pṛthvī
33. Viśālā
34. Nāḷikā
35. Amalī
36. Indravārūṇi
37. Kākāhva
38. Sinduvārā
39. Ajamodikā
40. Trāyamāṇā
41. Asurī
42. Śaṅkhapuṣpī
43. Girikarṇikā
44. Dhātakī
45. Kadalī
46. Dūrvā
47. Amlikā
48. Kāsamardikā
49. Jantupādī
50. Nirguṇḍī
51. Drākṣā
52. Nīlotpalā
53. Śamī
54. Nālikerī
55. Kharjūrī
56. Phalgu
57. Śiṃśī
58. Mallikā
59. Vārṣikī
60. Śālmalī
61. Jātī
62. Grīṣmavarṣā
63. Yūthikā
64. Kekicūḍā
65. Ajagandhā
66. Lakṣmaṇā
67. Taruṇī

context information

Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Mahauṣadhī (महौषधी) is another name for Śuṇṭhī, which is a Sanskrit word referring to Zingiber officinale (dried ginger). It is classified as a medicinal plant in the system of Āyurveda (science of Indian medicine) and is used throughout literature such as the Suśrutasaṃhita and the Carakasaṃhitā. The synonym was identified in the Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 5.24-28), which is a 13^th century medicinal thesaurus.

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

1) Mahauṣadhī (महौषधी) is another name for Śvetakaṇṭakārī, a medicinal plant related to Kaṇṭakārī, according to verse 4.33-36 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Mahauṣadhī and Śvetakaṇṭakārī, there are a total of twenty-four Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2) Mahauṣadhī (महौषधी) is also mentioned as a synonym for Brāhmī, a medicinal plant identified with two possibly species verse, according to verse 5.63-66. The fifth chapter (parpaṭādi-varga) of this book enumerates sixty varieties of smaller plants (kṣudra-kṣupa). Together with the names Suvarcalā and Brāhmī, there are a total of twenty-four Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant. Note: Chopra identifies Brāhmī with 1) Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban. while Bāpālāl and Th. B.S. et al identify it with 2) Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Pennell.

context information

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि) refers to “medicinal herbs”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.7.—Accordingly, after the Goddess (Umā/Śivā) incarnated as Pārvatī by becoming the daughter of Menā:—“[...] O sage, the goddess Śivā when the suitable time for her education arrived learnt all the lores from a good preceptor, with concentrated mind and great pleasure. Just as the flock of swans returns to the Gaṅgā in the autumnal season and just as the brilliant lustre manifests itself in the medicinal herbs [i.e., mahauṣadhi] during the night, so also all the learning of the previous birth returned to Kālī. O sage, thus I have described one of the divine sports of Śivā. I shall narrate another one of her divine sports. You listen to it lovingly”.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Shodhganga: Cultural history as g leaned from kathasaritsagara

Mahaushadhi is the name of a herb (oshadhi) mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th century A.D). Mahaushadhi is a protecting plant that shines during night. It is effective for healing wounds.

Somadeva mentions many rich forests, gardens, various trees, creepers medicinal and flowering plants (e.g., Mahaushadhi) and fruit-bearing trees in the Kathasaritsagara. Gardens of herbs were specially maintained in big cities. Somadeva’s writing more or less reflects the life of the people of Northern India during the 11th century. His Kathasaritsagara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mahaushadhi, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravahanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyadharas (celestial beings).

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Mahaushadhi in India is the name of a plant defined with Senna alexandrina in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cassia angustifolia M. Vahl (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· The Gardeners Dictionary (1768)
· Bulletin de l’Herbier Boissier (1908)
· Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London (1854)
· The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
· Botanische Zeitung. Berlin (1849)
· Description de l’Égypte, … Histoire Naturelle (1813)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Mahaushadhi, for example pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, health benefits, extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahṣadhi (मह्षधि).—f.

1) a very efficacious medicinal plant, a sovereign drug.

2) the Dūrvā grass.

3) Name of various plants ब्राह्मी, श्वेतकण्टकारी, कटुका, अतिविष (brāhmī, śvetakaṇṭakārī, kaṭukā, ativiṣa) &c. °गणः (gaṇaḥ) a collection of great or medicinal herbs:-पृश्निपर्णी श्यामलता भृङ्गराजः शतावरी । गुड्चा सहदेवी च महौषधिगणः स्मृतः (pṛśniparṇī śyāmalatā bhṛṅgarājaḥ śatāvarī | guḍcā sahadevī ca mahauṣadhigaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ) || cf. also सहदेवी तथा व्याघ्री बला चातिबला त्वचा । शङ्खपुष्पी तथा सिंही अष्टमी च सुवर्चला ॥ महौषध्यष्टकं प्रोक्तं (sahadevī tathā vyāghrī balā cātibalā tvacā | śaṅkhapuṣpī tathā siṃhī aṣṭamī ca suvarcalā || mahauṣadhyaṣṭakaṃ proktaṃ)... .

Derivable forms: mahṣadhiḥ (मह्षधिः).

Mahṣadhi is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and oṣadhi (ओषधि).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि).—name of a nāga maid: Kāraṇḍavvūha 4.2.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि).—f.

(-dhiḥ) 1. A sort of grass, commonly Durba. 2. A kind of sensitive plant, (Mimosa pudica.) “lajjāvatī latā” E. mahā large and auṣadhi a deciduous plant.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि).—f. a kind of sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica.

Mahauṣadhi is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and oṣadhi (ओषधि).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि).—[feminine] a very efficacious medicinal plant.

--- OR ---

Mahauṣadhī (महौषधी).—[feminine] a very efficacious medicinal plant.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि):—[from mahā > mah] f. a great or very efficacious medicinal plant, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc. (also dhī)

2) [v.s. ...] Dūrvā grass, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] Mimosa Pudica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of a serpent-maid, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]

5) Mahauṣadhī (महौषधी):—[from mahauṣadhi > mahā > mah] f. Name of various medicinal plants (such as Hingtsha Repens, Aconitum Ferox etc.), [Suśruta; Pañcarātra; cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि):—[mahau+ṣadhi] (dhiḥ) 2. f. A sort of grass, Dub; the sensitive plant.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Mahauṣadhi (महौषधि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mahosahi.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahaushadhi in German

context information

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 corpus

Mahauṣadhi (ಮಹೌಷಧಿ):—

1) [noun] = ಮಹೌಷಧ [mahaushadha].

2) [noun] the grass Cynodon dactylon ( = Panicum dactylon) of Poaceae family.

context information

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: Aushadhi, Oshadhi, Maha.

Starts with: Mahaushadhisukta.

Ends with: Rakshamahaushadhi.

Full-text (+56): Rakshamahaushadhi, Mahaushadhisukta, Mahosahi, Ela, Shoshini, Vishanika, Prasarini, Svarnakshiri, Indravaruni, Mallika, Lakshmana, Bakuci, Shravani, Varshabhu, Dravanti, Shankhapushpi, Dhataki, Phalgu, Shimshi, Jati.

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Search found 9 books and stories containing Mahaushadhi, Mahauṣadhī, Maha-aushadhi, Maha-auṣadhī, Maha-oṣadhī, Mahausadhi, Maha-osadhi, Maha-ausadhi, Mahauṣadhi, Mahshadhi, Mahṣadhi, Maha-oshadhi, Mahā-oṣadhi, Mahsadhi, Mahā-oṣadhī; (plurals include: Mahaushadhis, Mahauṣadhīs, aushadhis, auṣadhīs, oṣadhīs, Mahausadhis, osadhis, ausadhis, Mahauṣadhis, Mahshadhis, Mahṣadhis, oshadhis, oṣadhis, Mahsadhis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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