Nirgundi, Nirgumdi, Nirguṇḍī: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Nirgundi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, biology. 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)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी):—One of the sixty-seven Mahauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs are useful for processing mercury (rasa), such as the alchemical processes known as sūta-bandhana and māraṇa.
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) refers to the medicinal plant known as Vitex Negundo Linn. and is used is in the metallurgical process for creating nāgabhasma, (Śodhana step):—Raw nāga (crude Lead-600 g) was subjected to śodhana by melting and pouring into a container of cūrṇodaka (lime water, strength 4.3 g/l) seven times. This śodhita-nāga (590 g) was again subjected to viśeṣa-śodhana (unique purification process specific to the metal) by following the above procedure and pouring into a mixture (decoction strength 250 g/l) of Nirguṇḍī (Vitex Negundo Linn.) svarasa and Haridrā (Curcuma Longa Linn.) cūrṇa for seven times. [...]
Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)
1) Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) is a Sanskrit word referring to Vitex negundo, a large shrub from the Lamiaceae (mint) family of flowering plants. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā and the Suśruta-saṃhitā. In English, the plant is known as “horseshoe vitex” or “Chinese chastetree”, among others. Two varieties are recognized: one with pale blue flowers (Śvetapuṣpī), and the other with blue flowers (Puṣpanāṭika (?)). Among the Tamils, one of these plants is supposed to be male and the other female, and for this reason they are usually combined together in their prescriptions. In the Nighantas, Nirguṇḍī is described as cephalic, pungent, astringent, bitter and light; a remedy for colic, swellings, rheumatism, worms, leprosy, dyspepsia, phlegm and boils.
Nirguṇḍī is classified as a synonym for Sinduvāra by Amarasiṃha in his Amarakośa (a Sanskrit botanical thesaurus from the 4th century). It can also be spelled as Nirguṇṭī.
This plant (Nirguṇḍī) is also mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which forms the first chapter of the Sanskrit work called Mādhavacikitsā.
2) Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) is another name for Śephālikā (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis “night-flowering jasmine”), from the Apocynaceae family. The term is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Carakasaṃhitā. This synonym was identified by Amarasiṃha in his Amarakośa (a Sanskrit botanical thesaurus from the 4th century).
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) is the name of a Kalpa (formulation/therapy) dealt with in a section [=nirguṇḍīkalpaḥ ] of the Gaurīkāñcalikātantra (i.e., “Gauri Kanchalika Tantra”): an ancient Sanskrit Shaiva Tantra framed as a dialogue between the God (Śiva) and the Goddess (Śivā). The text deals with spiritual and medical herbalism such as the treatment of fever and diseases in the form of Kalpas, commonly known in Āyurveda as “remedies” or “antidotes”. The Gaurīkāñcalikā-tantra further deals with a variety of harvesting techniques and rules for optimal efficiency in collecting herbs while respecting and preserving the natural environment.
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) or Nirguṇḍīkalpa refers to Kalpa (medicinal preparation) described in the Auṣadhikalpa, as mentioned in A. Rahman’s Science and Technology in Medievel India: A bibliography of source materials in Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian.—Ancient and medieval India produced a wide range of scientific manuscripts and major contributions lie in the field of medicine, astronomy and mathematics, besides covering encyclopedic glossaries and technical dictionaries.—The Auṣadhikalpa is a medical work of the type of Materia Medica giving twenty-six medical preparations [e.g., Nirguṇḍī-kalpa] to be used as patent medicines against various diseases.
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Vitex negundo Linn.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning nirguṇḍī] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) or Nirguṇḍītaila refers to one of the topics discussed in the Madhumatī, a Sanskrit manuscript ascribed to Nṛsiṃha Kavirāja collected in volume 12 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (second series)” by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri.—The Madhumatī manuscript, consisting of 5,586 ślokas (metrical verses), is housed in Dhaka with Babu Bhagavancandra Dasa Kaviraja. It seemingly addresses topics related to Medicinal, Herbal, and Iatrochemical preparations. The catalogue includes the term Nirguṇḍī-taila in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—nirguṇḍītailavidhānañca.
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
1) Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) is another name for Nīlanirguṇḍī, the blue variety of Sinduvāra, a medicinal plant identified with Vitex negundo Linn. (or ‘chaste tree’) from the Lamiaceae or “mint” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.153-154 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 Nirguṇḍī and Nīlanirguṇḍī, there are a total of eight Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
2) Nirgundi in the Marathi language is the synonym name for Sinduvāra itself, according to verse 4.151-152. Other than the Marathi word Nirgundi, there are more synonyms identified for this plant among which eighteen are in Sanskrit.
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) or Nirguṇḍikā refers to an herbal ingredient which is included in a (snake) poison antidote recipe, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā, which represents the Ayurvedic study on Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Kāśyapa prescribes various antidotes to quell the poison by administering them through nasal drugs, collyrium, ointment, herbal drinks and diet. According to Kāśyapasaṃhitā (verse VIII.99)—“A paste of Iśvarā [Īśvarī], Kadalī, Nāgī, Candana, Ghanasvinī and Nirguṇḍī also work as effective nasal application and ointment taken either separately or together”.
Note: Īśvarā, Nāgī and Nirguṇḍī belong to the Arkādi and Surasādi Gaṇas respectively while Kadalī and Candana or Candra are sourced from Lodhrādi and Śārivādi Gaṇas, all of them being extensively used for curing poisons and their side effects like thirst, bleeding, phlegm, doubling up as germicides and disinfectants.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी).—The Sanskrit name for an important Ayurvedic drug combination.—Nirguṇḍī is pungent, bitter, hot, pacifies kapha and vāta and destroys worms. Its leaf-juice is useful in kuṣṭha, oedema and āmavāta (theumatoid arthritis).
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)
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) is the name of a plant which is used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.14:—“[...] with Nirguṇḍī flowers (kusuma), his mind becomes pure (nirmalatā) in the world. A hundred thousand Bilva leaves used for worship will secure the fulfilment of all desires (sarvakāma). [...] Karavīra flowers measure three times that. Scholars say that the flowers of Nirguṇḍī too measure likewise. In Karṇikāra and Śirīṣa flowers too, the same mode of calculation holds good. Ten prasthas of Bandhujīva flowers constitute a hundred thousand. [...] The devotee shall perform the worship of Śiva with different flowers after considering these modes of calculation for the fulfilment of desires if he has any or for the sake of salvation if he has no desire”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Nirgundi [निर्गुंडी] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Vitex negundo L. from the Verbenaceae (Verbena) family. For the possible medicinal usage of nirgundi, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Nirgundi [निर्गुंडी] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Vitex trifolia L. from the Verbenaceae (Verbena) family.
1) Nirgundi in India is the name of a plant defined with Alectra parasitica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices.
2) Nirgundi is also identified with Justicia gendarussa It has the synonym Ecbolium gendarussa Kuntze (etc.).
3) Nirgundi is also identified with Vitex negundo It has the synonym Agnus-castus negundo (L.) Carrière (etc.).
4) Nirgundi is also identified with Vitex trifolia It has the synonym Vitex integerrima (L.) Mill. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Economic Botany (1967)
· Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. (Bolivia) Com. (1990)
· Acta Horti Gothoburgensis (1934)
· The Verbenaceae of the Malayan Archipelago (1919)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1983)
· Taxon (1980)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Nirgundi, for example chemical composition, health benefits, pregnancy safety, side effects, extract dosage, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
nirguṇḍī (निर्गुंडी).—f S pop. nirguṇḍa f or nirgūḍa f or nirguḍī f A shrub, Vitex negundo or trifolia. It is distinguished into kātarī nirguḍī & sādī nirguḍī. The leaves are used in fumigations.
nirguṇḍī (निर्गुंडी).—f nirguṇḍa f nirgūḍa f or nirguḍī f A shrub, vitex negundo or trifolia.
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
1) Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी):—nirguRqI a f. ([Suśruta]) Vitex Negundo
2) Nirguṇḍi (निर्गुण्डि):—f. ([Suśruta]) Vitex Negundo
3) Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी):—nirguRqI b f. the root of a lotus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी):—(ṇḍī) 3. f. A shrub, Vitex negundo; root of the lotus.
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी):—f. Name eines Strauchs, Vitex Negundo Lin., [Amarakoṣa 2, 4, 2, 49.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1147.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 181.] [Medinīkoṣa ḍ. 30.] [Ratnamālā 110.] [Halāyudha 2, 45.] [Suśruta 2, 216, 16. 368, 3.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 53, 114.] ṇḍi [Suśruta 2, 107, 14. 325, 20. 505, 11.] Nach [Amarakoṣa 2, 4, 2, 51] ist nirguṇḍī auch = śephālikā, nach [Medinīkoṣa] = nīlaśephālī; st. nālāśephālī ist [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] nīlī śe zu lesen; nach [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] bedeutet das Wort auch Lotuswurzel.
Nirguṇḍi (निर्गुण्डि):—(metrisch) und ṇḍī f. —
1) Vitex Negundo. —
2) ṇḍī Lotuswurzel.
Nirguṇḍī (निर्गुण्डी) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇigguṃḍī.
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
Nirguṃḍi (ನಿರ್ಗುಂಡಿ):—[noun] the tree Vitex negundo of Verbenaceae family.
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Nirguṃḍi (ನಿರ್ಗುಂಡಿ):—[noun] a particular custom followed by jaina mendicants.
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Nīrguṃḍi (ನೀರ್ಗುಂಡಿ):—[noun] a pit or depression where water is stagnated.
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)
Starts with: Nirgundi bandaka, Nirgundi vandaka, Nirgundika, Nirgundikala, Nirgundikalpa, Nirgundikaparna, Nirgundikusuma, Nirgundimaricadi, Nirgundimula, Nirgundipallava, Nirgundipan, Nirgundiparna, Nirgundipushpa, Nirgunditaila.
Full-text (+88): Nilanirgundi, Nirgunti, Nirgunditaila, Pancabhringa, Nirgundikalpa, Nirgundimula, Nirgundikusuma, Niggundi, Nirgundipushpa, Surasashta, Sinduvara, Nirgundipallava, Kali-nirgundi, Nirgundiparna, Nirgundi vandaka, Nirgundi bandaka, Shephalika, Niragunda, Niragudi, Niraguda.
Relevant text
Search found 38 books and stories containing Nirgundi, Nirgumdi, Nirguṃḍi, Nīrguṃḍi, Nirguṇḍī, Nirguṇḍi, Nīrguṇḍi, Nirgundis; (plurals include: Nirgundis, Nirgumdis, Nirguṃḍis, Nīrguṃḍis, Nirguṇḍīs, Nirguṇḍis, Nīrguṇḍis, Nirgundises). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 14 - Directions for the worship of Śiva < [Section 2.1 - Rudra-saṃhitā (1): Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa]
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Chapter 279 - The description of the potent remedies (siddha-auṣadha)
Chapter 286 - Collection of medical recipes (kalpa-sāgara)
Chapter 298 - The treatment for the poison due to snakes such as the Gonasa
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 6: Kunthu’s initiation < [Chapter I - Śrī Kunthusvāmicaritra]
International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga
A Comprehensive Literary Review On The Krimighna (Anthelmintic) Effect Of... < [Vol. 4 No. 9: SEP (2021)]
Nirgundi Oil: A Potential Therapeutic Agent For Managing Diabetic Wound. < [Vol. 4 No. 1: Jan (2021)]
A Comparative Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effect of Jatamansi churna and... < [Vol. 7 No. 1: Jan (2024)]
A Metallurgical Study of Nāga Bhasma < [Volume 36 (issue 4), Apr-Jun 2017]
Evaluation of sahacharadi and nirgundi tailas in poliomyelitis. < [Volume 8 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 1988]
Clinical evaluation of nirgundi taila in the management of sandhivata < [Volume 23 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 2003]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
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