In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Vandhyākarkoṭakī (वन्ध्याकर्कोटकी) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Momordica dioica (spiny gourd) from the Cucurbitaceae or “gourd family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.61-63 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. Vandhyākarkoṭakī is commonly known in Hindi as Van-Kakoḍa or Kheksā; in Marathi as Benza or Kartolī; in Gujarati as Bazā-kantolā; in Bengali as Tit-kankrol or Ban-karelā; and in Kannada as Madhagal.

Vandhyākarkoṭakī is mentioned as having nineteen synonyms: Vandhyā, Devī, Vandhyākarkoṭakā, Nāgarāti, Nāgahantrī, Manojñā, Pathyā, Divyā, Putradātrī, Sukandā, Śrīkandā, Kandavallī, Īśvarī, Sugandhā, Sarpadamanī, Viṣakaṇṭakinī, Varā, Kumārī and Bhūtahantrī.

Properties and characteristics: “Vandhyā-Karkoṭakī has bitter (tikta) and pungent (kaṭu) rasa and hot (uṣṇa) potency. It allays kapha-doṣa and is antidote to poisons. It is also rejuvinating (rasāyanī)”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Karkotaki, Vandhya.

Full-text (+10): Bhutahantri, Sarpadamani, Putrada, Manojna, Nagahantri, Nagarati, Pathya, Sugandha, Sukanda, Vandhya, Shrikanda, Vandhyakarkotaka, Vishakantakini, Kandavalli, Kumari, Kheksa, Kartoli, Madhagal, Benza, Van-Kakoda.

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