A review article on rājamārtāṇḍa, a great work on āyurveda by the king bhoja

Summary of article contents:

The Rājamārtāṇḍa , an influential text on Āyurveda , authored by King Bhoja in the 11 th century, is a concise compendium of practical medicinal formulations known for its accessibility and relevance to general practitioners. Also called Yogasārasañgraha or Nānāvidha-Yogasañgraha , this work organizes therapeutic recipes into 34 chapters covering all eight branches of Āyurveda , with one chapter uniquely dedicated to veterinary medicine. Designed for ease of use, Rājamārtāṇḍa provides over 450 formulations that address a wide array of ailments, from common conditions to specific cosmetic treatments, making it an accessible manual for practitioners and students alike. Notably, King Bhoja’s scholarly contributions extend beyond medicine to fields like astronomy, philosophy, and literature, attesting to his intellectual prowess. Distinctive features of Rājamārtāṇḍa include its emphasis on formulation simplicity and the exclusion of extensive etiological discussions, focusing instead on practical, symptombased recipes. Bhoja often employs analogies, such as treatments yielding a “goldlike radiance” to the skin, and uses rare synonyms for diseases and herbs, reflecting his literary sophistication. Each chapter is crafted with limited formulations, ranging from monoherbal to complex recipes, facilitating ease of study and practice for novices and seasoned practitioners alike. This study aims to revive interest in Rājamārtāṇḍa’s practical applications and encourage further clinical research to validate its efficacy, thus reaffirming its place as an invaluable resource in traditional and integrative medical practice. Keywords: R