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GHRITA YOGAS IN VISHAVAIDYA JYOTSNIKA: A REVIEW

Article in Journal of Biological and Scientific Opinion · September 2018

DOI: 10.7897/2321-6328.06490

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 Krishnapriya S et al. Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion  Volume 6 (4). 2018

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Review Article
GHRITA YOGAS IN VISHAVAIDYA JYOTSNIKA: A REVIEW
Krishnapriya S 1, Pavan K Sreerudran 1, Gazala Hussain 2
1
Post Graduate Scholar, Dept. of Agada Tantra, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda & Hospital,
Hassan, India
2
Associate Professor, Dept. of Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of
Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan, India
*Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

Article Received on: 01/09/18 Accepted on: 24/09/18

DOI: 10.7897/2321-6328.06490

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda has eight branches, one among them is Agada Tantra. It deals with the management of various poisons. For the management of poisons
various recipes have been mentioned, among them Ghrita kalpa is one dosage form. Ghrita (Ghee) plays an important role in the management of
visha (poison). Once the visha (poison) enters into the hrudaya (heart) it destroys the life of the person. Ghrita (Ghee) protects the heart from the
effect of visha (poison) by doing avarana (a protective layer) of it. Hridayavarana is explained in the treatise of Ayurveda- Charaka samhita. Honey,
ghee, bone marrow, milk, red juice squeezed out of the meat of cow is given for the protection of heart.

KEY WORDS: Ghrita, visha, visha vaidya jyotsnika

INTRODUCTION teacher to the pupil called as guru shishya sampradaya. Rare

books were available during that time that dealt with the
The substance that causes sadness to the world is called visha management of visha, and one among that is Vishavaidya
(poison). As the world becomes despaired at the sight of it, it Jyotsnika. Vishavaidya jyotsnika reconfirms its relevance as it
was called visha1 (poison). Poison is a substance which when narrates about the ancient tradition of visha vaidya sampradaya
introduced into or applied to the body is capable of injuring along with mantra chikitsa which was written in the local
health or destroying life. It causes damage to tissues, illness or language Malayalam. The word meaning of vishavaidya
death to the organism2. Ancient visha vaidyas (physicians who jyotsnika is moonlight that gives the eternal happiness from
treated poisonous cases) treated poisonous cases by dhyana heart3. This book deals with various yogas (formulations) for the
(meditation), mantra (chanting of hymns), oushada (medicine), management of poisons bites and stings. Among these
etc. which they learned from their gurus. It has been a tradition formulations Ghrita kalpas hold an important place as they
of visha chikitsa that the knowledge was passed on through the protect the heart from the ill effects of poison.

Table 1: Ghrita yogas in Visha Vaidya Jyotsnika

Sl. No Name of the Ingredients Indications

Formulation
1 Ekanayaka mooladi Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction) - Saptachakra (Salacia chinensis), Durva Vishaja vrana
neiyyu4 (Cynodon dactylon), Malati (Jasminum grandiflorum) leaves, lemon (Citrus (ulcer due to poison) due to
limon) juice. Same drugs for kalka (paste) also mandali sarpa damsha
(viper snake bite)
2 Pankthiprasoonadi Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction) - Sahadevi (Vernonia cinerea), Vrana (wound) shodhana
neiyyu5 Akkukarni (Ipomea reniformis), Vishnukranti ( Evolvulus alsinoides), Durva and ropana (cleansing and
(Cynodon dactylon), Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba), Lakshmana (Ipomea obscura), healing of wound)
Musali (Curculigo orchioides), Samanga (Biophythum sensitivum), Bhadra Kalka of the ghrita is used
(Aerva lanata), Indravalli (Cardiospermum halicacabum) for external application in
Kalka dravyas (drugs for paste)- Kupilu (Strychnos nux- vomica) leaves, mandali sarpa damsha
Haridra (Curcuma longa), Dineshavalli (Ventilago madraspatana), Tamboola (Viper bite)
patra (Piper betal), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Sariva (Hemidesmus
indicus), Aghori ( Flacourtia indica), root of Nili ( Indigofera tinctoria), Vacha
(Acorus calamus), Chandana (Santalum album), Raktachandana (Pterocarpus
santalinus)
3 Nilikadi ghrita6 Nili leaves (Indigofera tinctoria), Tanduliyaka (Amaranthus amara) Gara visha
(artificial poison)
7
4 Amalppori ghrita Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), All types of poison
Eswari moola (Aristolochia indica)
Kalka (drugs for paste)- Trikatu paste (Paste of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum),
Long Pepper (Piper longum) and the rhizomes of Ginger (Zingiber officinale))

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 Krishnapriya S et al. Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion  Volume 6 (4). 2018

5 Nili ghrita 8 Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Nili (Indigofera tinctoria), Nimba Sarpa (snake bite),
(Azadirachta indica), Karanja (Pongamia glabra) Mooshika visha (Rat
Kalka dravya (drugs for paste)- Nili (Indigofera tinctoria), Vacha (Acorus poison)
calamus), Vyosha (Paste of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Long Pepper (Piper
longum) and the rhizomes of Ginger (Zingiber officinale)), Nisadwaya
(Curcuma longa and Coscinium fenestratum), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza
glabra), Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica), Saindhava (Rock salt),
Aswagandha (Withania somnifera), Tagara (Valeriana wallichii), Chandana
(Santalum album), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Paata (Cyclia peltata), Eswara
moola (Aristolochia Indica )
6 Brahmi ghrita9 Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) All diseases due to visha
Kalka dravya (drugs for paste)- Lasuna (Allium sativum), Jiraka (Cuminum (poison), shula (pain),
cyminum), Krishna jeeraka (Carum carvi), Saindhava (Rock salt), Eswarimoola dysphagia
(Aristolochia Indica), Pata (Cyclia peltata), Haridrayugma (Curcuma longa
and Coscinium fenestratum), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Vyosha (Paste of Black
Pepper (Piper nigrum), Long Pepper (Piper longum) and the rhizomes of
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)), Yavasha (Tragia involucrata), Katuki (Picrorhiza
kurroa), Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), Pathya (Terminalia chebula),
Hingu (Ferula narthex), Chandana (Santalum album)
7 Patadi ghrita10 Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Paata (Cyclia peltata), Darvi Mandali visha (Viper bite),
(Coccinium fenestratum), Patola (Tricosanthes dioica), Parpataka (Fumaria Apasmara
vaillantii), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Katuki (epilepsy)
(Picrorhiza kurroa ), Yavasha (Tragia involucrata)
Kalka dravya (drugs for paste)- Chandana (Santalum album), Musta (Cyperus
rotundus), Brihati (Solanum indicum), Pippali (Piper longum), Kutaja
(Holarrhena antidysenterica), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
8 Amarimooladi Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Nili (Indigofera tinctoria), All types of visha
ghrita11 Kalka dravya- root of Nili (Indigofera tinctoria) especially paittika
9 Karalakamavalpori Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Karalaka (Aristolochia indica), Mooshika visha (Rat
ghrita12 Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina) poison)
Kalka dravya (drugs for paste)- Shunti (Zingiber oficinalis), Maricha (Piper
nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum)
10 Kottamkumizhadi Kashaya dravya (drugs for decoction)- Kushta ( Saussurea lappa), Gambari Visha (Poison)
ghritam13 (Gmelina arborea)
Kalka dravya (drugs for paste)- Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Draksha (Vitis
vinifera),
Gomutra (Cow’s urine)

DISCUSSION In all types of poisons, administration of ghrita helps in relieving

the visha gunas and thereby will be useful in the management of
The practice of Visha chikitsa (treatment of poisons) has its visha (poison).
presence in Kerala since centuries. In the landscape of the state CONCLUSION
the snakebite was common and hence visha chikitsa flourished
in this part of the world. A wide range of literature are available Ghrita (ghee) plays a significant role in the management of
concerned with visha chikitsa reveals its truth14. visha. In all types of poisons use of ghee can be considered as
the first line of treatment. Because of the penetrating action,
In this book ten ghrita yogas (formulations of ghee) are poison weakens the heart; in order to protect it, ghee is
explained for the management of visha (poison). The ghrita administered or mixture of ghee and honey or anti- poisonous
preparations are not just mentioned for the management of visha recipes mixed with ghee by this kapha gets increased in the
but are also indicated in many other conditions. Like Patadi heart15.
ghrita is indicated in conditions of apasmara (epilepsy), pandu
(anaemia), kamala (jaundice), etc. Commonly used drugs for For the management of poison in vishavaidhya jyotsnika ten
the ghrita preparations in these yogas are nili (Indigofera ghrita yogas are mentioned. A few yogas (formulations)
tinctoria), paata (Cyclia peltata), brahmi (Bacopa moneiri), mentioned are also indicated in other diseased conditions and
katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa), chandana (Santalum album), not just in cases of poison. In all types of poisons, administration
eswarimoola (Aristolochia Indica), yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza of ghrita (ghee) helps in relieving the visha gunas (properties of
glabra), vacha (Acorus calamus), musta (Cyperus rotundus), poison) and thereby will be useful in the management of visha
kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica), karanja (Pongamia (poison). As not much clinical documentation has been carried
glabra), haridra (Curcuma longa), durva (Cynodon dactylon), on these formulations, there remains a wide scope for research.
etc.
REFERENCES
Most of the drugs are having sheeta veerya (cold potency),
kashaya tikta rasa (astringent and bitter taste) that helps to 1. Dr. P.V.N.R. Prasad, Illustrated Agada Tantra, Choukamba
reduce the pitta dosha in case of mandali sarpa damsha (viper Sanskrit series office Varanasi, 3rd edition, 2016, pg no; 2
bite). Ghrita (Ghee) has madhura rasa (sweet taste), guru 2. Dr. P.V.N.R. Prasad, illustrated Agada Tantra, Choukamba
(heavy) and snigdha guna (unctuous property) and sheeta veerya Sanskrit series office Varanasi, 3rd edition, 2016, pg no; 3
(cold potency). These properties are opposite to the properties of 3. Dr. Aiswarya , Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika- A review through
poison and probably help in acting as antagonist to the poison. the moonlight, 18 May 2016
4. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English
translation, Department of Agada Tantra Vaidyaratnam P.S
Varrier Ayurveda College Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 63

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 Krishnapriya S et al. Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion  Volume 6 (4). 2018

5. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English 11. C.M Sreekrishnan, visha vaidhya jyotsnika an English
translation, Department of Agada Tantra Vaidyaratnam P.S translation, Department of Agada tantra vaidyaratnam P.S
Varrier Ayurveda College, Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 64 Varrier Ayurveda college Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 98
6. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya jyotsnika an English 12. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English
translation, Department of Agada Tantra Vaidyaratnam P.S translation, Department of Agada tantra vaidyaratnam P.S
Varrier Ayurveda College, Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 94 Varrier Ayurveda college Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 121
7. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English 13. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English
translation, Department of Agada Tantra Vaidyaratnam P.S translation, Department of Agada tantra vaidyaratnam P.S
Varrier Ayurveda College, Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 94 Varrier Ayurveda College Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 122
8. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English 14. Dr. Aiswarya , Visha Vaidhyajyotsnika- A review through
Translation, Department of Agada Tantra Vaidyaratnam P.S the moonlight, 18 May 2016
Varrier Ayurveda College, Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 95
9. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English Cite this article as:
translation, Department of Agada tantra vaidyaratnam P.S
Varrier Ayurveda college Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 96 Krishnapriya S et al. Ghrita yogas in vishavaidya jyotsnika: A
10. C.M Sreekrishnan, Visha Vaidhya Jyotsnika an English review. J Biol Sci Opin 2018; 6(4):91-93.
translation, Department of Agada tantra vaidyaratnam P.S http://dx.doi.org/10.7897/2321-6328.06490
Varrier Ayurveda college Kottakal, 3rd edition, pg no; 97

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