A critical study of the manuscripts of Paryaya Muktavali available at Orissa

Though the Nidana book of Madhavakara has been very popular among Ayurvedic fraternity his other deeds on Dravyaguna, Cikitsa etc. could not come to lime light due to lack of sufficient number of manuscripts for comparison and editing. One such text is Paryaya Muktavali, manuscripts of which are plentily available in the State of Orissa. This modified text redacted by Hari Charana Sena, is a bright example of scribal error and missing of verses which occur during repeated scribe in palm leaf manuscript. This is a lexicon of drugs, which is prime necessity of Dravyaguna and Rasaśastra. Publication of such text will be an addition to the treasure of Ayurvedic texts.

Typical uses of certain common and uncommon plants

The beginning of medicinal uses of plants dates back to the scribing period of Vedas in India. In ancient days, such uses came into vogue due to accidental experimentation or observation which subsequently gave rise to practice either by a qualified physician or by an astrologer or by lay men, called nostrum or folk-lore. All these have their own distinct manner of use though they are very often intermingled. Apart from classical uses as mentioned in Ayurvedic, Unani or Sidha therapeutic treatises, material medica, texts on / pharmacy etc.; the new dimension of collecting additional information started in early part of 20(th) century where on several botanists contributed a lot for exploration of the same.Since Orissa is a treasure of folk-core claims and besides qualified practitioners, certain lay men especially in rural area and tribal area, saints and priests at different places also possess knowledge on certain typical uses of several plants, there is a larger scope to highlight the same for future study from difference angles. In this paper an attempt has been made to highlight certain newer information's on certain common and uncommon plants like Lygodium flexuosum, Vitex peduncularis, Barleria lupulina, Leptadenia reticulate, Selaginella indica, etc., collected from different parts of Orissa.