Rājamṛgāṅka (Ayurveda book)

This article is about a treatise on Ayurveda titled Rājamṛgāṅka. For the book on astronomy with the same title, see Rājamṛgāṅka (astronomy book).

Cover page of Tamil translation of Rajamriganka (Internet Archive))

Rājamṛgāṅka is the title of a treatises in Sanskrit that deals with the preparation of Āyurvedic medicines.[1] Traditionally the authorship of the treatise is attributed to Bhojarāja (d.1055) of the Rajput Paramāra dynasty, rulers of the Malwa region in central/western India. However, modern scholarship attributes the authorship to some anonymous experienced Ayurvedic physician from South India.[2]

The formulation of the Ayurvedic medicine Rajamrgankarasa as given in the Ayurvedic treatise Rājamṛgāṅka (Internet Archive)

There is a tradition according to which the author of the Āyurveda text Rājamṛgāṅka is King Bhoja.[3] King Bhoja is also reputed to be the author of another treatise on Āyurveda titled Rājamārtāṇḍa.[4] According to the V. B. Nataraja Sastry, who critically edited Rājamṛgāṅka before its publication by T.M.S.S.M. Library, the author of Rājamṛgāṅka was most probably an Āyurvedic physician from south India. It is highly likely that this physician may have been a member of a group of physicians gathered together by the King of Tanjore Rajah Serfoji for research on medical sciences.[1]

The treatise gives detailed descriptions of as many as 137 Āyurvedic medicinal formulations of which eight are in the form of rasa-s and the remaining are in the form of cūrṇa-s (powder). The first formulation has been called Rājamṛgāṅkarasaḥ whence the title of the treatise.

## Further reading

[edit]

* For the full text of the book with Tamil translation and with an introduction in both Sanskrit and Tamil: V. B. Nataraja Sastri (1951). Rajamriganka (Critically edited with introduction and translation in Tamil). Tanjore (Thanjavur): Saraswati Mahal Library. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b V. B. Nataraja Sastri. Rajamrganka (2nd ed.). Thanjavur, India: T. M. S. S. M. Library. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
2. ^ V. B. Nataraja Sastri. Rajamrganka (2nd ed.). Thanjavur, India: T. M. S. S. M. Library. p. iii. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
3. ^ V. B. Nataraja Sastri. Rajamrganka (2nd ed.). Thanjavur, India: T. M. S. S. M. Library. p. 25. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
4. ^ Maharaja Bhoja (1924). Rajamartanda. Bombay (Mumbai): Vaidya Jadavji Tricumji Acharya. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

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Ayurveda

Introduction|

* Ancient origin:
* Proto Shiva in Yogic pose, 2350-2000 BCE
* Rigveda, c 1500–1000 BCE
* Indian-origin religions

* Ancient Hindu texts:
* Ayurveda
* Brhat Trayi
* Viswanatha chikitsa
* Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
* Yoga Korunta

* Ancient pioneers:
* Agnivesha
* Ashvins
* Chyavana
* Dhanvantari
* Sushruta
* Patanjali

Eight limbs
(specialised branches)|

* Kāyachikitsā (general practice)
* Kaumāra-bhṛtya (paediatrics)
* Śalya (surgery)
* Śhālākya (ear, nose, and throat)
* Bhūtavidyā (exorcism)
* Agada (antidotes)
* Rasāyana (health tonics)
* Vājīkaraṇa (aphrodisiacs and fertility)

Basic concepts|

* Agni (metabolic fire)
* Dhātu (bodily substances)
* Dosha (bodily humours)
* Mala (bodily wastes)
* Pañcabhūta (five elements)

Substances used|

* Churna (medicinal powder)
* Gomutra (cow urine)
* Herbal preparations
* Polyherbal formulation
* Kaṣāyaṁ (water decoction)
* Sura (alcoholic drink)

Practices|

* Abhyanga (massage)
* Basti (enema)
* Dinacharya (routine)
* Neti (nasal irrigation)
* Oil pulling
* Pulse diagnosis
* Rasaśāstra (alchemy)
* Samskara
* Shodhana
* Sattvic diet
* Svedana (steam bathing)
* Urine therapy
* Yoga as exercise
* Yoga for children
* Yoga for elderly
* Yoga for office
* Yoga for women

Practitioner roles|

* Traditional designations:
* Ashtavaidya
* Guru–shishya tradition
* Yogachara
* Vaidya
* Yogi

* Modern designations:
* AYUSH Medical Officer
* Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
* MD (Ayurveda)

Educational
institutions|

* Ashram
* All India Institute of Ayurveda
* Central Council of Indian Medicine
* Gurukula
* Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga
* North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy
* North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine
* National Institute of Ayurveda at Jaipur
* National Institute of Ayurveda at Punchkula
* National Institute of Siddha
* Yoga teacher training

Works|

* Ashtānga Hridayam
* Charaka Samhita
* Harita Samhita
* Kashyapa Samhita
* Nibandha Samgraha
* Rājamārtaṇḍa
* Rājamṛgāṅka (Ayurveda book)
* Sushruta Samhita
* Viswanatha chikitsa

Organisations|

* Companies
* Sadhana Aushadhalaya (Bangladesh)

* Regulation and management:
* Ministry of AYUSH

* Alliances and NGOs:
* British Wheel of Yoga
* Isha Foundation
* The Yoga Institute
* Yoga Alliance

Prominent people|

* Contemporary:
* Dalhana
* Jeronis de Soysa
* Maya Tiwari

Celebrations
and festivals|

* Hindu festivals related to Yoga:
* Holi
* Navaratri

* Gita Mahotsav
* International Day of Yoga

* Other yoga festivals:
* Santa Fe Yoga Festival
* Wanderlust Festival
* Yoga tourism

Related or inspired
similar systems|

* Indian influence on Southeast Asia
* Jamu
* Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health
* Sri Lankan traditional medicine
* Yoga in the United States

See also|

* Cultural appropriation
* Glossary of Ayurveda
* Greater India
* Indianisation

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