Vedic Research Articles

REVIEW OF CYPRUS ROTUNDUS LINN (MUSTA)

Cyperus rotundus belonging to Cyperaceae family is commonly known as Motha. A lot of descriptions and various uses regarding this plant are available in our Vedic literature, Nighantu and Samhitas since long years ago. It is a perennial herb about 0.33 to 1meter tall. It is found throughout India. It grows gregariously in aquatic and sub-aquatic regions. So, it is named Musta. It has been explained in our classical text that a single drug has a potent ability to cure multiple diseases. This article provides a review on medicinal uses and various properties of Cyperus rotundus. Musta is used to treat several maladies like fever, digestive system disorders, dysmenorrhea, Lipid disorder. Hence, we can say that it is one of the potential medicinal plants mentioned in our classics. Musta having several pharmacological actions likes anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-emetic, anti-pyretic, analgesic, carminative and also having hypolipidaemic activity.

‘Inside this membrane is Us. Beyond the membrane, Them’: Spatiality in Amruta Patil and Devdutt Pattanaik’s Aranyaka: Book of the Forest

Forests have always occupied a significant position as places of exile, transformation and retreat in the epics, myths and folklores that are popular in India. A journey into the forest, as depicted in most of these narratives, is often deployed as a metaphor for epistemological pursuits and also symbolizes a peregrination into the subconscious or the inner self. The graphic novel Aranyaka: Book of the Forest (2019) is a joint creative venture by the Indian graphic novelist Amruta Patil and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, in which they borrow a thin thread of the story from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and weave layers of Puranic tales, Vedic philosophy, feminist perspectives and ecological consciousness to create a rich tapestry of metaphors and meanings. Aranyaka (‘of the forest’) is a graphic retelling of the life of the Indian sage Yajnavalkya, his wives, Katyayani and Maitreyi, and of his disciple, Gargi. The forest is not a mere exotic location or an ideal backdrop in which the story of the sage and the three women unfolds. As the title denotes, the forestscape assumes a central role in this graphic narrative and hence it is pertinent to looking into how the forest shapes and is shaped by the narrative. The article hence proposes that the forest is imagined and visualized as a heterotopia in this graphic text. It brings Yajnavalkya’s unscholarly wife Katyayani to the forefront and weaves a story through her words and imagination. The article also strives to foreground the liminal and gendered spaces represented in the narrative. The article therefore offers a critical reading of Aranyaka and explores the spatial dimensions represented in it.

Funeral Practice of the Sapalli Culture in the Reflection of Vedic Texts

Northern Bactria in the Bronze Age became the arena of complex processes of interaction between the local population and the world of the Eurasian steppes. During this period, the early urban agricultural Sapalli culture, where the contacts of the two traditions were reflected not only in material but also in spiritual culture, developed and functioned on the territory of the south of modern Uzbekistan. Based on the results of studies of the burial grounds of Bustan VI–VII, the first-time attempt to verify the funeral rite with the written sources of the ancient Indo-Aryans and Indo-Iranians was made in the present work. The chosen approach made it possible to solve simultaneously several problems: to clarify the path of advancement of the Indo-Aryan tribes to India; trace one of the ideological foundations of the formation of the Bactrian civilization; illustrate the impact on the local environment of the steppe ethnos represented by the Andronovo population, identified with the Indo-Aryans. The results of the realized work allow us to speak about the significant presence of the Aryan tradition in Sapalli society and the emergence of new forms of funeral rituals. The changed mythological and ritual statements in cosmogonic representations have established as their main constant the maintenance of universal balance and order, carried out through a system of sacrifices, the highest of which at the final stage of life was a person.

वैदिक एवं लौकिक संस्कृत साहित्य में कृषि विज्ञान: वर्तमान में प्रासंगिकता

Vedic literature is the root of all knowledge. It is impossible to do anything without knowledge. All types of knowledge and sciences like chemistry, biology, physics, geography, agriculture, medical science etc. are the contribution of Vedic literature. On the basis of all these sciences, a person is making double and quadruple progress day and night. But here in the research paper, an attempt has been made to provide some guidance about agricultural science because this topic is so vast that it cannot be covered completely in the research paper. Therefore, I will try to discuss some important points.

Проблема выразимости невыразимого: слово-звук, сознание и реальность в индийской мысли

For traditional Indian philosophy, which tends to establish its identity on the basis of the rationally incognizable Absolute (Ātman, Brahman), the verbal expressibility of the latter is one of the central issues. In fact, what is at stake here, is an attitude to language, trust or distrust in its capacity to be a tool for transmitting the experience of reality, which for the Indian tradition is of the highest soteriological and metaphysical value. Namely, it is the experience characteristic of the culminating transpersonal states of meditation and yogic practices, as well as at the moment of unio mystica (between a believer and the personal God). The best way to point to such states is to demonstrate their radical otherness in comparison with everyday speech behaviour (vyavahāra) and discursive ways of reporting it. That is why, the apophatic approach is used, meanwhile, that does not exclude the applicability of its cataphatic opposite. In the first part of the paper, the author emphasizes a tendency to privilege the apophatic approach (‘not that, not that’) to the definition of Brahman on the example of some mahāvākya (‘great sayings’) from the Upaniṣhads. In the second part, the author elucidates a phenomenon of phonocentrism, characteristic of traditional Indian culture, taking as example an incarnation of the goddess Vāk (Speech) in Vedic literature and in Tantrism. The third part is devoted to Bhartṛihari’s (ca.V century A.D.) concepts of ‘linguistic monism’ (śabda-advaita), and of the three-part speech, and their culmination in Kashmiri Shaivism. The author shows that in Bharitṛhari and Kashmiri’ s expressibility and inexpressibility of vocalized speech does not presuppose the recognition of a separate reality of object referred to by it (correspondence principle), but varied within the boundaries of the word (śabda) itself as identical to the dynamic nature of Brahman constituted by potencies (śakti).

A Witchcraft-related cases in India during the Outbreak of Covid 19 Pandemic


 Abstract
 In India the belief in witches is a phenomenon that is linked to specific elements both of Hindu cults, whose devotional expressions and folkloric elements are rooted in the Vedic texts, and the belief systems of some indigenous communities. Indeed, although influenced by the expressions of the Hindu faith, these groups have retained specific characteristics, in which magical elements like the relationship with evil powers, from which the belief in witchcraft practices derives, are paramount. However, a study of witch-hunting episodes must also consider the social dimension in which they occur, as scholars working on this subject over the last decades did. Most witch hunts occur within closed social systems, based on patriarchy (or which have undergone patriarchalization processes in recent decades) and affected by Hinduization and tribalization. Finally, the analysis of beliefs in witchcraft helps to unveil the power relations that underlie these beliefs. On the one hand, this paper aims to reflect on the religious roots of the belief in witches, without neglecting the possible interpretations just mentioned above; on the other hand, it aims to present an initial assessment of the incidence of the phenomenon in 2020, at a particularly dramatic historical moment marked by the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. The data presented are partial but indicative as they have been collected through daily monitoring of the main Indian newspapers in English and some national and local newspapers in Hindi.

PMPD Perspective on Environment and Development

People’s Multiparty Democracy (PMPD) is a creative thought of redefining Marxism in the twenty-first century. It advocates for multiparty competition, the rule of law, and supremacy through competition for leadership. It is also characterized by social justice, human rights, and economic equality. PMPD respects the embedded relationships between women and nature and internalizes the harmony between people and the environment for sustainable development. It acknowledges diversity and differences in society and environment, claiming that colonialism and neoliberalism have commodity nature and destroyed biodiversity, and displaced communities depending on natural resources. Further, it amplifies the access and control of resources to the local people and is utilized with the values as argued in Vedic philosophy, and utilizes the environmental resources with due recognition to the needs of future generations.

Samidhā: A Review

Yagya holds a central place within Indian culture, and its meticulous execution is delineated in scriptures, characterized by attentiveness and devotion. The term Samidh or Samidha refers to wood utilized in Yagya rituals. The Buddhist and Zoroastrian cultures also recognize the samidhā as firewood and use them in fire rituals. Scriptures have clear instructions on the size of samidhā and categorize them as per the requirements of the traditions. Samidhā's role in Yagya encompasses its spiritual and philosophical significance, wood types, quality, and usage. This paper reviews its meaning in the broader context of Yagya, discussing its spiritual, scriptural, material, ayurvedic, and astrological aspect. Drawing from Vedic texts, Puranas, and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, the article highlights samidhā's symbolic connection to divine energy and cosmic balance. Specific samidhā types, such as Durva grass and Chandan, are explored for their ritual and medicinal applications. The astrological relevance of samidhā usage is discussed, suggesting its influence on energy equilibrium. The research underscores the holistic wisdom of Samidha embedded in ancient Vedic traditions and the potential to revive this knowledge for promoting well-being and spiritual harmony.

Gardening as Activism: Cultivating Human Minds in A Gardener in Wasteland

Jotiba Phule’s Gulamgiri (1873), which is widely translated as Slavery, equates casteism with slavery. His book carefully deconstructs the Vedic scriptures, which make up the largest chunk of central religious texts in Hinduism, in order to expose the latent hypocrisy and the conspiracy of Brahminical ideology to dominate a section of society. Gulamgiri was the radical manifesto of the social reform society called Satyasodhak Samaj, founded by Phule in 1873 along with his wife Savitribai Phule. Aparajita Ninan and Srividya Natarajan’s graphic novel A Gardener in the Wasteland: Jotiba Phule’s Fight for Liberty (2011), by revisiting Jotiba Phule’s ground-breaking text Gulamgiri, examines the contemporaneity and the continuity of caste issues and thus attempts a conversation between the past and the present historical reality of casteism. The present study focuses on the centrality of the metaphor of the garden in highlighting the gravity of the caste problem and its larger implications in the lives of India’s marginalised Dalit community. By focusing on the physical aspects of gardening, this paper touches upon Dalit eco-literary concerns and brings to the fore the role of labour that defines the relationship between Dalit bodies and nature. It also aims to capture Natarajan and Ninan’s contribution to Phule’s task of metaphorical gardening, thus becoming co-gardeners in distant time and space.

Re-conceptualizing the villain: Todd Phillips’s Joker through the lens of Vedic hermeneutics

This article attempts to examine the portrayal of the character of Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips’s Joker (2019). In the initial part of the film, Arthur exhibits signs that reveal he is headed towards committing a violent crime. Arthur displays signs of psychopathy and a lack of empathy. This article links criminal behaviour analysis to the Bible of the Arya Samaj, an Indian text, to find out how ancient Indian literature’s empirical theories, which are intertwined with philosophical and religious content, shed light on criminal behaviour. The primary purpose of this article is to analyse the behavioural pattern in the character of Fleck and establish links to Dayanand Saraswati’s Satyarth Prakash, which discusses different types of Avidyas, a key concept in Indian philosophy that can be translated as ignorance or unwisdom, which is seen as a fundamental cause of suffering and bondage. It is certainly a significant factor in a person’s personality and behaviour. The major aim of this character analysis is not only to establish the link between Indian ancient texts and criminological behavioural patterns but also to reconceptualize evil through the lenses of Vedic hermeneutics. Vedic hermeneutics is the study of interpreting and understanding the ancient Vedic texts of Hinduism, where an important aspect is the recognition of different levels of meaning within the texts.

Bhartiya Dharmshastra maen esmirtiyon ki shiksha

Indian religion has been influenced by various traditions, including the Vedic, Vedic, and Buddhist-related texts. The Vedic texts are characterized by religious, social, and personal aspects, while the Buddhist and Jain texts are characterized by the spiritual aspects. The Vedic texts include the Vedic texts of the Vedas, the Vedic texts of the Vedas, the Vedic texts of the Vedas, the Vedic texts of the Vedas, and the Vedic texts of the Vedas. The Vedic texts are characterized by their adherence to the Vedic teachings, their use of the Vedic teachings, and their use of the Vedic teachings in their teachings.

THE UPANIṢADS: THE SACRED TEXTS WHICH SHAPED INDIA AND THE MODERN WEST

The collection of Vedic texts known as the Upaniṣads have exerted a tremendous influence not only upon Indian intellectual and religious history, but upon the modern West as well, through the thought of enthusiasts such as Arthur Schopenhauer and Ralph Waldo Emerson and teachers from India such as Swami Vivekananda. This paper, based upon a book in progress by the author, traces in broad outline the reception of these texts through the centuries. Starting with a broad overview of the texts themselves, it then moves on to the great Vedāntic commentators–ācāryas like Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja–the translation of these texts into languages such as Persian, Latin, French, German, and English, and their reception by major thought leaders in the modern West.

A Single Case Study of Manjisthadi Lepa on Gulpharujakarmarmasandhighata W.S.R to Ankle Sprain

Ayurveda the science of life is the most ancient medical science which has focused primarily on preventive aspect rather than curative aspect, marma science is one of the exclusive and unique concepts of ayurveda, marma are vital and vulnarable areas of our body these areas or points are situated all over the body i.e. head, neck, trunk and extremeties, so knowledge of marma areas is not only essential for individuals for proctecting their vital and vulnerable areas of body from any injury but also for physician and surgeons to save these areas during surgical procedure or any medical interventation. Many references can be found in Vedic literature regarding injury at marma region of soldiers of enemies and protection of one's marma by wearing guards. Marmas are formed by the conglomeration of muscles, vessels, ligaments, tendons, bones and their joints. These marma areas have tridosha, triguna, bhutatma and chetana dhatu, so any injury to these points may cause pain or even death, other symptoms which appear on injury of marma are giddiness, syncope, delusion, semiconciousness, numbness etc
 Demanding lifestyle has boosted the incidence of trauma/soft tissue injury. One among such conditions is sprain with site predominance as Ankle accounting for 75%. Most sprains are sports related injuries and treatment for which is PRICE (pain killers, rest, icepack, compression and elevation) in allied science. In the United States it is estimated that 23,000 people per day, necessitate medical care for ankle sprains including athletes and non-athletes. AchayraSushruta in the context of BhagnaChikitsa explained ManjisthadiLepa to combat Vedana (pain).
 In this case study a patient diagnosed with rujakarmarmkshat of gulphasandhi was treated with a manjisthadilepa application twice a day daily for seven days.assessment of patient was done by scorring pattern. After completion of manjisthadilepa treatment significant relief was observed in symptopms.

EXPLORING WIDOW REMARRIAGE: A STUDY OF VEDIC INDIA

The study revisits the contentious issue of widow remarriage in Vedic India through an in-depth analysis of various passages from Vedic texts and different interpretations posited by scholars. The findings suggest that, while it has been historically viewed marriage as an indissoluble sacrament in Hinduism, evidence regarding widow remarriage is not conclusive. Some scholars argue that widow remarriage, specifically to a deceased husband's brother, was practiced during the Vedic era. This assertion is supported by Rigvedic passages X.18.8 and X.40.2, which purportedly hint at the practice. However, this interpretation is disputed, with some arguing that these passages actually underscore practices of self-sacrifice or 'niyoga' (levirate marriage). The study further explores Atharvavedic verses suggesting the remarriage of a punarbhu or a betrothed woman, not a widow. The research therefore suggests that Vedic texts did not explicitly endorse widow remarriage. It argues for a nuanced understanding of ancient customs and societal norms, highlighting the need for more rigorous and context-sensitive interpretations of Vedic texts.

History of Animal Keeping in Ancient India and it’s Socio-Economic, Scientific Applicability in 21st Century

The human race is a member of the Mammalian class and the Primate Order. So, a human is also an animal. But what differs from other animal species is human wisdom. It is only humans who can domesticate other animals and use them to fulfill different needs. In hunting/gathering hominid societies, animals were rich sources of meat, skin, and bone. But the artistic and curious human mind kept records of his relationship with the animal world through rock paintings from the Upper Paleolithic era. From different centres of human habitats throughout the Indian Sub-Continent, a huge amount of animal remains have been discovered by Archeologists. Apart from kitchen waste which highlights the on-veg food habit of nomadic people, terracotta animal figurines, day-to-day bone tools, ivory and shell ornaments, artifacts etc., pointed out the importance and use of domesticated animals in human life. Animal domestication and husbandry became synonymous with Indian Proto-Historic and Historic civilizations not only economically / militarily but also with religious and cultural traditions. Sheep and goats were first domesticated by South Indian Neolithic men around 2 thousand and five hundred B.C. as sources of milk, wool, meat, leather and other commodities. Today’s Indian domestic fowl originated from red jungle fowl. Seals of Indus civilization were decorated with humped and hump-less bulls, goats, sheep, elephants, and fowl. Vedic Aryans husbanded horses, dogs, sheep, goats, fowl, elephants, cow-bull etc. During the Mauryan era, buffalo was included in the category of dairy cattle. Domestication of animals is not a new thing in human history. The novelty lies in Indian people’s attention and urge for the wellbeing of domesticated animals. Ancient Indian literature like Vedas, CharakSamhita, SushrutSamhita, HaritaSamhita, Agni Purana, Mastya Purana, Artha-Shastra etc. Provide proper guidance on orientation, construction, and purification of animal houses, besides veterinary Ayurvedic and surgical treatment of numerous diseases. In Vedic literature, Cow was considered as the measuring unit of wealth. Cow received the status of “Aghnya” [Not to be killed]. Priests were the first veterinarians of ancient India. Prominent among them were Shalihotra [Earliest expert in Horse medicine and author of “Haya Ayurveda”], Palakapya [Author of “Hasty- Ayurveda”] etc. 6th Century B.C. Indian rulers of Sravasti, Kousambi, and Lichabi kingdoms issued humped bull/cow inscribed coins. During the Indian invasion of Alexander the Great [326 B.C.], a Prince from Punjab presented Cock with engraved silver coins as a form of tribute. Arthashastra mentioned the King’s duty of ensuring enough pasture land near every village. Gopa was accountable for keeping a record of this land. Horses and Elephants were the two main war animals of the Mauryan army. Proper care was given to them. Hurting/killing of any of these species resulted in the death penalty. The third Mauryan Monarch, Asoka, after his conversion to Buddhism, established veterinary hospitals throughout his domain. Ancient Indians were aware of the technique of animal husbandry as well. In short ancient Indian Veterinary Ayurvedic and surgical treatments are effective in curing dysentery, cough, wound, infertility, and different infections besides psychological stress still in the Twenty-First Century. Besides terrestrial animals’ ancient Indian people were aware of the existence of fish, shells, and turtles. It is my aim in this essay to analyze customs, technologies and history of the domestication of animals by ancient Indian people and its socio-economic-scientific applicability in the scenario of the Twenty-First Century. I will utilize both primary and secondary sources to endure this goal.

CONCEPT OF PUNARJANMA (REBIRTH) IN AYURVEDA: A REVIEW

Health is the best source of virtue, wealth, gratification and emancipation. Dharma, Artha, Kaam and Moksha, also called the Purushartha Chatustaya, form the blueprint for human fulfilment. The concept of punarjanma is devised from Vedic literature, explained in Darshanas and popularized by mythology, whereas its evidence is available in Ayurveda. In modern science, no one believes in the existence of the soul or the concept of rebirth. Still, a lot of research has been undergoing to think about whether any such entity exists after death or, even if it exists, how the transmigration of the soul occurs. In Charaka Samhita, while discussing how Atma (Soul) transmigrates from one Sharira to another Sharira, the reason quoted for the transmigration of Atma is because of the Purva Janma Krta Karma. The Preaching of salvation itself provides evidence of rebirth. To believe in the theory of reincarnation, Acharyas said that the person must have faith in the shastras even when they have not perceived or experienced it. So in this article, an effort has been made to explore the hidden truth behind this concept.

Penerapan Nilai-Nilai Pendidikan Agama Hindu Dalam Kitab Nitisastra Untuk Membentuk Perilaku Anak Suputra

Hindu religious education is the implementation and internalization of values originating from the Vedic scriptures and other Hindu religious scriptures. One of the Hindu religious scripture that teaches about how to shape the behavior of superhuman children is the Nitisastra. The purpose of this study was to describe the application of Hindu religious educational values in the Nitisastra scripture to shape the behavior of the superhuman children. The method used is qualitative research, with data collection techniques namely observation, interviews and literature study. The results of the study show that Nitisastra contains knowledge about noble values and views of life in society that are worthy of being used as a way of life. In a family, naturally someone yearns for the birth of an ideal son according to the teachings of Hinduism, namely the son of suputra. A child who is virtuous, intelligent, wise, and proud of his family can be called a son of a son. The Nitisastra scripture can be used as a guide for parents to educate their children, because nowadays there are many cases of children who do not respect their parents. The Nitisastra scripture explains that the role of the family (father and mother) is to educate and shape the behavior of the sons of suputra so that one day they will be able to become the next generation.

Science Embedded Vedic Philosophy and Educational Implications

This study focuses on the Vedas, considering the earliest literary record of Hindu philosophy, a number of concepts related to science are found embedded in the Vedic texts, and there are many its educational implications for Nepal. The Veda is the original scripture containing spiritual as well as scientific knowledge encompassing all aspects of human life. The main aim of this study is to find out the certain concepts of science in Vedic scripture and see their educational implications. The scientific notion embedded in the Veda has been searched with a hermeneutic approach from Vedic hymns and commentaries. The ancient seers had recognised the scientific value of natural forces and they commended them as deities. Beyond this, they have formulated the universal law of heavenly forces and human beings. Moreover, the Veda is accepted as the most ancient and sacred text that has been guiding not only the cultural, religious and spiritual lives of Hindu people but also their thinking, inquiry and wisdom, encouraging its readers for social harmony, balance and multiplicity. And therefore, we recommend scientific ideas from the Vedic texts should be incorporated in the school curriculum of Nepal.

Search Engine on Vedas

The Search Engine on Vedas Project is an effort to create a comprehensive and user-friendly search engine for the vast corpus of Vedic literature. The project involves digitizing and indexing a diverse range of Vedic texts, including hymns, rituals, commentaries, and translations, and developing a user-friendly interface that allows efficient searching and browsing. The search engine employs advanced search algorithms, such as natural language processing and machine learning, to enable users to search for specific keywords, phrases, or concepts within the Vedic texts. The interface is designed to be intuitive and customizable, with options for filtering and sorting search results based on various criteria, such as author, type of text, language, and publication date. The project also includes interactive features, such as multimedia resources, glossaries, and forums, to facilitate a more engaging and immersive user experience. Additionally, the search engine aims to provide a platform for collaborative research and knowledge-sharing among scholars and enthusiasts of Vedic literature.

Exploration of Curcumin against Various Biological Disorders: Mechanism of Action and Pharmacotherapeutics

Abstract: Synthetic drug usage has risen substantially, although plant-based medicines are more appropriate in terms of adverse effects. Through the classical era, humans relied on Phyto moieties to cure several illnesses, the most common of which is curcumin, the main phenol derived from the various varieties of turmeric. Its therapeutic and medicinal qualities are described in the Vedic Scriptures and Chinese medicine. Curcumin has been widely researched for its pleiotropic action, which includes anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The manuscript aims to describe the sources, properties, and pharmacological activities of curcumin. Turmeric is grown in entire India and curcumin is a major phytoconstituent of turmeric. It has pharmacological activities like antioxidant, analgesic, anticarcinogenic, chemo-preventive, anti-inflammatory, chemo-therapeutic, antifungal, antibacterial, antitumor, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antiapoptotic, and immunomodulatory activities. Curcumin has been recommended in various research to have anticancer effects on several biochemical pathways associated with metastatic disease, cell cycle regulation, and so on. It can be concluded from the findings of the pieces of literature that curcumin is an important phytoconstituent and has the potential to treat various biological disorders. Curcumin’s anti-tumor efficacy is the most prominent research activity being carried by the researchers world-wide. In the present review, the authors have summarized the important pharmacological activities of curcumin and the mechanism of action involved to forecast the pharmacotherapeutic effect like for anticancer effect (suppression of NF-KB, intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, PKC inhibition and many more), for anti-viral effect (Interfering Genomic Replication, Inhibiting Virus attachment, Activation of cellular signaling Pathways, etc.), for Anti-diabetic (AMPK activation, Decreased liver fat deposition, etc.), for neuroprotective effect (Increased p-Akt and p-mToR levels, Reducing p-p338, LC-II/LC-I, p-38 levels, etc.) and for other activities also like antibacterial, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant.