Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu & Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of Ayush has successfully revived and published two rare Ayurvedic manuscripts—Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu and Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu—restoring critical links to India’s ancient pharmacopeial heritage.

Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu (1480 AD)

• Author: Mudgala Paṇḍita
• Significance:
  • A previously unpublished Ayurvedic lexicon in 18 chapters.
  • Provides extensive details on drug synonyms, therapeutic actions, and medicinal properties.
  • Synthesizes classical works like the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu and Raja Nighaṇṭu, while introducing novel substances of plant, mineral, and animal origin.
  • Was widely used in Maharashtra until the 19th century, offering insights into regional practices and materia medica.

Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu

• Attributed to: Bhisma Vaidya
• Nature: A standalone appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu.
• Focus: Specializes in the homonyms of drug and plant names—an often confusing but critical area in Ayurvedic pharmacology.
• Structure: 182 verses + 2 colophon verses.
• Editorial Contributions:
  • Edited and annotated by Dr. Kamat, enhancing its relevance for modern practitioners and scholars of:
    • Rasashastra (Alchemy and Mineral Medicine)
    • Bhaishajya Kalpana (Pharmaceuticals)
    • Classical Ayurvedic pharmacology

(Source: PIB)