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Namah Principles of plant taxonomy
G. Names denoting important events the leaves of which are used as vegetables; its
mature stem is a blackish-green in colour; it
Bodhidruma is the name of the Sacred Fig tree has no thorns; it has a bitter taste; it promotes
because the Buddha became enlightened good health and imparts longevity and is
under this tree. beneficial in action; cattle love to eat its
leaves; it is capable of rejuvenating itself from
H. Names associated with mythology the cut bits of the stem; and its fibrous shoot
was used in surgery for suturing. This is the
1. Guduchi is also known as amrrtasambhava description of this plant. Now let us look at
because it is believed that it originated from the different names of this plant given by the
ambrosia. ancient Indian aacara yas (17).
2. Pinus deodara, popularly known as devadāru The very name gudduci is derived from the
is also known as indravrkr sas because in Indian root word ‘gudd’ which means ‘to guard
mythology it is said to be the tree of Indra, or protect or preserve’. This indicates the
King of the Celestials. high potentiality of the plant. The names,
amrtr avallī, amrtr avallarī, amrtr alatā, somavallī and
Thus, we see that the ancient Indian aca aaryas somalatikā indicate its life-giving properties
had a keen sense of observation which guided and nourishing ability. The name mannddalī
them in naming and classifying plants. We see indicates that the stems of this plant entwines
that although a plant may have many names, in a circular fashion; kundn ad lī indicates that the
one of its names is used prominently and all stem gets entangled while it twines; nāgakumārī
others are its synonyms. So the prominent indicates that the stem has a twining nature
or most popular name is the pradhānanāma comparable to that of young snakes; tantrikā
or basionym and the others are upanāmas or points out the spreading nature of the plant;
secondary synonyms. Sometimes we see that tantrī indicates its tough rope-like nature;
the secondary name of a plant is also used as chadmikā refers to its thick foliage; vatsādinī
the secondary name of another plant or plants. indicates that its leaves are eaten by calves;
On the basis of this, the nighannttukāras have śyāmā refers to the black green colour of its
categorised these names as ekārthas or one stem; dhārā indicates that the young stems of
name applied to only one plant; dvayārthas this plant have slightly longitudinal grooves;
or one name for two plants; tryārthas or one cakralakssannā indicates the appearance of the
name for three plants, etc. (15). stem in cross-section; visas lyā indicates that the
plant has no thorny or irritant appendages;
Unique set of names for a plant the names chinnā, chinnarūhā, chinnodbhava
and chinnāngī refer to the undying nature
In this section, I take up the different names of the stem or stem bits; avadhikāhvayā refers
of one plant to show what the various names to the richness of sap in its stem and leaves;
attributed to the plant indicate(16). amrrta indicates that the persons using this
plant would live a long, and healthy life; soma
Gudduci or Tinospora cordifolia is a climber refers to the powerful action of the plant as
with long offshoots; rich in foliage and sap; an elixir; the names rasāyanī, vayasthā and
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