Gulmavrikshayurveda: A Treasure for Life and Living

Abstract

India has always been an agricultural country. Even when the world was living in  the forest, we had already developed a Vedic society and we were making progress in  technology, industry and trade. Even at that time, we were very progressive in agriculture,  the description of which is found in many of our ancient books. In ancient times, many  books related to agriculture were written, one of which is “Gulmavrikshayurveda” written  by Maharshi Parashar. The book published in Banaras Ayurveda series 114 is edited by Dr.  Sri Krishna ‘Jugnu’ and Munna Lal Dakot. In this book, botany and Dietary science have  been described, in which proper commentary has also been given along with its original  verse and its Hindi translation. The word “Gulmavrikashayurved” has been mentioned in  Chanakya’s Arthasastra for the botanical form of the earth. It mainly describes the growth  of herbs, creepers and trees growing on earth, their production, the diseases caused in  them and their treatment. This book has been written with the aim of promoting forest  culture (Forestry). This book is important and useful not only for Botanical scholars but  also for Sanskrit scholars and Ayurveda scholars. An attempt has been made to promote  vegetarianism among the people through the verses of dietetics propounded in this book.  The main two parts of the book “Gulmavrikashayurveda” have been explained. In which,  in the last eight chapters of the first part, sutras related to the production of seeds have been  given, which describe the process of making seeds, the parts of trees, flowers, fruits and  the land suitable seeds. In the second part there are three section present. In which the first  Vanaspatikhand, described the characteristics of various floras and their classification in  various ways. In the second Gulmakshupakanda, describrs the identification of medicinal  plant parts and collection are described and in the third, Ayurvedic section, the treatment  of forestry has been discussed. It has also mentioned the suitable land, right time and  proper collection methods for the medicinal plants.