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REVIEW ARTICLE ON VARAHIKANDAAshalatha M1, Lalitha B R2, Prathibha S Babshet3

1 Professor and HOD; 2Professor; 3PG Scholar;Department of Dravyaguna, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Bengaluru,

Karnataka, India

INTRODUCTIONPlants are one of the main sources

of medicine since time immemorial. Ayur-veda the science of life emphasizes on useof plants and strongly envisages that eachand every dravya in the universe possessesmedicinal property. Utilization of natureswealth for prevention and cure of diseasesplays a big role in human civilization, witha dependency of large number of humanpopulation on herbs, particularly in devel-oping countries. The amazing journey ofAyurveda from its divine origin to the pre-sent day has left us wondering about theenormous potential this science possesses.Its successful existence itself proves thevalue and the unique basic principles re-main eternal.

Interest in Ayurveda, has increasedsubstantially in both developed and devel-oping countries over the past two decades.Plants have been used as medicine exten-sively. Its diverse healing modalities formillennia for anything from external to in-ternal infections, mental and emotional im-balances have increased the demand ofplant based products.

With onset of scientific research inherbals, it is becoming clearer that the me-dicinal herbs have a potential in todayssynthetic era, as number of medicines arebecoming resistant. 60% of synthetic medi-cines owe their origin to plants. Ancientknowledge coupled with scientific princi-ples can come to the forefront and provideus with powerful remedies to eradicate thediseases. One such less explored drug isVarahikanda (Dioscorea bulbifera Linn.)

Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

ABSTRACTTraditional medicine forms an integral part of health care system in many countries.

According to WHO statistics, about 25% of the medicines are derived from plants. 80% peo-ple still depend upon traditional system of medicine. The practice of traditional medicines isbased on hundreds of years of belief and observation, which originated much before the de-velopment of the modern medicine. The knowledge of traditional medicine throws light onthe discovery of new and potent medicine. Systematic documentation is lacking for manymedicinal plants in India. Varahikanda (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) possesses profound thera-peutical potency, belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae which includes 9 genera and 220 spe-cies which are distributed in tropical and warm temperate regions. It is attributed withVrushya (Aphrodisiac), Balya (Strength promoting), Rasayana (Rejuvinative) karmas. Thisreview highlights on all the classical references of Varahikanda.Keywords: Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscoreaceae, Vrushya, Balya, Rasayana

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which possesses profound therapeuticalpotency attributed with Vrushya (Aphrodis-iac), Balya (strength promoting), Rasayana(Rejuvinative) karmas. Diosgenin obtainedfrom Dioscorea species is one of the majorsources for the commercial production ofcorticosteroids and steroidal contracep-tives. This plant is found in Western ghats,Nort -Eastern region and Indo Burma re-gion. It is cultivated in all the states in In-dia and the major yam producing states areKerala, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Ta-milnadu, Assam, Rajasthan, Gujarat andMaharashtra.

CLASSICAL REVIEW OF VARAHI-KANDAThe word varaa means sasya (plant) andaahanti is that which destroys whatevercomes in its way. Varaha is an animalwhich destroys the plants in its way.kanda means tuber.Varahakanda is the tuber which is liked bythe pigs.SAMHITA KALA: 1, 2, 3

Acharya Charaka in the context ofUnmada (psychological disorder) Chikitsa,mentions Shukari as one of the ingredientsof Mahapaishacha Ghrita and Chakrapanicommenting on this says Shukari is Var-ahikanda. Acharya Sushruta has includedVarahakanda in kanda varga and explainsthe qualities of Varahakanda. Dalhanacommenting on this says Varahakanda isfamous by the name Bakaluka. It is also

called as Vaarahi and Gristika. AcharyaSushruta in Nivratasantapiya rasayanaadhyaya, includes Varahi among the ash-tadasha somasamaveerya aushadha and de-scribed it as a tuber having the capacity toregenerate and looks like a black snake.Acharya Vagbhata has mentioned Pin-daaluka in Annaswarupavijnaniya adhyayawhere Arunadatta in his commentary men-tions Pindaalu as Varahikanda. Vaktraalu,Shabarakanda, Mulakamulabha, Twak-chadha are the synonyms.NIGHANTU KALA4, 5, 6, 7

Nighantus like Dhanvatari, Shoda-la, Hridayadeepika, Madanapala, Ra-janighantu and Kaiyadeva have mentionedVarahikanda. Author of Siddhamantraplaced Varahi in kaphavatagna pittala var-ga. Kaiyadeva describes the tuber of Var-ahikanda as that which is similar to the tes-tes of the pig in shape and possesses leaveslike taambula patra. BhavaprakashaNighantu has mentioned Varahikanda asprathinidhidravya of Ruddhi and Vruddhi.The shape of the kanda resembles the headof the pig .It is also called by the nameCharmakaraluka and Gristika. Varahikan-dadi varga has been mentioned in NighantuAdarsha.GANA/VARGA1-3, 4-13, 16-20

Table 1: Showing the classification ofVarahikanda according to various au-thors.

Samhitas Gana /Varga

Sushruta samhita Kanda varga

Nighantu Varga

Dhanwantari Nighantu Karaveeradi

Shabdhachandrika Vrakshadhi

Shodala Nighantu Karaveeradi , Aamradi

Madhava dravyaguna Shakha

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Siddhamantra Kaphavataghna -Pittala

Hrudayadeepika Nighantu Dvipaadi

Madanapala Nighantu Abhayadi

Raja Nighantu Moolakadi

Kaiyadeva Nighantu Oushadhi

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu Guduchyadi

Saraswati Nighantu Ulapa

Rajavallabha Nighantu Madhyanika paricheda

Saligrama nighantu Shakha

Nighantu adarsha Vaarahikandadi

Priya Nighantu Pippalyadi

Dravyaguna Samgraha Shakha varga

PARYAYA PADAANI: Gristi: It cures various diseases. It pos-

sesses madhura, sheeta properties. Potri: The shape of the tuber resembles

the face of the pig. Shukarakanda: The tuber is liked and

eaten by the pig. Shukari: Hairy tuber resembles that of

hairy pig.

Badara: That which gives strength. Vruddhida: That which helps in de-

velopment of the tissues. Sukandaka: Tubers are beautiful Vishvaksenakanta: It is liked by Lord

VishnuVERNACULAR NAMES 14, 15

Table 2: Showing Vernacular names ofVarahikanda.

Assam Katalu

Bengali Chupri alu

Bombay Chaina,Chopri alu, Khaumphal, Myoukphal, Safed kauphal

English Common yam, Humped yam, Water yam, Winged yam

Hindi Chupri alu, Khamalu

Kannada Tung-genasu

Konkani Kongadde

Malayalam Kachil-kilangu, Kaavathu

Sanskrit Vaarahikanda, Pindalu

Tamil Kayavalli, Perumvalli kizangu

Telugu Gunapendalamu, Pendalamu

Uriya Jhonka aluRASAPANCHAKA5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 20

Table 3: Showing Rasa panchaka of Varahikanda according to different authors

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Rasa(Taste)

B.N D.N. K.N. R.N P.N Mp.N So.N Sa.NTikta(bitter) + + + + + + _ +Katu(pungent) _ + + + _ + + +

Madhura(sweet) + _ + _ + + _ _

Veerya(Potency)D.N M.D

Sheeta(cold) + -

Ushna(hot) - +Vipaka(Taste at the end of digestion)

B.N D.N. K.N. R.N Mp.N M.D D.S So.NKatu(pungent) + + + _ _ + + +DOSHAKARMA 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18.

Table 4: Showing Doshakarma of Varahikanda according to different authorsB.N D.N K.N R.N R.V Mp.N S.M M.D Sa.N

Vatahara + _ + _ _ + + _ _

Pittakara + _ + _ + _ + + +

Pittahara _ _ _ + _ _ _ _ _

Kaphahara + + + + + + + +

VARIETIES OF VARAHIKANDA5

According to Kaiyadeva nighantu types ofvarahikanda are1. Shabarakanda2. Kharakanda3. Snukchadopama4. Kiri5. Mulakamulabha6. Shoukara7. VadavaanalaSUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERA-TION7

Vrinda madhava mentions Charmakaralu-ka as substitute for Varahikanda.CONTROVERSY24, 25

The controversy of Varahi might havestarted with the word Aaluka. The word

Aaluka has been mentioned in CharakaSamhita as well as Sushruta Samhita.Acharya Charaka has told Aluka asahitatama among the kanda and AcharyaSushruta has mentioned aluka in kandavarga and has given 6 varieties of Aluka.Both the commentators of Charaka andSushruta Samhitas have given limited in-formation regarding the morphological de-scriptions about these varieties.Acharya P.V. Sharma has correlated thevarieties mentioned in Sushruta and Ra-janighantu with different species of Di-oscorea.Table 5: Showing Different types ofAluka according to Sushruta24,25

TYPES-SUSHRUTA DESCRIPTION BOTANICAL SOURCE

Madhvaluka Romasha, Madhura Dioscorea esculentaPindaluka Familiar by the name aluka -

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Kastaluka Different shaped tubersLocally called as Katalu

Dioscorea alata

Hastyaluka Similar to Kastaluka but the tu-bers are bigger in size

Dioscorea hispida.

Shankaluka Tubers are white in colour. Dioscorea glabra.

Raktaluka Tubers are red in colour. Dioscorea bulbifera.

Table 6: Showing Different types of Aluka according to Rajanighantu24,25

TYPES-RAJANIGHANTU

DESCRIPTION ACC.TO ACHARYAP.V. SHARMA

BOTANICALSOURCE

Mukhalu Mahakanda Hastyalukaof Sushruta

Dioscorea hispida.

Shubhralu Shuklakanda Shankhalukaof Sushruta

Dioscorea glabra.

Kaasalu - Dioscorea puberNeelalu Neelavarna Dioscorea pr