In Search of Sanjeevani

In Search of Sanjeevani : 

In Search of Sanjeevani M. Manjunath Setty Associate Professor

Content : 

Content Introduction Does Sanjeevani exist? Criteria for searching Sanjeevani Sanjeevani in Indian languages Habitat of Sanjeevani Sanjeevani as an effective medicinal plant Ability to ‘resurrect’ life Similar cures similar Conclusion

Introduction : 

Introduction SANJEEVANI (literally meaning something that offers life; jeeva = life) Most mysterious and most sought-after herb in Indian Mythology Existence and identity are controversial Miracle herb – due to its alleged potentiality for ‘resurrecting’ life

Introduction….. : 

The plant existed before 300 million years and comes under a group of plants which were the first vascular plants on earth. When there is no moisture the plant curls up and assumes the form of a brown crust. Sanjeevani Booti regains its original form when it comes in contact with water or moisture. Introduction…..

Does Sanjeevani exist? : 

Does Sanjeevani exist? Deep rooted concept in Indian traditional system of medicine It figures as herb that ‘resurrect’ life in Ramayan and other mythological stories There is a reference in Valmiki’s Ramayana – Sloka 29 to 34 of the 74th chapter of ‘Yuddakandha’

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Does Sanjeevani exist?......... : 

Does Sanjeevani exist?......... Mruth Sanjeevani – resurrects the dead Sandhanakarani – restorer of skin and joints Savarnyakarani – restorer of the colour of the skin Vishalyakarani – remover of arrows Reference in Mahabharath – Sanjeevani Vidya adopted by preceptor of demons Shukracharya

Does Sanjeevani exist?..... : 

Does Sanjeevani exist?..... It refers to a specific plant, either extinct or extant, with a strong potential for resurrecting life. It is merely a conceptual term referring to a specific group of plants with a potential for invigorating the dying health. It is a metaphoric term for any plant(s) with a good medicinal value. It is simply an imaginary plant that never existed.

Criteria for searching Sanjeevani : 

Criteria for searching Sanjeevani The epic Ramayana has been retold and rewritten in several languages. Details of Sanjeevani vary in different versions, but basic details of most versions (Lakshmans resurrection) are consistent. Sanjeevani booti is found in the Himalayas and has the unique property of bioluminescence, which helps in its easy identification.

Criteria for searching Sanjeevani…… : 

Criteria for searching Sanjeevani…… The plant must have been referred to in different languages in India with terms akin to/close to Sanjeevani. It should be a plant occurring at high altitude. It should be a very effective medicinal plant. It should be capable of ‘resurrecting’ life.

Sanjeevani in Indian languages : 

Sanjeevani in Indian languages Indian Bioresouces database library of common names of Indian plants. Preliminary list of 17 species are selected as Sanjeevani. 6 plants were shortlisted from 17. First 3 species had frequent and consistent reference to the term. Last 3 species were indirectly indicative of the term.

Plants that are referred to by the names that reflect the features of Sanjeevani. (Indian Bioresouces database library) : 

Plants that are referred to by the names that reflect the features of Sanjeevani. (Indian Bioresouces database library) Botanical name Common name (in Sanskrit) Cressa cretica Sanjeevani, Amruthashraava, Rudanthi*,Madhushraava, Romaanchika Selaginella bryopteris Sanjeevani, Sanjeevani Bhoothi Desmotrichum fimbriatum Jeevaka, Jeeva, Jeevabhadra, Jeevavani, Jeevanthi, Jeevapathra, Jeeva pushpa, Jeevavardhini, Jeevadhaathri, Jeevya, Rakthaanthi, Yashasya, Sukhankaari, Praanadha, Malaxis acuminata Jeevaka Malaxis wallichii Microstylis wallichii Jeevaka, Rishvan Trichopus zeylanicus Jeeva Terminalia chebula Jeevanthi, Jeevanika, Chethara

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Cressa cretica Convolvulaceae Selaginella bryopteris Selaginallaceae (Spike moss) Desmotrichum fimbriatum Orchidaceae Most probable candidate plants

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Malaxis acuminata Orchidaceae Trichopus zelanicus Trichopodaceae Terminalia chebula Combrataceae Less frequently referred as Sanjeevani plants

Other species with names akin to Sanjeevani are : 

Other species with names akin to Sanjeevani are Leptadenia reticulata Asclepiadaceae Holestemma rheedii Asclepiadaceae Cimcifuga foetida Ranunculaceae Dregea volubilis Asclepiadaceae

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Viscum ariculatum Loranthaceae Tinospora cordifolia Menispermaceae Putranjiva roxhburghii Euphorbiaceae Trema oriantalis Urticaceae

Habitat and distribution of Sanjeevani : 

Habitat and distribution of Sanjeevani

Habitat of Sanjeevani : 

Habitat of Sanjeevani It Sanjeevani existed, it should have occurred in mountain ranges C. cretica occurs along dry tracts, mostly in Deccan plateau. It may not stand above test. S. bryopteris and D. fimbriatum stand out as two possible candidate plants

Sanjeevani as an effective medicinal plant : 

Sanjeevani as an effective medicinal plant Sanjeevani could be a conceptual term referring to a plant or a set of plants with a wide range of medicinal values, especially that of an invigorating tonic.

Ability to ‘resurrect’ life : 

Ability to ‘resurrect’ life As is generally narrated in the epic, Sanjeevani is supposed to have ‘resurrected’ Lakshmana from a state of death. It is unlikely that there was any herb potentially capable of resurrecting a dead Lakshmana, back to life for obvious reasons.

Ability to ‘resurrect’ life……. : 

Lakshmana was perhaps in a parallel state of death, but not dead. One such state that humans are known to enter and get back to normal is the ‘Coma’. Coma is a state of unconsciousness where the body is physiologically active, but the neural system enters into an inactive (but not dead) stage. Ability to ‘resurrect’ life…….

Ability to ‘resurrect’ life……. : 

Sarah Scantin, entered into coma during 1984 following an accident when she was 18 years old and remained in that state for about 20 years. She suddenly came back to ‘life’ during 2005. (The guardian, 2007) How this happened has remained a medical mystery. Ability to ‘resurrect’ life…….

Ability to ‘resurrect’ life….. : 

Ability to ‘resurrect’ life….. Probably Lakshmana was in such stage of unconsciousness or coma owing to heat shock or poison of arrow. Thus Sanjeevani had properties capable of awakening or rejuvenating . i.e. resurrecting and may not be a ‘life giver’

Similar cures similar : 

Similar cures similar ‘Doctrine of Signature’, a plant with syndromes similar to the afflicted organ or disorder in question, can be effectively used to cure the disease in human patients. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the so-called Sanjeevani had the ability of resurrecting itself from a state of near death situation.

Similar cures similar….. : 

Hence the ancient doctors, on the principle of ‘similar cures similar’ used it to cure coma in Lakshmana. Accordingly, few shortlisted (poikilohydric) plants can dramatically resurrect from almost dead-dry stage to normal condition on hydration. (drought tolerant genes). Similar cures similar…..

Selaginella as Sanjeevani : 

Selaginella as Sanjeevani S. bryopteris is known to be poikilohydric lithophyte plant of mountainous region. Referred to as Sanjeevani in Sanskrit and other local languages. It has number of medicinal values and exhibits an ability to resurrect itself from a stage of death. Its ability to cure coma/shocks is not recorded.

Saleginella Medicinal Properties : 

Saleginella Medicinal Properties Shah et al.18 have found that rat and insect cells subjected to UV radiation and oxidative stress of H2O2 could recover well when treated with extracts of this herb. Several workers have shown that the oxidative stress could lead to neuro-degeneration and hence recovering the cells from its impact could have implications in recovery from the disorders related to the neural system.

Conclusion : 

Conclusion Finally, it is not addressed here the issue of whether or not Sanjeevani exists. An assumption that if it be true, we should not miss out on such an important resource of our national pride. This search may not be complete and the approach may not be the best. However, with the criteria that are set up for the search, at least two species, viz. S. bryopteris and D. fimbriatum as potential species representing Sanjeevani, on which more work could be attempted.

References : 

References In search of the Sanjeevani Plant of Ramayana by D.Balasubramanian, Pub: The Hindu , Cited at: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2009/09/10/stories/2009091050081300.htm on 10/09/2009. In search of Sanjeevani by K.N.Ganeshaiah et al., current science, vol-97(4), pp: 484-489. Does the Magical Himalayan Herb “Sanjeevani Booti” really exist in Nature? By Pankaj Sah et al., The Journal of American Science, 4(3) ,pp: 65-67

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Thank you