248
REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94.
[APP.
soporific and corrects derangements of the humours, which produces a healthy appetite,
sharpens the wits, and acts as an aphrodisiac."
The word used for ganja in the above is Indrāçana (Indra's food).
Cir. A.D. 1600.
The Bhāvaprakaça, another medical work written by Bhavadēvamiçra (cir. A.D. 1600), 1
has as follows:—
Bhangā gañjā mātulānī mādinī vijayā jayā |
Bhangā kaphaharī tiktā grāhinī pācanī laghuh |
Tīksōsnā pittalā mōka- -mada-vāg-vahni-vardhinī ||
"Bhanga is also called gañjā, mātulānī, mādinī (the intoxicating), vjjayā (the victorious)
and jayā (the victorious). It is antiphlegmatic, pungent, astringent, digestive, easy of dig
estion, acid, bile-affecting; and increases infatuation, intoxication, the power of the voice, and
the digestive faculty."
17th century.
"The Rājavallabha, a materia medica, by Nārāyanadāsa kavirāja, the date of which I do
not know, but which is quoted in the Çabdakalpa-
druma, and is believed to be ancient, has the
following:—
Çakrā-'çanam tu tīksnō-'snam mōha-krit kustha-nāçanam |
Bala-mēdhā-'gni-krit-çlēsma- -dōsa-hāri rasāyanam ||
Jātā mandara-manthanāj
jala-nidhau pīyūsa-rūpā purā |
Trailōkyē vijaya-pradē 'ti vijayā çri-dēvarāja-priyā ||
Lōkānām hita-kāmyāya ksiti-talē-prāptā naraih kāmadā |
Sarvā-" tanka-vi nāça-harsa-jananī yaih sēvitā sarvadā. ||
"Indra's food (i.e., ganja) is acid, produces infatuation, and destroys leprosy. It creates
vital energy, the mental powers, and internal heat, corrects irregularities of the phlegmatic
humour, and is an elixir vitæ. It was originally produced, like nectar, from the ocean by
the churning with Mount Mandara, 2 and inasmuch as it gives victory in the three worlds, it,
the delight of the king of the gods, is called vijayā, the victorious. This desire-fulfilling
drug was obtained by men on the earth, through desire for the welfare of all people. To
those who regularly use it it begets joy and destroys every anxiety."
?Date.
The Rasapradhīpa, a work, the date of which is unknown to me, and which is quoted in
the Çabdakalpadruma mentions jayā, as a remedy
for indigestion:—
Ksāratrayam sūtagandhōu pancakōlam idam çubham |
Sarvaīs tulyā jayā bhristā tad-ardhā çigrujā jatā ||
Natron, saltpetre and borax, mercury and sulphur, and the prosperous five spices (long
pepper, its root, piper chaba, another pepper, and dry ginger). To these add an equal amount
of parched jayā and half of that amount of horse-radish (moringa) and jatā. 3
It is not certain whether jayā here means bhang or Harītakī (yellow myrobolan). The
word has both significations. The latter, perhaps, suits the formula best.
?Date.
In the Rasaratna-samuccaya, a work written in the south of India, jayā is classified as a
semi-poison,—
Lāngolī visamustiç ca karavīrō jayā tathā |
Tilakah kanakō 'rkaç ca vargō hy upavisātmakah.||
Lāngalī 4 (Vanguiera spinosa), the root of the Nerium odorum, jayā (Symplocos racemosa)
kanaka 5 and āk (a kind of Euphorbia), are semi-poisonous.
1400 A.D.
Bhang is frequently mentioned by vernacular poets. The oldest instance with which
I am acquainted is the well-known hymn by
Vidyāpati Thākur (1400 A.D.), in which he calls
Çiva "Digambara bhanga," in reference to his habit of consuming that drug. According to
an old Hindu poem, on which I cannot now lay my hands, Çiva himself brought down the
1
According to Dutt "not before 1535 A.D."
2
Nectar was produced in this fashion.
3
The name of several plants; I do not know which is meant here.
4
The name of several plants,—Jussisæa Repens, Hemionitis cordifolia, Rubia munjista, Hedysarum Lagopodioide.
5
Said by a kaviraja to mean dhatura.