📅 May 8, 2025, Post 2: Unearthing the Ancient Leaves: CCRAS Revives Lost Ayurvedic Texts | Mains Essay / Target IAS-26 MCQs Attached: A complete Package, Dear Aspirants!
Unearthing the Ancient Leaves: CCRAS Revives Lost Ayurvedic Texts
NATIONAL HERO — PETAL 002
🗓️ Date: May 8, 2025
🩺 Thematic Focus: Ayurveda | Manuscript Revival | GS2: Health
🌿 Intro Whisper:
When ancient ink meets modern hands, healing wisdom awakens from its centuries-long slumber.
🔍 Key Highlights:
- What’s in News:
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has successfully revived two rare Ayurvedic manuscripts: • Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu
• Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu - About the Manuscripts: 📕 Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu
- Written by Mudgala Paṇḍita in 1480 AD
- Comprises 18 chapters
- Focuses on:
➤ Drug synonyms
➤ Therapeutic actions
➤ Medicinal properties (plant, mineral, animal origin) - Draws heavily from Dhanvantari and Raja Nighaṇṭu
- Attributed to Bhisma Vaidya
- Works as an appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu
- Focuses entirely on homonyms of drug/plant names
- Contains 182 verses + 2 colophon verses
- Editorial Contribution:
Both texts were critically edited and translated by eminent manuscriptologist Dr. Sadanand D. Kamat - Institutional Anchor:
- CCRAS is an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
- It formulates and implements Ayurveda research strategies, supports institutions, and enables knowledge sharing
📘 GS Paper Mapping:
- GS Paper 2: Role of autonomous bodies in health research and heritage preservation
- GS Paper 1 (Culture): Ancient medical knowledge and classical Indian literature
- Essay: “Reviving Roots: The Scientific Value of India’s Traditional Knowledge Systems”
🌠 Closing Thought:
Beneath centuries of dust lie pages of healing. And in each verse, the voice of a forest, a mineral, a whisper of balance.
Target IAS-26: Daily MCQs :
📌 Prelims Practice MCQs
Topic:
MCQ 1: Type-1 — “How many of the above statements are correct?”
Which of the following statements about the Ayurvedic manuscripts revived by CCRAS are correct?
1. Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu was authored by Mudgala Paṇḍita in 1480 AD and comprises 18 chapters.
2. Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu focuses on homonyms and consists of 182 verses plus two colophon verses.
3. Both manuscripts were critically edited and translated by Dr. Sadanand D. Kamat.
4. CCRAS functions under the Ministry of Education.
A) Only two
B) Only three
C) All four
D) Only one
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
✅ Correct Answer: B) Only three
🧠 Explanation:
1) Correct – Dravyaratnākara was authored in 1480 AD and has 18 chapters.
2) Correct – Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu has 182 verses + 2 colophon verses focused on homonyms.
3) Correct – Both were edited and translated by Dr. Sadanand D. Kamat.
4) Incorrect – CCRAS is under the Ministry of AYUSH, not Education.
MCQ 2: Type-2 — Two-Statement Assertion
Consider the following statements:
1. Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu is an appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu.
2. Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu is entirely derived from Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) Only 1 is correct
B) Only 2 is correct
C) Both are correct
D) Neither is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
✅ Correct Answer: A) Only 1 is correct
🧠 Explanation:
1) Correct – It serves as an appendix to the Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu.
2) Incorrect – It includes novel substances and draws from multiple sources beyond Charaka and Sushruta.
MCQ 3 – Type 3: Which of the statements is/are correct?
Q. Which of the following statements are correct ?
1. CCRAS is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. CCRAS conducts research across Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy.
3. Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu documents plant, mineral, and animal origin substances.
4. Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu focuses on homonyms rather than pharmacological properties.
A) 1, 3 and 4 only
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 2 and 4 only
D) All four
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
✅ Correct Answer: A) 1, 3 and 4 only
🧠 Explanation:
1) Correct – It functions under the Ministry of AYUSH within the Health Ministry.
2) Incorrect – CCRAS is focused specifically on Ayurveda, not all AYUSH systems.
3) Correct – It includes drugs from all three sources.
4) Correct – Its core focus is terminological clarification, not pharmacology.
MCQ 4: Type-4 — Direct Factual Question
Which manuscript was authored by Mudgala Paṇḍita and contains 18 chapters?
A) Dhanvantari Nighaṇṭu
B) Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu
C) Dravyanamākara Nighaṇṭu
D) Bhāvaprakāśa Nighaṇṭu
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
✅ Correct Answer: B) Dravyaratnākara Nighaṇṭu
🧠 Explanation:
B) It was written in 1480 AD by Mudgala Paṇḍita and comprises 18 chapters covering synonyms, therapeutic actions, and medicinal properties.
