COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SUKA DHANYA VARGA MENTIONED IN BRIHAT-TRAYI: A REVIEWARTICLE

Abstract

Ayurveda is the eternal science of life. The first principle of Ayurveda is to maintain a healthy life for which Nutritious Diet (Ahara) or balanced diet is required. In Ayurveda Acharya Caraka has cited regular intake of food articles belongs to different categories of food. Acharya Caraka has classified Ahara (diet) in twelve Vargas. Among these, SukaDhanya is the first one. In Modern literature, SukaDhanya has been compared as monocotyledons and energy giving food. Energy giving food mainly includes cereals group like Wheat, Rice, Maize (corn), Oats, Jowar, Ragi and Bajra. Ancient Acharyas has mentioned some SukaDhanyaDravyas with their Gunas (qualities) like Shasthika, Vrihi (variety of rice), Yava, and Wheat which play an important role in prevention of diseases. Those dravyas sustain qualities like Sheeta (cold in potency), Swadu (sweet in taste) and in SwaduVipaka (sweet in digestion). These are used as Vatavardhaka, Alpavarchasa, Brimhana, Sukrala and Mutrala. Cereals are abundant with niacin, iron, riboflavin and thiamine and mostly fiber content (especially in Barley, oat and wheat). Cereals also possess soluble bran that helps to reduce blood cholesterol level and helps in preventing heart diseases. Aim of this article is to analyze the SukaDhanyaVarga mentioned in Brihat-Trayi on a scientific basis. Among brihattrayiSukadhanyavarga is abundantly found in Aharakalpana, which source importance of sukadhanyavarga. So review of SukaDhanyaVarga is taken from BrihatTrayi with their commentators. It is compared with modern nutritional value to check the advantages and disadvantages of ancient diet principles.

Key Words- SukaDhanya, Vargas, Properties, Benefits, Brihattrayi.