Encyclopedias & Dictionaries | Monier-Williams: A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (p. 469) damana, mf(ī)n. ifc. taming, subduing, overpowering MBh. viii Bhartṛ.; self-controlled, passiv, 26, 2; (g. nandy-ādi) Artemisia indica Mantram. xxiii; N. of a Samādhi Kāraṇḍ. xvii, 18; of Yāmāyana (author of RV. x, 16) Rānukr.; of a son of Vasu-deva by Rohiṇī Hariv. 1951; of a Brahmarshi Nal.i, 6 VāyuP. i, 23, 115; of a son of Bharadvāja KāśīKh. lxxiv; of an old king MBh. i, 224; of a Vidarbha king Nal. i, 9; n. taming, subduing, punishing MBh. R. Śak. BhP. BrahmavP.; self-restraint W.; (ī) f. Solanum Jacquini L.; N. of a Śakti Hcat. i, 8, 405. Monier-Williams: A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (p. 469) damanaka, m. Artemisia indica VarBṛS. lxxvii, 13 BhavP. ii; N. of a man Bharaṭ. iii; of a jackal Pañcat. i, 25/26. Kathās. lx, 19 ff.; (n.?) N. of a metre of 4 times 6 short syllables; of another of 4 lines of 10 short syllables and one long each. Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (p. 3147) mācipattiri: 1. Indian absinth, l. sh., Artemisia vulgaris; 2. Wormwood, aromatic herb, Artemisia absinthium; 3. Madras absinth, Grangea maderaspatna Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (p. 1905) tirunāmacceṭi: Indian worm-wood, l. sh., Artemisia vulgaris Dymock, Warden, Hooper: Pharmacographia Indica (vol. II, pp. 284-286) Artemisia vulgaris, Compositae Fig.- Wormwood (Eng.) There appears to be a difference of opinion as to the Sanskrit name of this plant. In Northern India and Bengal it is identified with the NÄgadamani of the Nighantas, a plant which is described as a tonic and counteracting the poison of spiders and snakes. In the Deccan and Western India the Sanskrit name is said to be Indhana, although the local version of the RÄja-nighanta gives NÄgdavana as the Marathi equivalent of NÄgadamani, a name generally applied in that language to Crinum asiaticum. According to Moodin Sheriff, the Sanskrit name in Southern India is Granthiparni. These names are not synonymous, and as the plant is common in all parts of the country, this discrepancy would seem to indicate that its mention by the older Sanskrit writers is very doubtful. The modern Hindus consider wormwood to be a valuable stomachic, deobstruent and antispasmodic, and prescribe it in infusion and electuary in cases of obstructed menses and hysteria. A. vulgaris is generally considered to to be the Artemisia of the Greeks, a name generally derived from the lunar goddess Artemis, who is supposed to have been the discoverer of its virtues, but Pliny says: - "Sunt qui Artemisiam ab Artemide Ilithia cognominatam putent, quoniam privatim medeatur foeminarum malis." Macer Floridus in his treatise, De viribus herbarum, calls wormwood herbarum matrem, and attributes to it emmenagogue, antilithic and alexipharmic properties; he also says that it assists parturition and prevents abortions. Apuleius De virtutibus herbarum states that a person carrying wormwood will be preserved from fatigue, hidden demons and the evil eye. "Tres artemisias," says he again, "Diana dicitur invenisse et virtutes earum et medicinam Chironi centauro tradidisse, qui primus de his herbis medicinam instituit." There is a popular superstition at Bologna that wormwood will indicate the termination of disease; a bunch of the leaves is surrepetiously placed under the sick person's pillow, if, after this he sleeps, he will soon get well; if not, he will die. (De Gubernatis.) A. vulgaris is probably one of the kinds of Afsantum (-*-) described by Mahometan physicians, but owing to the want of a sufficient desription of these drugs, it is impossible to identify it. Dr. Wight (Ill., ii., 92), notices its use in nervous and spasmodic affections, and Dr. J. L. Stewart speaks of an infusion as a good mild stomachic tonic.
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