Agastya-Sesbenia Grandiflora

Agasthya

A small sized fast growing tree, as its floweringis only up to the appearance of the famous starAgasthya so it is known as Agasthya. During theflowering season this tree looks more beautifuland attractive.

•Kula:- Simbi Kula

•Family :- Leguminosae

•Upakula :- Aparajita

•Sub – Family :- Papilionatae

Vernacular Names:-Sanskrit :- Agasti, Agati, AnariEnglish :- Agathi, Agati sesbania, August flower,West Indian pea, White dragon treeHindi :- Agasti, Bak, Basma, Basna, Chogache, HatiyaTamil :- Agathi, Agati, PeragathiKan :- Chogache , TagacheTel:- AvisaMar:- Agastha, Hadaga

Synonyms:-Agasthya- As sage Agasthya likes or attracted by this plant Munidruma- Known with name of popular sageVangasena- Flowers are more brighterVakrapuspa- It having the curved flowers.

Verities:-As per Raja Niganthu it is of 4 types1). With white flower2). With red flower3). With yellow flower4). With black flower.

But out of these tree with white flower is most common , even tree with red is less common.

Habitat:- S. grandflora is well adapted to hot, humid environments. It is a lowland species that lacks tolerance for cool temperatures (below about 10 deg. C). It has an outstanding ability to tolerate water logging and is ideally suited to seasonally flooded environments.

Morphology:-Sesbania grandiflora is a small, loosely branching tree that grows up to 8-15 m tall and 25-30 cm in diameter; Stem tomentose ( Plant hairs ), unarmed;Roots normally heavily nodulated with large nodules; the tree can develop floating roots. Leaves alternate and compound; pinnate(multi-divided features arising from both sides of a

common axis),15-30 cm long with 12-20 pairs of oblong, rounded leaflets, 3-4 cm long and about 1 cm wide; leaves turn bright yellow before shedding.Flower clusters hanging at leaf base have 2-5 large or giant flowers; pink, red or white, pea like, 5-10 cm in length, curved, about 3 cm wide before opening. Pods long and narrow, hanging down length of 30-50 cm,8 mm width, flat, with swollen margins and about 15-40 pale-colourd seeds; Seeds are beanlike, red brown, 6-8 in a pod, 3.5 mm, each weighs 1 g.

Chemical Composition:-Flowers- Methyl oleanolate- Analgesic &

Anti-inflammatory Seeds- Kaempferol- Antibacterial

Leucocynadin- Ant diabetic, Gastric ulceration

Properties:-Rasa- TiktaGuna- Laghu, RuksaVeerya- sheetaVipaka- katu

Dosha Karma:-Pitta-kaphahara, Vishagna

Indications:-NaktyandhataChaturthika JwaraKshayaKasa

Functions Acc to Diff Scholars1. Vagbhata- utt.13-79

Nishandya- leaves fried in ghee andused

2. Haritha-Apasmara- nasya from paste of leaves,mareecha and gomutra – chi-19Balapasmara- juice of leaves withmareecha churna – chi-43

3. Bhavaprakasha-

Vatarakta- prepare curd of mahishee with flower powder of Agasthya, extract butter and applied.

4. Vrandha-

Chaturthika Jwara- Patraswarasa Nasya

5. Vaidyamanorama-

Udarashoola- Patraswarasa+hingu+saindava

Useful Parts:-MoolaPatraPuspaTwak

Dosage:-Leaf juice- 10-20 mlDecoction- 50-100mlFlower powder- 5-10gm

Special preparations:- --------------(Agasthya Rasayana)

Quotations:-

मुनिव्रक्षदलं लूताव्रणविध्िंसि शलल े्ष्मिुत I

तत्पुष्पं िातलं नतक्तं कषायं कटुपाकक च II

चातुर्थिकज्िरहरं चैि वपतशललष्मापकषिणम I Shodala