LAUNG A CONDIMENT IN ANCIENT HINDU LITERATURE (a short note)
Dr. Satish K. Kapoor
Laung or clove is the dried unopened, highly odoriferous and
acrid flower-bud and twig-tip of Eugenia Caryopylate (Syzgium aromaticum;
Eugenia aromatica; Carophyllus aromaticus) of the Myrtaceae family. lt is
believed to be the native of Moluccas and of China but has been widely used as
a condiment, preservative and medicine ancient times. Laung also known as
Lavanga is cultivated in South lndia mainly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. lts popular
Sanskrit names are: Deva Kusuma (divine flower), Chandana Pushpaka (having
fragrant flowers like sandalwood) and Shri Prasuna (sacred to the goddess
Lakshmi). lt finds mention in the Raghuvamsha (6.57) of Kalidasa, in Charaka
Samhita (sutra 5.74) and Sushruta Samhita (sutra 46.484) and in many nighantus or
medical lexicons. Due to its disinfectant and bactericidal properties it is
mixed With aromatic substances for use as an oblation in the sacrifical fire.
The Agnihotra (fire- offering) performed exclusively With laungs and ghee is
highly recommended by tantrics for material and spiritual benefits. Holy men sanctify
laungs and small cardamons to be served as prasad. ln addition to its use in
culinary preparation (viz sweetmeats, pickle, curry chutney, etc.) the spice is
chewed to perfume the breath, clear the throat or ward off flatulence or
vomitary condition. Laung is tucked into tambula - rolled betel leaves coated
With lime and catechu paste and filled With shreds of areca nut and other ingredients
- and served to guests as - mark of hospitality. Some people mix laung or two
in tobacco and smoke the contents through a hubble-bubble. in Western lndia a
matrimonial custom (now virtually obsolete) enjoined on the bride and the
bridegroom to jointly cut a laung by their teeth in the presence of family
members With a view to providing social sanction to their new relationship. ln
the Ayurveda, Laung is regarded as bitter (katu), Pungent (tikta), light
(laEhu), stomachic (agnidipaka), tasteful (ruchikari), carrninative (udara
vataghana), antineuralqic (vatashulaghana),
by Dr. Satish K. Kapoor expectorant (kaphanihsaraka), curative in dental
diseases (da ntarogahara), diuretic
(rnutrajanana), aphrodislac (vrishya), anti-emetic (chhardinigrahana), analgesic
(vedanhara), refrigerant (trishnanigrahana), sore-healer (vranaropaka) and
cleanser (vranashodhaka), anthetmintic (krimighana) and useful to the eyes (netrahitakari).
Laung subsides the three somatic doshas - vayu, pitta and kapha (tit. wind,
bile and phlegma) and is put to various uses in powdered drugs, infusions,
pastes, elixirs, madiicated spiriuons liquids medicated ghee oil, boluses and
pills. Ayurvedic medicicines with laung as the main ingredient (viz Lavangadi
Churna, Laung Chatuhsama, Lavangadi-vati and Lavangodaka) are traditionally
served to cough, asthma, colic, hiccup, ttphoid fever and nervous debility. lts
oil is carminative, anti-spasmodic anti septic and a mild anaesthetic. Externally,
it is applied in cases of toothaches, skin diseases, migraine, arthritis and
rheumatism. lt is also used as a flavouring agent in relishes, preserves
liqueurs and perfumes, as a disinfectant, in soaps and dentifices and for the
synthesis of vanillin, an alkaloid derived from the plant Vanilla. (OCR- Machine Typing. E&OE)
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