Decoding the Ayurvedic Wisdom of Ravigupta’s Siddhasara Samhita and Siddhasara Nighantu: A Review of Their Literary and Therapeutic Insights

Abstract

Acharya Ravigupta, a distinguished Ayurvedic scholar of the early medieval period, composed important work, the “Siddhasara Samhita”. He has also included “Siddhasara Nighantu” at the last part of Samhita.  These texts represent a mature phase in the evolution of classical Ayurveda following the Brihattrayi period. The Siddhasara Samhita provides a systematic exposition of Ayurvedic principles, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches, whereas the Siddhasara Nighantu elaborates the pharmacological and qualitative aspects of medicinal substances. Together, they bridge the classical Samhita tradition and the later Nighantu literature, reflecting both theoretical depth and clinical applicability.

Despite their significance, Ravigupta and his contributions remain comparatively unexplored in Ayurvedic scholarship. The Siddhasara texts, containing valuable references to Dravya and their properties, have not been adequately studied or compiled in modern times. In the present article, an attempt has been made to bring together the available Shloka, drug descriptions, and conceptual references from both Siddhasara Samhita and Siddhasara Nighantu into one comprehensive framework. Illustrative examples from the texts will be discussed further in the review to highlight Ravigupta’s literary, therapeutic, and pharmacological insights. The study thus emphasizes the need for deeper exploration of these lesser-studied works and their pivotal role in the historical development of Ayurveda.