Sudarshana (Crinum latifolium) - Uses & Health Benefits

Introduction about Crinum

Crinum is a genus of about 180 species comprising family of various beautiful perennial plants. They are good for decoration, gardens, bouquets and also known as various types of Lilies like Spider lily, Trumpet lily, and Swamp lily and so on. Crinum is basically a tropical plant growing in Asia, South East Asia, Australia, Pacific islands and spread up to Caribbean, Florida and Louisiana.

In Ayurveda, Crinum latifolium is known as "Sudarshana" or Sukhdarshan. It means it gives you peace and happiness just by its darshana (Seeing it). Ayurvedic literature dates back to 5000 BC and Sushruta has described Crinum defixum (Kandali). Ayurveda uses this plant mainly for Painful swellings, Fevers of unexplained origin, Poisoning and skin ailments.

Morphology of Sudarshana Plant

A small plant that grows up to 3 feet contains big green leaves to a length - 2-4 inch with 3-4 inch width. It grows all over the India.

The flowers are beautiful, white in color with pinkish tinge. Flowering stems are stout, about 2-3 mm in height.

Fruits are round, 2-3 inch in diameter with 8-10 seeds inside.

• Latin Name – Crinum latifolium
• Family – Amarylidaceae
• Habitat – South Asia, South East Asia, Caribbean countries, Australia, Fiji, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Louisiana, Florida and other tropical countries.

Sanskrit Synonyms

Bhavprakash in 17th Century has used following synonyms for Sudarshana.

Somvalli, Madhuparnika, Chakravaha

Other Sanskrit Synonyms of Sudarshan

• Nagdaman – The big wide leaves resemble a snake hood.
• Medhi - It improves memory.
• Rakt Pushpi – Pink Striped trumpet lily is another name in English for Crinum latifolium, which is Sudarshana. Crinum asiaticum has white flowers.
• Ratnamala – Because the flowers are beautiful and grow from umbel in a circular pattern
• Vishamandal - Because the leaves juice (10-20 ml dosage) can be used as emetic and purgative to get rid of ingested poison.
• Vritt Pushpa – Because the flowers grow in a circular pattern.
• Kandali – Sushruta described Crinum defixum as this plant.
• Jambu – The fruit resembles Jambu fruit i.e. Java apple or Jamun. The fruit also resembles onion bulb.
• Dudarshana – It's also called Dudarshan, as the crushed fruit gives foul smell.
• Chakravaha – Because the flowers grow on umbels and in circular pattern.
• Madhuparnika – The leaves taste sweet and bitter

English Names of Sudarshana

Wide Leaved Pink Striped Trumpet Lily (Crinum latifolium), Spider Lily for Crinum asiaticum

Names in Other Languages

• Hindi Names – Chinder, Kanwar, Kunwal, Pindar, Barakanwar
• Urdu Name – Nagdaun
• Marathi – Gadambi Kanda
• Bengali – Bada Kanod, Sukha Darshana, Gaerhonar Patta
• Kannada – Sudarshana, Visha Mungli
• Tamil – Visha Pungil, Vishamungil, Perumanarivingaayam,
• Telugu – Kesara Chettu
• Philippines – Lirio

Ayurvedic Energetics and Properties

• Rasa (Taste) – Sweet, Bitter (Madhur, Tikt)
• Virya (Potency) – Ushana (Hot)
• Vipaka (Post Digestion property) – Sweet (Madhur)
• Guna (Inherent Properties) - Ruksha, Tikshana (Dry, Pungent)

Part Used

1. Leaves
2. Root