KUVALAYA VIS-A-VIS MONOCHORIA VAGINALIS PRESL. AND NYMPHAE STELLATA WILLD.: A REVIEW ON SOURCE IDENTIFICATION

India has a rich lineage of biological diversity both in terms of flora and fauna. Ayurveda explores such diversity in a sustainable way for the benefit of mankind. The classical literature of Ayurveda describes many important plants with therapeutic values. The main challenge faced by the modern scientific world is establishing the correct botanical identity of the plants mentioned by Acharyas in Sanskrit. There may also be regional variations regarding the identity of plants. One such controversial identity is that of Kuvalaya. Throughout the Nighantus, Kuvalaya is identified as NymphaestellataWilld. butHortusMalabaricus and other traditional books of Kerala, identify the plant as MonochoriavaginalisPresl. In this work, an in depth literature survey was done throughout the Samhithas, Nighantus and traditional books of Kerala for establishing the most probable identity of Kuvalaya. It was finally concluded that MonochoriavaginalisPresl. may also be considered as the source plant of Kuvalaya.