Plants personify the divine— The Rig Veda (X.97) Trees and plants have long been held sacred to communities the world over. In India, we have a whole variety of flora that feature in our myths, our epics, our rituals, our worship and our daily life. There is the pipal, under which the Buddha meditated on the path to enlightenment; the banyan, in whose branches hide spirits; the ashoka, in a grove of which Sita sheltered when she was Ravana’s prisoner; the tulsi, without which no Hindu house is considered complete; the bilva, with whose leaves it is possible to inadvertently worship Shiva. Before temples were constructed, trees were open-air shrines sheltering the deity, and many were symbolic of the Buddha himself. Sacred Plants of India systematically lays out the sociocultural roots of the various plants found in the Indian subcontinent, while also asserting their ecological importance to our survival. Informative, thought-provoking and meticulously researched, this book draws on mythology and botany and the ancient religious traditions of India to assemble a detailed and fascinating account of India’s flora.

The book, “CEREMONIAL AND RITUAL PLANTS OF INDIA: The Shubh-Labh Connections Between Spirituality And Science”, tried to correlate our cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs about plants with modern science. It also tried to clarify the Indian customs, rituals and ceremonies associated with plants and the hidden scientific reasons behind them. This book finds and establishes the mutual relationship among spirituality, science, plants and human beings. Also, pin-pointed how and why the plants have been an integral part of Indian culture from early of the civilization as well as why plants are worshiped as God or Goddess which indirectly valued plants & spreading message to conserve them for generations. Hopefully, prove beneficial for research in the field of ethnobotany and folkloric medicine.

This book is the 9th volume in the series Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World. India being one of the countries with the longest and richest past/present/future of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAP) production and utilization has accumulated more than sufficient knowledge to fill two volumes. This is shown by the vivid interest of Indian colleagues to contribute. Similar to the previous volumes, this one deals with the various important aspects (from botanical through phytochemical to pharmacological) of MAPs', famous or simply known of India. Scientific and technological achievements will be equally presented. In addition to the first volume, India V1, this volume is aimed to look carefully at our present knowledge of this vas interdisciplinary domain with an Indian focus. In the era of global climate change and pandemics, building on the huge Indian traditions, this book is expected to make an important contribution to the better knowledge and understanding of MAPs.

This study examines plants associated with ritual purity, fertility, prosperity and life, and plants associated with ritual impurity, sickness, ill fate and death. It provides detail from history, ethnography, religious studies, classics, folklore, ethnobotany and medicine.

The present book "Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of India and Nepal" is next publication in the series on Indian Medicinal Plants. The contributors of the papers in this book are well known Indian Ethnobotanists who have furnished authenticated data for further scientific and clinical tests. The information about the medicinal plants spread over 325 pages, covers various tribal communities from north to south and east to west and different ailments cured in nature's dispensary. Beautiful phtographs of some medicinal plants have also been provided by some contributors. The information furnished in the book will be useful for controlling biopiracy, backing conservation stretegies and facilitate better understanding of phytotherapy research.

The present book "Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of India and Nepal" is next publication in the series on Indian Medicinal Plants. The contributors of the papers in this book are well known Indian Ethnobotanists who have furnished authenticated data for further scientific and clinical tests. The information about the medicinal plants spread over 325 pages, covers various tribal communities from north to south and east to west and different ailments cured in nature's dispensary. Beautiful phtographs of some medicinal plants have also been provided by some contributors. The information furnished in the book will be useful for controlling biopiracy, backing conservation stretegies and facilitate better understanding of phytotherapy research.

Ethnobotany deals with relationship between people and plants. Since ancient times plants were used to cure all types of illness and diseases all over the world. The traditional knowledge of medicincal valued plants communicated from one generation to another generation and plays a significant role in the development of traditional medicines. The ethnobotanical research provides information about medicinal plants that can cure fatal diseases. This book has fourteen chapters that include various aspect of Ethnobotany viz: Introduction to Ethnobotany; Ethnobotany: Past, Present and Future; Ethnobotany and Ayurveda; Important Sacred Plants in India; Grace of Butter tree; Diversity, Indigenous use of the Ethnomedicinal flora of various plants of India; Ethnobotany and Modern system of Medicine; Plants of folklore from myth to magic; Different tribal committee of India and Historical journey and its prospective in India. This book is highly relevant to innovated and enhance knowledge about Ethnobotany and helpful for undergraduate, post-graduate students, research scholars and faculty. The book incorporates chapters authored by eminent botanists who are working in the field of Ethnobotany since a long time.

Currently ethnobotany has been a subject of wide interest for research in developing and developed countries. The book has been dedicated to the doyen of Indian ethnobiology, Dr. S.K. Jain, FNA, popularly known as 'Father of Indian Ethnobotany'. The book comprises very important articles written by notable ethnobiologists/ botanists on different aspects of ethnobotany. The book would certainly be useful to the students, researchers and teachers working on various aspects of ethnobotany and helpful to various pharmaceutical industries in exploring plants for preparation of new drugs.

A publishing first, Nectar and Ambrosia presents an encyclopedic treatment of the magic properties and uses of food by mortals and immortals alike, from the pages of myth and legend. Now, for the first time, the magic properties and uses of food by both mortals and immortals as represented in the world's myths and legends are brought together and explained in Nectar and Ambrosia. This A–Z volume is filled with an abundance of exotic lore and legend.

Herbal Medicines Are In Great Demand In Both Developed And The Developing Countries In Primary Healthcare Because Of Their Great Efficacy And Little Or No Side Effects. In India, The Indigenous System Of Medicine Namely Ayurvedic, Siddha And Unani Have Been In Existence For Several Centuries. These Traditional System Of Medicine Together With Homoeopathy And Folklore Medicine Continue To Play A Significant Role Largely In The Health Care System Of The Population. The Tribals And Rural Population Of India Are Highly Dependent On Medicinal Plant Therapy For Meeting Their Health Care Needs. This Attracted The Attention Of Several Botanist And Plant Scientists Of Several Medicinal Plants And There Was A Spurt Of Scientific Literature. The Present Book Ethnomedicinal Plants Of India , Contains 21 Articles By Eminent Scholars Of The Country On Different Aspect Of The Subjects. This Book Contains Articles On Ethnomedicinal Plants Of Different States Of India Including Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Chhatisgarh, M.P., U.P., Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, North-East India Etc. It Also Covers Information On Ethnomedicinal Plants Used By Bodo, Barpeta And Deuris Tribes Of Assam, Kheria, Sabar, Lodha And Munda Tribal Groups Of W. Bengal And Todas Tribes Of Tamilnadu. Articles On Native Plant Remedies For Snake Bite, Cryptogamic Ethnomedicinal Plants From North-East India And Native Resources Used As Famine Food Provides Additional Information On The Subject. Article On Diversity, Utilization And Conservation Of Medicinal Plants Of Chitrakoot Region, M.P. Have Added To The Value Of The Book. Present Book Provides Excellent Glimpses Of The Rich Herbal Medicine And Traditional Knowledge Heritage Of India. The Present Book Will Serve Not Only As An Excellent Reference Material But Also As A Practical Guide For Herbal Healers, Vaidhyas, Hakims, Research Workers And Students In The Field Of Medicinal Plants.