Shimbidhanya varga (group of legumes and pulses)
Pulses, also known as Shimbi Dhanya or Shami Dhanya in traditional Indian texts, are a very important group of foods, especially for vegetarians. They are rich in proteins, which are essential for building and repairing the body. Because of their high protein content, pulses are sometimes called the “poor man’s meat.”
In Ayurvedic texts like the Sushruta Samhita, pulses are referred to as Mudgadi Varga, Vaidala, or Shimbi Dhanya. Some common examples include:
- Mudga – Green gram
- Vanamudga – Wild green gram
- Kalaya – Peas
- Makustha – Moth bean
- Masura – Lentils
- Canaka – Bengal gram
- Adhaki – Red gram
- And other types of peas and lentils.
According to Acharya Vagbhata:
- Pulses are generally astringent and sweet in taste.
- They have a cooling effect on the body.
- After digestion, they leave a pungent (slightly spicy or sharp) effect.
- They can increase gas in the body (Vata), and help reduce Pitta (heat) and Kapha (mucus).
- Some pulses, especially green gram, red gram, and lentils, are considered easy to digest.
- However, they can also cause constipation and reduce urine and stool flow due to their absorbent nature.
मुद्गाढकी-मसूरादि शिम्बी-धान्यं विबन्ध-कृत् ।
कषायं स्वादु संग्राहि कटु-पाकं हिमं लघु ॥ 17 ॥
मेदः-श्लेष्मास्र-पित्तेषु हितं लेपोपसेकयोः ।
Mudga (green gram), adhaki (toor/arhar dal), masurai (masoor dal), and other varieties of pulse belong to the group shimbi dhanya (those having pods/legumes).
They are:
- Rasa: kashaya- astringent, madhur- sweet
- Virya: sheet- cold.
- Vipaka: katu-pungent after digestion
- Effect on dosha: Reduces kapha, pitta, raktapitta and medas.
- Guna: grahi-absorbent, laghu-easily digestible,
- Vibandhakrut: They cause constipation.
- They are suitable for the use of lepa (external application) and upaseka ( food preparation such as soup).
वरो ऽत्र मुद्गो ऽल्प-चलः कलायस् त्व् अति-वातलः ॥ 18 ॥
राज-माषो ऽनिल-करो रूक्षो बहु-शकृद् गुरुः ।
Among them, mudga (green gram) is best, it causes a mild increase of chala (vata):
Kalaya (round pea) causes Vata and dryness, produces more faeces and is hard to digest. Rajamasha (kidney bean) increases Vata, it is dry, heavy to digest and increases the bulk of faeces.
Horse gram benefits –
उष्णाः कुलत्थाः पाके अम्लाः शुकाश्मश्वासपीनसान् ॥ 19 ॥
कासार्थः कफवातांश्च घ्नन्ति पित्तसदाः परम्
Kulattha (horse gram)
- Ushno-hot in potency.
- Amlapaka-sour at the end of digestion,
- Cleanses semen, useful in urinary stones,
- Shwasa-Anthema. COPD wheezing, breathing difficulty
- Peenasa – running nose, rhinitis
- Kasa – Cough cold
- Kapha Vata diseases
- But it increases bleeding disorders and is not recommended in such conditions, like menorrhagia. 19
निष्पावो वात-पित्तास्र-स्तन्य-मूत्र-करो गुरुः ॥ 20 ॥
सरो विदाही दृक्-शुक्र-कफ-शोफ-विषापहः ।
Nishpava (flat beans) increase vata, pitta, and bleeding disorders. It increases breast milk production and promotes urine formation. It is :
- Guna: guru – heavy, sara- promote bowel movement, Vidahi- increase burning sensation
- It is not good for the eyes and semen quality. It decreases Kapha, and inflammation and is useful in poisoning.
Masha ( Black gram benefits) – Urad dal
माषः स्निग्धो बल-श्लेष्म-मल-पित्त-करः सरः ॥ 21 ॥
गुरूष्णो ऽनिल-हा स्वादुः शुक्र-वृद्धि-विरेक-कृत् ।
Black gram is:
- Rasa: Madhura – sweet in taste,
- Guna: Snigdha – unctuous, Guru – not easily digestible, Sara – laxative,
- Balya – increases strength,
- Virya: Ushna – hot in potency,
- Effect on dosha: increases kapha and Pitta, Vatahara – mitigates Vata,
- Malakara – increases the bulk of faeces,
- Shukra vruddhikara- increases semen
- Virekakrut – promotes ejaculation strength.
फलानि माष-वद् विद्यात् काकाण्डोलात्मगुप्तयोः ॥ 22 ॥
The fruit of Kakandola and Atmagupta are similar to Black gram in qualities..
Sesame seed benefits:
उष्णस् त्वच्यो हिमः स्पर्शे केश्यो बल्यस् तिलो गुरुः ।
अल्प-मूत्रः कटुः पाके मेधाग्नि-कफ-पित्त-कृत् ॥ 23 ॥
Tila (sesame) is :
- Guna: Guru – hard to digest,
- Virya: Ushna – hot in potency,
- Vipaka: Katu paka – pungent at the end of digestion
- Tvachya – good for the skin,
- Sheetasparsha – cold on touch,
- Keshya – good for hair,
- Balya – strengthening,
- Alpamutra – produces a little quantity of urine,
- Medhakrut – increases intelligence,
- Agnikrut – increases digestive function,
- and increases kapha and pitta.
Uma- kusumbha beeja ( linseed)
स्निग्धोमा स्वादु-तिक्तोष्णा कफ-पित्त-करी गुरुः ।
दृक्-शुक्र-हृत् कटुः पाके तद्-वद् बीजं कुसुम्भ-जम् ॥ 24 ॥
Seed of uma (linseed) is:
- Rasa: madhura- sweet, tikta- bitter in taste.
- Vipak: katu- pungent.
- Guna: snigdha-unctuous/oily , guru- heavy.
- Virya: ushna- hot
- Effect on dosha: increase Kapha and pitta.
- They also cause vision defects and decrease semen.
- Kushmbh beeja also has properties similar to uma beeja.
माषो अत्र सर्वेष्व् अवरो यवकः शूक-जेषु च ।
Masa (black gram) in the group of legumes and yavaka (small barley) in the group of cereals are inferior.
नवं धान्यम् अभिष्यन्दि लघु संवत्सरोषितम् ॥ 25 ॥
शीघ्र-जन्म तथा सूप्यं निस्-तुषं युक्ति-भर्जितम् ।
Fresh grains are abhisyandi (causing excess exudation from tissue pores and blocking them), while those that are one year old are easily digestible.
Those who grow quickly, those that are removed from their husk, and those that are properly fried are also easy to digest.
Thus ends group of pulses.
| Name of pulse or legumes | Taste | Guna | Vipaka | Potency | Effect on dosha | Other effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mugdha (Moong Dal) | M, K, | L, R, S | Katu | S | K↑ P ↑ V ↓ | |
