Controversy shrouds Sanjeevani discovery

(Statesman 1 Oct 2008)
Swati R SharmaDEHRA DUN, Sept 30: Sanjeevani Booti has remained elusive for centuries. but thanks to Baba Ramdev's Patajanli Yoogpeeth, it may have finally have been stumbled upon.However, the claims made by Patajanli Yoogpeeth regarding the discovery of the Sanjeevani Booti, mentioned in the Ramayana, have been challenged by some scientists. The government too feels that more research is needed in the field. The legendary herb, which is said to have powers to restore life, could not be traced by botanists across the country. But Acharya Balkrishan, the closest aide of Yog maestro Baba Ramdev, and his teammates have claimed to have found it in just six days. “A group of acharyas of the Yogpeeth, accompanied by two ayurvedic doctors, went to the Dronagiri hills in search of the Sanjeevani Booti and were successful in finding it at a height of about 15,000 feet,” stated Acharya Balkrishan . The herb is also called Mrit Sanjeevani ~ a medicinal plant which has been mentioned in the Ramayana as Sanjeevani Booti. As the legend goes Laxman was brought back to life by Sanjeevani Booti found in the Dronagiri hills in Uttarakhand. But the booti which even Hanuman failed to identify has now been claimed to discovered by Baba Ramdev's disciples. However, challenging this discovery, Botanist Prof. R.D. Gaur said that the herbs which are being claimed as Sanjeevani Booti, are common herbs found above the height of 10,000 feet in the Himalayan region. Prof. Gaur, who has done extensive research on the flora and fauna of Garhwal says that Kasturi Komal (Gossipiphora) and Bhotkesaria (Pleurospermum Candollei) are commonly referred by the locals as Sanjeevani Booti. But these are not only found on Dronagiri hills but other Himalayan areas as well. He also clarified that these herbs have the ability to restore consciousness in a patient but cannot bring them back to life. Contrary to Prof Gaur's claims, Acharya Balkrishan said that apart from the the two, they have also discovered Mrit Sanjeevani, which is one of the rarest plants. Meanwhile the medicinal plants minister Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank asserted that more research is needed to be done on Sanjeevani Booti. In fact it all started when Dr Nishank announced during his visit to Colombo that the government would try to find Sanjeevani Booti . Thereafter on his return a team was constituted which included 16 experts.