Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.648

v1.c3.s11.648

1. Kuṣṭha is the name of a plant (*Costus speciosus* or *arabicus*)¹ which is prominent in the Atharvaveda.² It grew especially on the mountains, along with the Soma, on the high peaks of the Himālaya (*Himavant*) where the eagles nest, and was thence brought east to men.³ Like Soma, it is said to have grown in the third heaven under the famous Aśvattha tree, where the gods were wont to assemble, and thence it was brought in a golden ship.⁴ As a remedy, it held the highest place among herbs, being called by the auspicious names Nagha-māra and Naghā-riṣa, and styled the offspring of Jīvala and Jīvalā, the ‘lively’ ones.⁵ It cured headache (*śīrṣamaya*), diseases of the eyes, bodily affliction,⁶ but especially fever—hence called ‘fever-destroyer’ (*takma-nāśana*)—and consumption (Yakṣma). From its general properties it was also named ‘all-healing’ (*viśva-bheṣaja*).⁷ Its aromatic qualities were apparently known, as it is classed with ‘salve’ (Añjana) and ‘nard’ (Nalada).⁸