Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s18.497

v1.c3.s18.497

Dur-ṇāman, ‘of evil name,’ is the designation in the Rigveda¹ and the Atharvaveda² of a demon causing disease, or the disease itself. The Nirukta³ explains the words as meaning a ‘worm,’ an interpretation which accords with the widespread belief in disease-causing worms.⁴ Later Durnāman denotes ‘hæmorrhoids.’⁵