Green Gram

Mudga (Green Gram/Mung Bean) is considered the best among all pulses (Shimbidhanya) in Ayurveda. It is the lightest pulse and the only one considered Tridoshahara (pacifying all three doshas). Green mung is preferred over yellow. It is sweet, astringent, light, and dry. It is indicated in fever, digestive disorders, eye diseases, and skin conditions. Mung dal (split mung without husk) is even lighter and more digestible. Mung bean soup (Yusha) is the ideal food during illness and convalescence. Green gram sprouts are highly nutritious. The plant is an annual herb 1-2 feet tall. It is cooling and does not aggravate Pitta. Among all pulses, Mudga is the most universally recommended for regular consumption. Verses: 34-38.

• Tridoshahara (pacifies all three doshas — especially Pitta-Kapha)
• Grahi (absorbent)
• Chakshushya (beneficial for eyes)
• Deepana (appetizer)

49 ½ त तं वाद ु कषायं च ु धतो अ नं भजे लघु शा लमु ग सताधा ीपटोलमधुजा गलम ् When hungry, the person should take foods which are of bitter, sweet and astringent tastes, and easily digestible such as Rice, green gram, sugar, Amla, Patola, honey and meat of animals of desert-like lands.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Treatment for those who undergo Panchakarma treatment and who feel tired: भेषज पते प यमाहारै ब ृहणं मात ् शा लषि टकगोधम ू मु गमांसघत ृ ा द भः यद पनभे ष य संयोगा ु चपि तदैः सा य गो वतन नान न ह ने हनि त भः Bruhmana Ahara – nourishing eatables such as Shashtika Shali – rice that mature in 60 days Godhuma – wheat Mudga – green gram Mamsa – meat Ghrita – ghee Medicine with Hrudya (cardiac tonic) and Deepana (digestive, carminative) qualities should be mixed with food and taken.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Roganutpadaniya

Rochishnu – increases taste Curd Useful in aruchau – useful in anorexia Vishamajwara – chronic, recurrent fever Peenasa – rhinitis Mutrakruchra – dysuria Grahani – malabsorption syndrome Rules for curds consumption: Curd should not be eaten at nights, not made hot, Curd should not be taken along with green gram soup It should not be taken along with honey, ghee, sugar and Amla.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

It is Sheeta – cold Kashaya (astringent) Madhura (sweet) And Laghu (light to digest) 16 इ त शक ू धा यवगः Shimbidhanya varga – (group of legumes and pulses):अथ श बीधा यवगः मु गाढक मसरू ा द श बीधा यं वब धकृत ् कषायं वाद ु स मेदः ले मा ाह कटुपाकं हमं लघु १७ प तेषु हतं लेपोपसेकयोः Mudga (green gram) , adhaki (toor dal), masura(lentil) and other varieties belong to the group called shimbidhanya (those having pods/legumes).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

17-18 a वरो अ मु गो अ पचलः, कलाय राजमाषो अ नलकरो व तवातलः १८ ो बहुशकृ गु ः Among them, mudga (green gram) is best, it causes mild increase of chala (vata): kalaya (round pea) causes vata and dryness, produces more faeces and is hard to digest 18 Rajamasha (big sized black gram) increases Vata, it is dry, heavy to digest and increases bulk of faeces.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

Recommended foods include shashtika rice, mudga (green gram), rock-salt, honey, and ghee.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 5: Proper Food Quantity & Daily Regimen (Matrashiteeya Adhyaya / मात्राशितीय अध्याय)

mix with ghee, sugar, green gram soup, honey, or amalaka;

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 7: Non-suppressible & Suppressible Natural Urges (Naveganadharaniya Adhyaya / नवेगान्धारणीय अध्याय)

Pulses: Green gram/mudga (astringent, sweet, dry, cold, alleviates kapha/pitta).

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 27: Classification of Food & Beverages (Annapanavidhi Adhyaya / अन्नपानविधि अध्याय)

For example, the prakriti of black gram or pork is heavy, while that of green gram or deer meat is light.

— Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 1: Taste Assessment (Rasa Vimana / रस विमान)

If there is excessive bleeding, then the patient should take eggs of daksha (wild hen) along with green gram soup or water.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा)

Afterwards in the afternoon, when digestive fire is kindled, feed the patient with Mudga (green gram), Shashtika rice, pleasant meat soups of wild animals, and Yusha (lentil soup).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 3: Vamana Vidhi (Emesis Therapy)

The purged person should be fed Yavagu (thin gruel) prepared with Shali rice, Shashtika rice, Mudga (green gram), etc.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

The nozzle opening should be the size of a Mudga (green gram) seed, a Kalaya (pea), or a Kola (jujube) seed respectively (for the three age groups).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 5: Sneha Basti Vidhi (Oil Enema Therapy)

Beneficial in Daha (burning sensation): old rice, green gram (Vigna radiata), barley, sugar, milk, pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), dates (Phoenix dactylifera), pomegranate (Punica granatum), and coconut (Cocos nucifera).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 29: Diet for Burning Sensation (Daha Pathyapathyam)

Red rice, barley, green gram (Vigna radiata), wheat (Triticum aestivum), tortoise meat, soup from arid-land animals, grapes (Vitis vinifera), wood apple (Limonia acidissima), and coconut (Cocos nucifera) are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 30: Diet for Insanity (Unmada Pathyapathyam)

Beneficial for wound healing: Shali rice (Oryza sativa), Mudga dal (Vigna radiata / green gram), Jangala meat (meat of animals from arid regions), Patola (Trichosanthes dioica), ghee, and warm water.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 20: Hitahitiya Adhyaya - Beneficial and Harmful Factors

At a riverbank, one should propitiate Shitaputana with offerings of food made with green gram (mudga).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 34: Shitaputanapratishedha

May the goddess Shitaputana, who feeds on green gram rice, who drinks liquor and blood, who dwells near water bodies, protect you (the child).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 34: Shitaputanapratishedha

Green gram soup with rice is beneficial in Kapha-type fever.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha

A soup of pomegranate, Amalaka (gooseberry), and green gram is beneficial in Vata-Pitta fever.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha