Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea Linn.)

(Also known as Girikarnikā, Viṣṇukrāntā, Śaṅkhapuṣpī)

1. Synonyms

Sanskrit:

• Āsphoṭā (dehiscent pod)
• Girikarṇī (buds and leaves resemble earlobes)
• Aparājitā (“never defeated,” always effective)
• Viṣṇukrāntā (mythologically associated with Lord Viṣṇu)
• Śaṅkhapuṣpī (regional synonym)

• Other References:

• Śvetā (white-flowered), Nīlapuṣpī (blue-flowered), Mahāśvetā (larger white variety)
• Śaṇaparṇī (in Amarakoṣa)

2. Regional Names

• Hindi: Aparājitā, Koyala, Kālījara, Viṣṇukrāntī
• Bengali: Nīlā Aparājitā, Śvetā Aparājitā
• Punjabi: Dhanantara, Dhanattara
• Gujarati: Garani
• Kannada: Śaṅkhapuṣpī, Girikarnike
• Marathi: Gokarni, Kājalī
• Tamil: Kākkana Kodi, Kakkanam
• Telugu: Dintena
• Malayalam: Śaṅkhapuṣpam
• English: Butterfly Pea, Bluebell Vine
• Botanical Name: Clitoria ternatea Linn.
• Family: Fabaceae (Papilionaceae)

3. Botanical Description

• Type: Perennial, twining, ornamental herb
• Leaves: Imparipinnate, with 5–7 ovate leaflets, 1–2 inches long
• Flowers: Blue or white, 1.5–2 inches long, shaped like a conch (Śaṅkha)
• Pods: 2.5–5 inches long, containing 6–10 brown oval seeds
• Root: Thick, with bark used medicinally
• Habitat: Common in gardens, hedges, and wild throughout India
• Flowering: June to January
• Propagation: By seeds

4. Chemical Constituents

Leaves:

• Aparajitin (a lactone), Taraxerol, Taraxerone
• β-sitosterol, α-sitosterol
• Fatty acids: Stearic, Palmitic, Oleic, Linoleic, Linolenic
• Flavonoids: Ternatins A–F, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Robinin, Malvidin-3β-glucoside, Delphinidin derivatives
• Anthoxanthin, Ethyl α-D-galactopyranoside
• p-hydroxycinnamic acid

Roots: Taraxerol, Taraxerone

Seeds: Proteins, mild purgative constituents

Pharmacological Effects: Sedative, hypothermic, purgative, mild diuretic, nervine tonic

5. Properties and Therapeutic Uses

• Rasa (Taste): Kaṣāya (astringent), Tikta (bitter)
• Guna (Properties): Laghu (light)
• Virya (Potency): Śīta (cooling)
• Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Kaṭu (pungent)
• Doshic Action: Pacifies Tridoṣa (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha)

Therapeutic Properties

• Medhya (memory enhancer)
• Śītala (cooling)
• Kaṇṭhya (beneficial for voice)
• Cakṣuṣya (improves vision)
• Vraṇahara (heals wounds)
• Viṣaghna (antidotal)
• Śothahara (anti-inflammatory)

Medicinal Uses

Digestive & Excretory:

• Root bark acts as purgative and mild diuretic in ascites and urinary disorders
• Infusion of roots given in spermatorrhoea and cystitis

Respiratory:

• Seeds with jaggery & rock salt in bronchitis and childhood cough
• Seeds with milk relieve cough

Neurological:

• Used in Unmada (insanity), epilepsy, and as brain tonic
• Improves memory, intellect, and concentration

ENT & Nervous System:

• Root juice used nasally in hemicrania and sinusitis

Skin & Inflammation:

• Leaf juice with ginger for excessive sweating
• Leaf paste with rock salt applied on inflammatory swellings

Other Uses:

• White-flowered variety considered therapeutically superior
• Used in fevers, goitre (galaganda), glandular swellings, rheumatism, and poisoning.

✅ Summary:
Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea Linn.), also called Butterfly Pea or Girikarnikā, is a sacred and therapeutic herb with memory-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and wound-healing properties. Its roots and seeds act as mild purgatives and diuretics, while leaves and flowers support mental health, respiratory relief, and skin care. It is widely used in Ayurveda for ascites, urinary disorders, fevers, glandular swellings, and neurological conditions, and also holds ritual significance as a sacred flower.

Reference: Bhavaprakash Nighantu