Sanjeevani

Sanjeevani is a Sanskrit term that translates roughly to life-giving or life-restoring. In Hindu tradition, it is most famously associated with a legendary herb believed to have the power to revive the dead and restore vitality. The phrase has become a symbol of healing and rejuvenation in Indian culture and is used in literature, art, and common speech to signify remedies or acts that restore life or strength.

In the Ramayana, the best-known Hindu epic, Sanjeevani appears as a life-restoring herb sought during a critical crisis. When Lakshmana is gravely wounded in battle, the physician cannot save him. Hanuman is dispatched to fetch the herb from a distant mountain, and in some versions he carries the entire mountain back to the besieged forces in Lanka to ensure the healing powers are available. Different tellings vary on whether the herb alone or the whole plant was needed to restore Lakshmana.

Botanical identifications of the Sanjeevani plant remain uncertain. Across centuries, scholars and explorers have proposed various candidate species, but there is no universally accepted identification. Regardless of its real-world correspondence, the story endures as a powerful metaphor for miraculous healing, devotion, and the triumph of good.

Culturally, the term Sanjeevani continues to appear in names of institutions, businesses, and artistic works, reflecting its enduring association with healing, vitality, and restoration. It also appears in modern retellings of the Ramayana, films, and devotional literature, where the idea of a life-saving remedy remains a potent symbol.