Controversial and unidentified drugs are burning issues in Ayurveda. Due to in-appropriation of synonyms in nighantu classics, issue still remains a big challenge for the scholars of Ayurveda. Asan and Bijaka are considered to be synonymous by a large section of scholars of Ayurveda and Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Fabaceae) has been considered to be official source for classical drugs Asan and Bijaka. Bijaka is popularly known as Vijayasal in many parts of country. In forested area of Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, two entirely different plants are available and used by the names of Asana (Terminalia alata Heyne ex. Roth, Combretaceae) and Vijayasal (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.). Present paper is an attempt to address the controversy regarding botanical source of these two classical drugs.

Keywords: Local Health Traditions; Ayurveda; Terminalia alata Heyne ex. Roth.; Pterocarpus marsupium.