Ethnobotanical Significance and Traditional Uses of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) in the Ramayana Cultural Landscape: From Dandakaranya to Bhadrachalam

Madhuca longifolia (Mahua) is a multipurpose indigenous tree species with substantial ethnobotanical, nutritional, medicinal, economic, and cultural significance among forest-dependent and tribal communities of India. This study examines the traditional uses and cultural significance of Mahua within the proposed Ramayana cultural landscape extending from Dandakaranya to Bhadrachalam, with particular emphasis on indigenous knowledge, food systems, traditional medicine, livelihood practices, and cultural heritage. The study adopts an integrated ethnobotanical framework combining published literature, botanical observations, traditional-use documentation, and cultural-landscape interpretation. Traditional uses of flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, and bark are examined in relation to food, beverages, medicinal preparations, household applications, oil production, and livelihood activities. Quantitative ethnobotanical measures, including Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Fidelity Level (FL), are proposed for future field-based assessment. The reviewed literature indicates that Mahua flowers and seeds are particularly important for food, traditional beverages, oil production, and livelihood support, while other plant parts are associated with diverse traditional healthcare practices. The cultural-landscape analysis connects Mahua with indigenous knowledge, forest-resource dependence, the Godavari region, and the Rama-associated traditions of Bhadrachalam. Importantly, the study distinguishes literary references to madhūka in the Ramayana tradition from contemporary ethnobotanical evidence and avoids treating them as direct historical proof of present-day Mahua practices. The study highlights the need for conserving both Mahua populations and associated traditional knowledge and provides an integrated framework for future interdisciplinary research involving ethnobotany, cultural geography, nutritional science, phytochemistry, GIS, and indigenous knowledge conservation.