Subject Seminar

Periodic Development of Rasashastra

By

Dr. Ajay Chavan

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 2

CONTENTS

• Objective • Introduction• Brief Review• Vedic Kala• Samhita Kala• Sangraha Kala• Adhunika Kala• Conclusion 07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 3

Objective

• Description of periodic development of Rasashastra acc. Kala in brief.

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 4

Introduction

• About 3000 yrs ago Indian Alchemy ‘Rasa vijnanam’

was so advance as they succeed in ‘Lohavada’

• Historic evidence of metallic art fact from Harappa

and Mohenjo-Daro

• Similarly find evidence of use of metals, minerals

etc. as medicine in Ayurvedic Smahitas

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 5

Brief Review

• Development of Rasashastra as independent branch

started since 8th century A.D.

• Golden period was between 4th century B.C. to 14th

century A.D.

• In this period it was blended with main stream

medicine due to decline of surgical practice.

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 6

Contd…• To understand history of development it

divided acc. Kala • uÉæÌSMü MüÉsÉ• xÉÇÌWûiÉÉ MüÉsÉ• xÉÇaÉëWû MüÉsÉ• AÉkÉÑÌlÉMü MüÉsÉ

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 7

Vedic Kala• Vedic sahitya especially AjÉuÉï uÉåS gives many

references regarding UxÉzÉÉx§ÉÏrÉ SìurÉÉÅ like

Swrana, Rajata, Tamra, Naaga, Vanga, Shilajatu etc.

• AjÉuÉï uÉåS gives diffrant names of Anjan and its

uses

• Swarana Prasahan for sadyojata as balavardhaka and

prevent the occurrence of diseases in growing period

of child.07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 8

Contd…• In rÉeÉÑuÉåïS description of swaranadi dhatu is

given.

• In GaÉuÉåS there is kqÉÉmÉlÉ ÌuÉkÉÏ dy this

vidhi they got metals

• In Agnipurana explanation of mineral, metals Bhasma

• In Garuda Purana mentioned about the utpatti of

Ratna

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 9

Samhita Kala

• In this kala knowledge about lohasidhi was developed

• In charaka use of Loha, Tamra, Gandhaka, Hartala,

Mandur description found.

• Vrudha Vagbhatta, Chakradatta also advocated use of

dhatu

• Thus it become clear that until 8th -9th century

Rasaushadhi were used in different forms. 07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 10

Charaka Samhita

• Classified object into three viz. animal products,

Herbal product and Product pertaining to earth

• Several minerals like Manshila, Hartal, Tutha etc.

prescribed for twacha vikaras

• In Cha.Chi. 16/17 he told in Navayas churana,

Rajasa word is used for Churna or Bhasma

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 11

Contd…

• For Punsavana Sanskar, red hot purushkruti

prepared by Swarana/Rajat, dipped in godugdha

• Hemachurna prayoga for vishanashartha

• Explanation of Shilajatu and its type is given

• Knowledge regarding toxicity of metals.

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 12

Sushruta Samhita

• Preparation and use of Alkali for clean the

surgical instruments

• Different metals like Swarana, Loha, Pittal, Rajat,

Tamra etc. are enumerated in this Samhita.

• Conversion of metals in there Chlorides and

Oxides for preparation of metallic salt is

explained 07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 13

Contd…

• Anjana for Netra vikaras, Raktasthmbaka

• Mahavajraka tail (Su.Chi.9/6), Gandhak is used as

Vranachikista.

• Out of 37 ganas, two gana are Khanija Dravya

• Trapwadi Gana: Trapu, Sisa, Tamra, Rajat,

Swarana Krushna Loha, Saindhav, Shilajatu,

Kasisa, Tutha07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 14

Astang Sangraha

• Vagbhata has Classified Loha in two types Krishna &

Tiksnha

• Also mentioned gunadhrama of Padmaraga,

Mahanila, Pusparaga, Mukta, Vidruma

• In Astang Hrudaya use of varti in netra roga prepared

by shankha, mukta etc.

• Explanation of musha for prepartion of

Bhasma/Churna 07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 15

Sangraha Kala

• In Chakradatta there is Sodhana of Swarnadi Dhatu,

& preparation of their sukshma churna by

Nirvapa in kanji or Gomutra

• But there is not description of Parada

• At the time of Rasarnav by Madhva and Rasaratna

Samucchaya by Vagbhata aim of Rasashastra not

only the Dhatu Vada but also for Dehavada07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 16

Contd…

• At that time we are getting Vargikarana of Rasa,

Uparasa, Maharasa, Sadharan Rasa

• Over all at time of Sangraha kala development of

Rasachikista for Dehavada

• Sidha Nityanatha composed his work called

Rasaratnakar which deals with both Lohasidhi &

Dehasidhi07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 17

Contd…• In 13th century Rasaprakash sudhakar by Yshodhar & Rasasara

by Govindacharya both of them deals with Dehavada &

Lohavada

• Rasendra Sara Sangraha has mentioned the pryojana of

rasachikista

AsmÉqÉÉ§É EmÉrÉÉåaÉÏiuÉÉSMüjÉåÅmÉëxÉÇaÉiÉ |

ͤÉmÉëqÉÉUÉåarÉ SÉÌrÉiuÉÉS

AÉæwÉkÉåprÉÉåÅÍkÉMüÉå UxÉ||

U.xÉÉ.xÉÇ 1/407/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 18

Contd…• In Sarvadarshana Sangrha by madavacharya he

expalined Philosopical background of Jivanmukti, a separate section of this work called Raseshwar Darshan deals with this topic

• Gupta Peroid : in this kala 24 ft long Iron pillar of Kutub Minar; specific type of Iron is made use of here. It is said to be have a composition of 99.20% Fe, 0.80% carbon, 0.46% Silicon, 0.06% Gandhaka

07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 19

• Koutilya- Arthashastra : Ore from which Swarna,

Rajata were extracted are named.

• Separation method of Mishra Dhatu told.

• Utpatti of Swarana is told as Jatarupa,Rasabhidha,

Akarogna

• Five types of varna of swarana were mentioned

• Types of Loha and sites from were Parada and

Hingula are obtained were told 07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 20

Nagarjuna

• Under name of Ngarjuna; Sidhanagarjuna was

among the 84 sidhas

• Rasa Hruday Tantra work of him in which he

mentioned Parada Sanskar, Sevan Vidhi & Bhasma

Nirmana Vidhi

• There are many people under name of Nagarjuna

who contributed by various texts like Rasapadhati,

Yogaratnakar, Rasakamdhenu etc.07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 21

Adhunika Kala

• During this period several text viz. Rasakaumudi,

Rasakamdhenu, Rasendrakalpa etc deals with Parada

and Metals for both Loha vada And Deha vada

• In 16th century Bhavapraksha, 17thc. Aurveda

prakasha, 19thc. Sidha Baishjyamanimala, 20thc.

Rasatarngini, provide description of use of mineral &

metallic preparation in treatment of disease.07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 22

Contd…

• Other works like Rasayansara, Paradavidnyaniya,

Rasayogsager, Rasatantrasara, Rasamruta their

Acharya were made efforts to revive

Rasashastra.

• Several other works were composed on

Rasashastra in the past but most of them are lost

which deals with Loha vada and Dehavada07/06/2011

Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra 23

Conclusion

• Golden period of Rasashastra as ascertained by historians is between 4th century B.C. till 14th century A.D.

• It deals with both Dhatuvada as well as Dhehavada

• Today there are also recent techniques offer a better quality measurements

07/06/2011

THANK YOU 07/06/2011 24Peridoc Devlopment of Rasashatra