History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s4.t1: 1. Rasa Hṛdaya Tantra (8/9th century. A.D)

History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s4.t1

Language: English

1. Rasa Hṛdaya Tantra (8/9th century. A.D)

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This text is written by Shri Govinda Bhagavatpāda in about 8/9th century. A.D. The major portion of this text is devoted to describe Pārada Saṃskāras (18 special processes of Mercury).

The 19th chapter of this text had dealt about the internal uses of Mercury. It is clearly mentioned here that if mercurial compounds for achieving Rasāyana effects are used without subjecting with kṣetrikaraṇa procedure then these neither produce desired effects in the body nor prove beneficial to the human tissues, instead produce various kinds of doṣas (toxic effects) all over the body.

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Forms of Mercury Recommended for internal use

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It is also mentioned in 19th Chapter of this text that Mercury may be used internally either in ‘ Āroṭa’ (Purified form) or in Bhasma (ash) or Baddha (solidified forms).

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Mercurials for Internal Use

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1. Kalkīkrta Sūtayoga I (RHṛ. 19/19) Here purified Mercury mixed with Māksika (Chalcopyrite), Śilājatu (Vitumen), Loha Cūrṇa (Iron powder partially converted to Iron Oxide), Haritakī Cūrṇa, Bibhitakī Cūrṇa, Vidāṅga Cūrṇa, Ghee and Honey made into paste form may be used internally to prepare body suitable for mercurial therapy.

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2. Kalkīkrta Sutayoga II (RHṛ. 19/20) Here purified mercury is mixed with Ghana (Mica), Kānta loha (Magnetic Iron), Ghee and Honey made into paste form is advised for internal use to achieve Amaratva (immortality) and Kṣetrikaraṇa effect.

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3. *Ghana Satvādi Baddha Pārada yoga I (RHṛ 19/34)*

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Here Mercury made solid by mixing and consuming ¼ part of Abharaka Satva & Kānta loha and equal part of Tīkṣṇa Loha is recommended for internal use to obtain Kṣetrikaraṇa effect.

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4. *Ghana Satvādi Baddha Pārada Yoga II (RHṛ. 19/35)*

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Here Mercury made solid by mixing and consuming Abhraka Satva, Kāntaloha bhasma and Suvarṇa bhasma and triturated with Satavari juice is advised for internal use alongwith Ghee & Honey.

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5. *Mrta Rasendra Yoga (RHṛ 19/37-38)*

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Here Mercury is made to consume Abhraka, Sasyaka, Makṣika, Rasaka, Darada, Vimala, Vajra, Śilājatu, Vaikrānta, Kānta, Tīkṣṇa, Suvarṇa, Rajata, Pittala and Tāmra and then reduced to ashes is recommended for internal use.

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*Doses of Mercury for internal Uses (RHr 19/40)*

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It is mentioned in this text that Mercury which has consumed and assimilated various metals and minerals, may be used internally in 1 guñjā to 1 māsa dose.

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*Compounds of Mercury & Metals*

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1. *Amara Sundarī Guṭikā (RHṛ 19/65-66)*

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It is a compound of Kānta Loha, Abhraka Satva, Gold, Silver, Copper and Mercury and advised for internal use.

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2. *Mrta Sañjīvanī Guṭikā (RHṛ 19/67-72)*

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It is a compound of mercury, lead, gold, magnetic iron and metallic contents of Chalcopyrite and Mica.It is made into Guṭikā form (pills) and advised for internal use.

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3. *Vajriṇī Guṭikā (RHṛ 19/73-74)*

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It is a compound of mercury, Kānta loha satva, Abhraka satva, Copper, Gold, Silver and Diamond and made into Guṭikā form and advised for internal use.

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4. *Khecarī Guṭikā (RHṛ 19/75-76)*

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It is a compound of mercury and of superior precious stones. It is made into Guṭikā form and advised for internal use.

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Besides mercurial processes and compounds the metals and minerals found useful in mercurial processes, have been classified in different groups and described as follows:

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*Metals*

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In this text nine substances are described as metals and have been classfied in two groups, viz. 1. Sāraloha and 2. Pūtiloha groups. In Sāraloha group - Gold and Silver are included. In Pūtiloha groups - Copper, Brass, Steel iron, Magnetic iron, Cast Iron, Tin and Lead are included.

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It is also mentioned in this text that the metals included in *Pūtiloha* group needs *Śodhana* (purification).

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*Minerals*

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Sixteen mineral drugs are described and classfied in the following two groups, viz. *Mahārasa* group and *Uparasa* group. Each group consists of eight drugs. In *Mahārasa* group :

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1. *Vaikrānta* 2. *Kānta* 3. *Sasyaka* 4. *Mākṣika* 5. *Vimala* 6. *Adrija* 7. *Darada* and 8. *Rasaka* are included.

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In *Uparasa* group - 1. *Gandhaka* (Sulphur) 2. *Gairika* (Hematite) 3. *Śilā* (Realgar) 4. *Āla* (Orpiment) 5. *Ksiti* (Alum) 6. *Khecara* (Ferrous Sulphate) 7. *Añjana* (Lead sulphide) and *Kaṅkuṣṭha* (*Viraṅga*) are included.

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Besides above mentioned minerals following *Lavaṇas* (salts) and *Ksaras* (alkaline substances) are also found mentioned in this text, viz.

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*Salts* : 1. *Saindhava* (Rock Salt) 2. *Sāmudra* (Sea Salt) 3. *Culhikā lavaṇa* (mixture of Sodium & Potassium Salts) 4. *Sauvarcala* (black salt) 5. *Romaka* (salt of alkaline earth) and 6. *Biḍa lavaṇa* are included.

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*Alkaline substances* : 1. *Swarji Ksara* (Sodium Bicarbonate mineral) 2. *Taṅkana Kṣāra* (Borex) 3. *Yava Kṣāra* (Alkaline material obtained from burning of Barley plant).

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These metals and minerals are advised for internal use only after treating these with *Śodhana* and/or *Māraṇa* processes.

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*Procedures for Śodhana Process*

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Here *Śodhana* is not restricted to chemical purification only as it is seen often that in many cases some impurities are added to the materials during *Śodhana* process and thus, in the context of Indian Medicine (Ayurveda) *Śodhana* means removing of toxic materials/unwanted materials from the drugs which are not found useful for the body and also adding something with the drugs subjected to *Sodhana*. For this, the following procedures are generally used.

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*Procedures*

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1. *Tāpana* & *Nirvāpa* (Heating and quenching in liquids) (*Fig.1*)

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2. *Swedana* (Boiling in liquids) (*Fig.2*)

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3. *Drāvaṇa* and *SecanaDhalana* (Melting and pouring in liquids) (*Fig.3*)

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4. *Kṣārāmla Kalka Lepana* and *Agnidhmapana* (Pasting and heating in strong heat)

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5. *Dravana* and *Vāpana/Jāraṇa* (Melting and Sprinkling of drugs) (*Fig.4*)

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6. *Bhāvanā* (Meceration/trituration with liquids) (*Fig.5*)

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7. *Bhāvanā* and *Puṭana* (Trituration and Heating in a closed *Sampuṭa*) (*Fig.6*)

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8. *Agni Tāpana* and *Utphullana* (Removal of water of crystallization by heating and puffing).

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(a) (b)

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Fig.1 (a) Tāpana, (b) Nirvāpa

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Śalākā (rod) Bhāṇḍa (vessel for liquid) Rasa Pottalī (bundle containing mecury) Kānjika (sour gruel liquid) Agni Jwālā (burning fire)

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Vastra (cloth) Rasa (mercury) Kadalī Patra (plantain leaf) Auṣadha kalka (paste of drugs) CONTENTS OF POTTA

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Fig.2 Dola-Yantra

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(a) (b)

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Fig.3 Dravana and Dhalana

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(4) (5)

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Fig.4 Jāraṇa] [Figure: Fig.5 Khalava-Yantra

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These are some of the procedures to remove the impurities and toxic material from the drugs and to impregnate organic materials to make these organo metallic compounds. Not only the procedures for Śodhana are mentioned in this text but the Śodhanīya drugs are also mentioned here, the details of Śodhana concept are found mentioned in this text. As regards the Loha Māraṇa concept a few terms related to this concept are found mentioned in this text such as Bhāvita and Putita with reference to Tīkṣṇa loha and Mṛta with reference to Śulva (Copper). It indicates the starting of development of Māraṇa concept in this text.

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Apart from Śodhana and Māraṇa processes of metals this text seems to have given more emphasis on Satvapātana (Metal extraction) concept. As this text is mainly devoted to describe 18 special processes of Mercury and during these processes Vaikrānta, Kānta, Sasyaka, Mākṣika and Vimala etc. minerals are recommended to be added with Mercury but these could not be consumed by Mercury in their original form as only the metal content of these minerals could be mixed with Mercury as Grāsa, hence many methods for the Satvapātana (metal extraction) of these minerals are found mentioned in this text. Moreover while describing the Satvapātana methods for various minerals the specific colour of the *Fig. 6 Puṭa-Yantra*

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Puṭa-garta (pit for heating) Upalakas (dung cakes) Ava samputa (closed lid) Samputa sandhi bandha (closing of lid joint)

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particular *Satva* (Metal content) of the particular mineral is also mentioned and on that basis it could be said that the author knew that a particular mineral is a compound of particular metal and that metal could be extracted from the mineral as *Satva*.

Cites (1)

Rasahṛdayatantra — Govinda Bhagavatpāda (alchemist), Sanskrit