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History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s4.t3: 3. Cakradatta (11th AD)

History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s4.t3

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English

3. Cakradatta (11th AD)

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The Cakradatta is a most popular and important text on Ayurvedic therapeutics written by Shri ‘Cakrāpāṇidatta’ in about 11th century A.D. In this text many processes concerning to Mercury, Metals and minerals and many Mercurial and Metallic compounds are found described alongwith herbal preparations and other Ayurvedic subjects.

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A. Mercurial Compounds (prepared with sulphur)

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1. Rasa Parpaṭi (CD. Grahaṇī 85-91)

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It is a compound of Mercury and Sulphur in Sulphide form. To prepare this purified Mercury and Sulphur are advised to be taken. For preparing ‘Rasa Parpaṭi’ these are first mixed and made into black powder form (Kajjali form) by trituration (Fig. 5), and then made into thin scally (Parpaṭa like) form by melting on slow fire and pressing in between Banana leaf.

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2. Tāmra Prayoga (CD. Grahaṇī 92-98)

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It is a compound of Mercury, Sulphur and Copper, prepared by heating through Bāluka Yāntra method (Fig. 7).

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3. *Kṣudhāvati Guṭikā* (CD. Amlapitta 40-53) It is a compound of Mercury, Sulphur, Mica, Iron and rusted Iron (*Mandura*) and advised for internal use in cases of hyper acidity like conditions.

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4. *Rasa Maṇḍūra* (CD. Pari-Śula 54-56) It is a compound of Mercury, Sulphur and *Maṇḍūra* and prescribed for *Pariṇāma Śūla* (Duodenar ulcer).

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*Mercurial Compounds (prepared without Sulphur)*

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5. *Rasa Guṭikā* (CD. Arśa 177) It is a compound of Mercury and Mica alongwith some herbal drugs and advised for internal use in piles and to stimulate *Agni* (digestive fire).

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6. *Sūtagarbha Karañja Bījaprayoga* (CD. Vṛṣya 51) In this Mercury is first closed inside the *Karañja bīja* which is then wrapped with Gold sheet. It is advised to be kept in mouth at the time of sexual intercourse to retain semen discharge for longer duration.

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7. *Pārada Pralepa* (CD. Kṛmi 14) It is a mercurial paste prepared by mixing Mercury with *Dhattūra* juice or *Tāmbūlapatra* juice and applied externally to destroy *Yūkās* and their cysts in the hairs.

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*B. Metallic Compounds*

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Iron compounds in Leha (licking) form :

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1. *Agnimukha Loha* (CD. Arśa 161-168) It is an iron compound containing number of herbal drugs and prepared in the form of *Leha* (licking preparation) and advised for internal use.

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2. *Bhallātaka Loha* (CD. Arśa 169-176) It is also an iron compound containing number of herbal drugs and prepared in leha form for internal use.

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*Ayorajādi leha* (CD. p. 27) *Dārvyādi leha* (CD. p. 28), *Dhātrīleha* (CD. p. 29) are also iron compounds prepared in *leha* form.

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Iron Compounds Prepared with Herbal drugs :

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Following Iron compounds, prepared with herbal drugs, are found referred to in this text : *Nāgarādya Cūrṇa* (CD. Pāṇḍu 5), *Ayora jaḥ Prayoga* (CD. p. 6) *Navāyasa Loha* (CD. p.10), *Vidaṅgādya Loha* (CD. p. 33-34), *Tikṣṇa Loha Cūrṇa Prayoga* (CD. Sula 80), *Loha Cūrṇa yoga* (CD. Pari. Śula 13), *Kṛṣṇadi Cūrṇa* (CD. Pari. Sula 14-15), *Pathyādi Cūrṇa* (CD. Pari.Śula 16), *Sāmudrādi Cūrṇa* (CD. Pari.Śula 17-20), *Saptāmṛta Loha* (CD. Pari. Sula 23-24), *Triphalā Loha* (CD. Pari.Sula 82), *Triphalādya Loha* (CD. Pari Śula 57), *Lohaguṭikā* (CD. Pari Śula 58-59), *Dhātrī Loha* (CD. Pari Sula 60-65), *Lohamṛta* (CD. Pari Śula 66-72), *Vidaṅgādya Cūrṇa* (CD. Sthaulya 5), *Vidaṅgādya Loha* (CD. Sthaulya 6-9) and *Loha rasāyana* (CD. Sthaulya 19-29).

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Besides these iron compounds there is a reference of ‘Amṛta Sāra Loha rasāyana’ in Rasāyanādhikāra of this text in which loha śodhana vidhi (method of Iron purification) and loha māraṇavidhi (method of Iron incineration), reasons for loha śodhana and trividha loha pākas (three types iron heating techniques) - such as bhānupāka (heating through Sun rays Fig. 8), sthālīpāka (heating in a wide mouth vessel with triphala decoction Fig. 9) and puṭapāka (heating by Puta system) for converting iron into fine ash form are described in detail.

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Iron Compounds prepared with Minerals :

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In this group Iron compounds prepared with some minerals like Maṇḍūra (an Iron Oxide formed naturally/rusted iron), Mica and Sulphur are described.

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1. Kṣudhāvti Gutikā (CD. Amlapitta 40-53) It is a compound of Iron prepared with Mica, Loha Kiṭṭa/Maṇḍūra (rusted iron), Mercury and Sulphur.

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2. Dhātrī Loha (CD. Śul. 51-58) It is also an iron compound in which mica and iron oxide formed naturally are mixed.

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3. Loha Maṇḍūra Cūrṇa Prayoga (CD. P sul. 13) In this Iron powder is mixed with Iron oxide and Triphalā Cūrṇa and advised for internal use in Pariṇāma Śula.

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Compounds of Mandura (Iron Oxide)

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Maṇḍūra itself is an Iron compound (Iron oxide) formed naturally if Iron is kept in an open atmosphere for a long duration. Here the chemical reaction (Oxidation) proceeds slowly. It is also a therapeutically useful material hence, a number of Mandura containing compounds are found described in this text.

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1. Maṇḍūra Prayoga (CD. Pāṇḍu 31) It is a naturally formed Iron oxide compound processed in such a way that it is converted to a very fine powder form, suitable for internal use. The other compounds of Iron oxide (Maṇḍūra) are :-

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Fig.8 Bhānu-Pāka Fig.9 Sthālī-Pāka Tryūṣaṇādi Maṇḍūra (CD. p. 35-40), Punarnavā Maṇḍūra (CD. p.41- 43), Vajra Vaṭaka Maṇḍūra (CD. p. 44-48), Maṇḍūra yoga (CD. Śul. 78), Dhātrī Loha (CD. Śul. 51-58), Loha Maṇḍūra Cūrṇa Prayoga (CD. Su. 13), Kolādi Maṇḍūra, Bhīma-Vaṭaka Maṇḍūra, Kṣīra-Maṇḍūra, Gavikādi-Maṇḍūra, Śatāvarī-Maṇḍūra, Tārā Maṇḍūra, Rāma-Maṇḍūra, Bṛhacchatāvarī-Maṇḍūra and Rasa-Maṇḍūra (CD. p. 27-56), Kṣudhāvatī Guṭikā (CD. Aml. p. 40-53).

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Copper Compounds

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Besides Mercury and Iron compounds there is a reference of ‘Tāmra Rasāyana’ in Rasāyanadhikāra of Cakradatta (126-148). In these two procedures of Tamra Rasāyana are described which include copper purification method and incineration methods alongwith their doses, indications and method of uses.

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Apart from above the purification process for following drugs have also been found described in Cakradatta Amlapitta Cikitsā. In this text purification methods for Abhraka (Mica), Loha (Iron), Maṇḍūra (Iron Oxide), Rasa (Mercury) and Gandhaka (Sulphur) are described.

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Thus, it may be said that during the time of Cakradatta (11th AD) the Śodhana and Māraṇa methods for Mercury and a few metals and minerals have been developed. In metals Iron, Copper and Maṇḍūra Compounds are mainly referred to in this text.

Cites (1)