Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances
by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 47,185 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828
This third volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi deals with purification techniques of the Seven Metals (sapta-dhatu) and various Gems (ratna). It also deals with substances such as Alkalis (kshara), Salts (lavana), Poisions (visha) and Semi-poisions (upavisha) as well as various alcholic liquors. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (“the ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, che...
Part 1 - Characteristics of Varta-loha
Varta-loha is an amalgam of bell-metal (kamsya), copper (tamra), brass (pittala), iron (lauha), and lead (sisaka). It is also called pancha-loha (amalgam of five metals).
(1) Varta-loha is cool, sour, pungent, and coarse. It pacifies kapha and pitta. It increases appetite, is beneficial to skin and eye-sight, is a killer of worms, and purifier of stool, urine, and other excreta from the system.
(2) All sorts of food, prepared in an utensil of this metal, is salutary to the system, and serves to Increase the power of digestion, if there is nothing of sour in the materials cooked.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Characteristics of Varta-loha’ included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory. The text includes treatments, recipes and remedies and is categorised as Rasa Shastra: an important branch of Ayurveda that specialises in medicinal/ herbal chemistry, alchemy and mineralogy, for the purpose of prolonging and preserving life.