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...
Introduction to Semi-poisons (upavisha)
The following are considered upavisha (semi-poisons):—Snuhi, arka, langali, gunja, karabira, visha-musti, dhattura, jayapala, bhallataka, nirvisha, ativisha, ahiphena, and jaya (bhanga). These thirteen are also killers of life, if taken in excess.
Rubbed with poisons (visha) and the semi-poisons (upavisha), mercury becomes deprived of its wings, and grows hungry. It is then able to swallow and digest metals (without increasing in weight).[1]
Purification of semi-poisons in general.
All the Semi-poisons are purified, if subjected to bhavana with the pancha-gavya (milk, curd, clarified butter, urine, and dung of cow).
They are also purified by being boiled with milk by means of a Dola-Yantra.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See page 76, Vol. I.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Introduction to Semi-poisons (upavisha)’ 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.