Parpati, Parpaṭī, Pārpati: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Parpati means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology, Tamil. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra1) Parpaṭī (पर्पटी) refers to a class of medicine, according to the fourth volume of the Rasajalanidhi (chapter 3, grahaṇī: chronic diarrhoea). These remedies are classified as Iatrochemistry and form part of the ancient Indian science known as Rasaśāstra (medical alchemy). However, since it is an ayurveda treatment it should be taken with caution and in accordance with rules laid down in the texts.
Parpati medicine is to be taken only once a day, a little after sunrise. The dose on the first day is two raktis only. This is to be increased by one rakti a day, till it reaches the minimum of ten raktis on the 9th day. It should not be increased any more. This minimum dose of ten raktis a day is to be continued so long as the disease is not cured. Then; after the cure is effected, the dose of the medicine is to be reduced by one rakti a day, till it reaches one rakti; after which the medicine is to be stopped altogether.
2) Parpaṭī (पर्पटी) or Parpaṭīrasa is the name of an Ayurvedic recipe defined in chapter2 (dealing with jvara: fever).—Accordingly, when using such recipes (e.g., parpaṭī-rasa): “the minerals (uparasa), poisons (viṣa), and other drugs (except herbs), referred to as ingredients of medicines, are to be duly purified and incinerated, as the case may be, in accordance with the processes laid out in the texts.” (see introduction to Iatro chemical medicines)
3) Parpaṭī (पर्पटी):—One of the sixty-eight Siddhauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs give siddhi (success) in mercurial operations. Even so, they are more powerful than rasa (mercury) itself. These may perform all the kāryas (‘effects’) and grant dehasiddhi (‘perfection of body’) and lohasiddhi (‘transmutation of base metals’) both.
Source: Academia.edu: Ayurveda and Pharmaceutics (rasashastra)Kajjalī and Parpaṭī: Both of them are black sulphide of mercury. The difference between them is the way they are prepared. The preparation of Kajjalī does not involve heating while Parpati is obtained after heating Kajjalī. Parpaṭī is a rasa preparation. Purified mercury and sulphur are thoroughly mixed (triturating) to obtain Kajjalī. Later, prescribed ingredients mentioned in the formula are added one after the other by triturating and kept over fire in the vālukāyantra. Example: Pancāmrita-parpaṭī.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Source: Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts: Volume 12 (1898) (ay)Parpaṭī (पर्पटी) or Parpaṭīrasa refers to one of the topics discussed in the Rasakaumudī, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 1 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.—The Rasakaumudī by Mādhavakara represents a treatise on practice of medicine and therapeutics. It is a leading work on Hindu medicine, very largely studied in Bengal containing causes and symptoms of diseases. It contains 3,092 ślokas.—The catalogue includes the term—Parpaṭī-rasa in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads: parppaṭīrasaḥ.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsParpaṭī (पर्पटी):—1. Thin flakes / wafers – a pharmaceutical dosage form where the materials will be made to melt over fire and sandwitched in between leaves 2. external impurities of mercury

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: BDK Tripiṭaka: The Susiddhikara-sūtraParpaṭī (पर्पटी) refers to one of the various types of cakes mentioned in Chapter 12 (“offering food”) of the Susiddhikara-sūtra. Accordingly, “Cakes with feminine names are for using with mantra-consorts—cakes with feminine names are kamolī (?) cakes, parpaṭī cakes, and so forth.. [...] Among the cakes, offer those that are most highly prized and also of delicious taste when seeking higher accomplishments; as for those of secondary taste, they are for the other two families”.
When you wish to offer food [viz., parpaṭī cakes], first cleanse the ground, sprinkle scented water all around, spread out on the ground leaves that have been washed clean, such as lotus leaves, palāśa (dhak) leaves, and leaves from lactescent trees, or new cotton cloth, and then set down the oblatory dishes. [...] First smear and sprinkle the ground and then spread the leaves; wash your hands clean, rinse out your mouth several times, swallow some water, and then you should set down the food [viz., parpaṭī]. [...]

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Parpati in India is the name of a plant defined with Oldenlandia corymbosa in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Gerontogea biflora (Lam.) Cham. & Schltdl. (among others).
2) Parpati is also identified with Oldenlandia herbacea It has the synonym Hedyotis triflora Wall., nom. nud. (etc.).
3) Parpati is also identified with Pedalium murex It has the synonym Rogeria microcarpa Klotzsch (etc.).
4) Parpati is also identified with Sarcostemma acidum It has the synonym Asclepias acida Roxburgh (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Taxon (1992)
· Plant Systematics and Evolution (1985)
· Glimpses in Plant Research (1988)
· Journal of Natural Products (2005)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Hortus Kew. (1789)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Parpati, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, extract dosage, health benefits, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Parpaṭī (पर्पटी):—[from parpaṭa > parp] f. a red-colouring Oldenlandia, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
2) [v.s. ...] a kind of fragrant earth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] a thin crisp cake ([probably] = m.), [Horace H. Wilson]
4) Parpaṭi (पर्पटि):—[from parp] m. (with rāja-putra) Name of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusParpaṭi (ಪರ್ಪಟಿ):—[noun] the fig tree Ficus virens ( = F. infectoria) of Moraceae family; five leaved fig tree.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconPārpati (பார்பதி) noun perhaps from pārvatī. Cow-thorn. See பெருநெருஞ்சி. (வைத்திய மலையகராதி) [perunerunchi. (vaithiya malaiyagarathi)]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Parpatika, Parpatikkoti, Parpatirasa.
Full-text (+18): Rasaparpati, Parp, Rajaputraparpati, Kshetraparpati, Pancamritaparpati, Rajaputra parpati, Lauhaparpati, Vijayaparpati, Parpatirasa, Maheshaparpati, Rasendraparpati, Svarnaparpati, Vajraparpati, Sutendraparpati, Kajjali, Amaparpati, Snuhiparpati, Brahmiparpati, Unmattaparpati, Nakuliparpati.
Relevant text
Search found 14 books and stories containing Parpati, Paarpathi, Parpadhi, Parpadi, Parpathi, Parpaṭī, Parpaṭi, Pārpati; (plurals include: Parpatis, Paarpathis, Parpadhis, Parpadis, Parpathis, Parpaṭīs, Parpaṭis, Pārpatis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 49 - Treatment for indigestion (47): Application of Parpati < [Chapter IV - Irregularity of the digesting heat]
Part 25 - Treatment of Udara-roga (22): Application of parpati < [Chapter VI - Diseases affecting the belly (udara-roga)]
Part 29 - Treatment for enlargement of spleen and liver (28): Application of Parpati < [Chapter VII - Enlargement of spleen (plihodara) and liver (yakridudara)]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Role of parpati kalpana on mahastrotas < [2020: Volume 9, June issue 6]
A review of parpati kalpana w.s.r to tamra parpati < [2024: Volume 13, February issue 3]
A review study of parpati kalpana < [2015: Volume 4, November issue 11]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Chapter 7 - Symptoms and treatment of Urograha
Chapter 12 - Symptoms and treatment of Worms and Bacilli (krimi)
Chapter 4 - Symptoms and treatment of Asthma (shvasa) and Cough (hikka)
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
A glance into vaidya jivana of lolimbaraja – review < [2022, Issue 08 August]
SAMSKARAH KARANAM MATAM WSR to Rasaparpati < [2023, Issue 10. October]
Role of parpati kalpana in grahani roga < [2018, Issue VII, July]
Identity of Ṭaṅkārī (Physalis Minima) in Ayurvedic Texts Review < [Volume 36 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 2016]
Gems and their medicinal values < [Volume 9 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 1989]
The kalpa method of therapy in chronic diseases < [Volume 9 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 1989]
SOP development for Ras Pottali per Rasa Prakasha Sudhakara < [Volume 7, Issue 6: November-December 2020]
Management of Vataja Grahani with Takra Basti - A Case Study < [Volume 10, Issue 3: May-June 2023]
Hemagarbha pottali - the wonder drug of ayurvedic critical care < [Volume 3, issue 5: September - October 2016]
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