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 7 - Incineration of iron (26)

Utility of puta.

For the purpose of incineration of iron, heating by puta for ten to hundred times may be considered necessary for the cure of diseases only. Puta for hundred to one thousand times is necessary for the purpose of curing and preventing physical decay and senility. For the purpose of retention of semen, it is necessary to subject iron to puta for more than one thousand times.

Increase in the number of puta is calculated to increase the efficacy of a metal, incinerated without mercury. This is not the case with a metal incinerated by the help of mercury.

Twenty sixth process.

Iron is incinerated and becomes incapable of being restored to its former condition, if it is roasted by means of all the three different operations called (a) Bhanu-paka, (b) Sthali-paka, and (c) Puta-paka, as described below.

(a) Bhanu-paka Process.

Purified iron is to be reduced to powder by being kept in an iron mortar and hammered repeatedly. The powder is then to be mixed with a sufficient quantity of water or decoction of triphala, and thus washed off. It is then to be dried by being exposed to the sun, subjected to the process of heating called bhanu-paka. For the purpose of bhanu-paka, triphala, equal in quantity to the iron, is to be boiled with double its quantity of water which is to be reduced to one fourth its quantity. The iron is now to be saturated with the decoction referred to above, and dried by the sun. The process is to be performed continuously for three days or it may be performed for seven times.

(b) Sthali-paka.

Boasting of iron by sthali-paka is to be resorted to after bhanu-paka. For the purpose of sthali-paka, triphala, three times in weight of the iron, is to be boiled with water, sixteen times in weight of the former, to be reduced to one eighth of the water.

Decoctions of other things than triphala are to be prepared as follows:—The article from which a decoction is to be prepared is to be equal in weight to the iron. Such an article is to be boiled with water which is four, eight or sixteen times its weight, according as it is soft, hard, or very stiff, respectively. The quantity of the decoction, thus prepared, should be equal to that of the iron. If the juice of a plant is to be used instead of a decoction, the quantity of such a juice should also be equal to that of the iron. Boasting by sthali-paka means heating of the iron by fire in an iron cauldron, in which the iron is boiled with some decoctions or juices of plants, till the decoction or juice is completely dried up. Such a roasting generally takes place, first of all, with decoction of triphala (to be prepared in a way described above), and then with the decoction or juice of the following:—hastikarnapalasha roots, satamuli, bhringa-raja, kesharaja, and punarnava. For the purpose of sthali-paka, juices or decoctions of other herbs also may be made use of, if called upon by the nature of the disease for the treatment of which the iron is meant to be prepared.

(c) Puta-paka.

The iron, properly roasted by sthali-paka process, should be washed with clear water, then dried, powdered, and again roasted by puta-paka. Roasting by puta serves to remove the natural blemishes and to increase the properties of iron and other metals. Such a roasting causes the incineration of iron which gains in efficacy in proportion to the number of puta resorted to. Metals, properly incinerated by means of puta, should be used in mercurial operations. If it is meant to cure diseases only, iron, incinerated by 10 to 100 putas, may be made use of. Putas from 100 to 1000 are to be resorted to, if it is meant to prevent and cure senile decay. Putas from 10 to 500 are necessary, if it is meant to use the metal as an aphrodisiac. Putas, in case of a metal, are to be resorted to so long as it does not float upon calm water. For the purpose of puta-paka, the juice or decoction, whichever is available, of the herbs named below should be made use of:—

Triphatadi gana.

They are as follows:—triphala, trivit, danti, katuki, tala-muli, briddha-dara, brischira, basaka, chitraka, ardraka, biranga, bhringa-raja, bhallataka, shunthi, darima leaves, shatamuli, punarnava, kuthar-chhinna, mustaka, surana, guduchi, veka-parni, hasti-karna-palasha, asthi-sanhara, kesha-raja, mana, khandita-karna (kharakona), and go-jihva. These are incinerators of iron. They are generally used in the process of heating of iron by puta.

Erandadi-gana.

They are as follows:—eranda, shariba, draksha, shirisha, prasarani, mashaparni, mudgaparni, bidari-kanda, and ketaki. They serve to pacify all the diseases due to an abnormal excess of air. Iron, rubbed with the juice or decoction of these drugs, and heated by puta, is therefore efficacious in diseases due to an excess of vayu.

Kiratadi-gana.

They are as follows:—kirata, guduchi, nimba bark, green dhanya, shatavari, patala, chandana, padma, shalmali, udumbara, and jata-manshi. They serve to pacify all the diseases due to an abnormal excess of pitta. They should therefore be specially used in the process of incineration of iron by heating by puta, if it is meant to use such iron in diseases due to excess of pitta.

Shringaberadi gana.

They are as follows:—ardraka, nirgundi, indra-jjava, karanja, visha-karanja, murba, shobhanjana, shirisha, baruna, arka leaves, patala, and kantakari. They serve to cure diseases due to an excess of kapha. They should therefore be used in the process of incineration of iron by heating by puta, if it is meant to use such iron in diseases due to an excess of kapha.

Gokshuradi gana.

They are as follows:—gokshura, kokilaksha, kantakari, shala-parni, and prishni-parni. They serve to pacify an abnormal excess of vayu and kapha, They are therefore to be specially used in processes of incineration of iron by heating by puta, if it is meant to use such iron in diseases due to an excess of vayu and kapha.

Pataladi-gana.

They are as follows-:—patala leaves, ushira, kasha-mards, aparajita, lodhra, nilotpala, kalhara, (white utpala), barahi-kanda, and priyangu. They serve to pacify diseases due to an excess of pitta and kapha. Iron meant to cure such diseases should be rubbed with the juice or decoction of these drugs before it is heated by puta.

Kinshukadi-gana.

They are as follows:—palasha, gambhari bark, shunthi, agnimantha, trikantaka, shyona, sapta-parni, shala-parni, prishni-parni, shalmali, patala, kantakari, brihati, and bilva. They serve to pacify diseases due to an abnormal excess of the three doshas (i.e. vayu, pitta, and kapha). Iron meant to cure such diseases should be rubbed with the juice or decoction of these drugs and then heated by puta.

Shatabarjadi gana.

They are as follows shatabari, bala, amalaki, guduchi, briddha-daraka, banari, bhringa-raja, kesha-raja, bidari, gokshura, kokilaksha, ashva-gandha, and pippali. They are aphrodisiac. Iron meant to be of this description should be incinerated with these drugs.

Bidarjadi gana.

They are as follows:—bidari-kanda, tagara, bhringa-raja, shatabari, kshirika, kanchuka, bhallataka, guduchi, chitraka, hasti-karna-palasha, mushali, jasti-madhu (or mahua plant), mundiri, and kesharaja. These are curer and preventer of senile decay. Iron meant to be of this description should be rubbed with the juice or decoction of these drugs, before it is heated by puta.

N. B. Iron should be rubbed, before being heated by puta, with all or any one of the groups of drugs referred to above, according to the necessity of the ease. Such a rubbing, followed by an act of heating by puta, may be repeated as many times as desired. For the purpose of each act of such a rubbing, the quantity of the juice or decoction of the group of drugs referred to above should be equal to that of the iron.

Puta with special drugs for the treatment of special diseases.

Iron is to be subjected to heat by puta after having been rubbed with the following drugs, if it is meant to cure constipation:—triphala, sigru, hasti-karna-palasha, bhringa-raja, and again triphala. Similarly, iron is to be rubbed with decoction of pippali for the purpose of curing indigestion. Juice of bidari is to be used for the treatment of impotency. lime juice is to be made use of, for the treatment of loss of appetite. Decoction of shirisha is to be thus used for the removal of loss of complexion. Juice of bala is to be used for the treatment of rheumatism, paralysis, and other diseases due to excess of vayu. Juice of parpata is to be used for diseases due to pitta. Decoction of dashamula for disesases due to an abnormal excess of the three doshas. Juice of kirata-tikta is to be used in bisama-jvara (malaria, kalazar, etc.). Decoction of guduchi in spermatorrhoea. Juice of kutaja in diarrhoea. Juice of bhargi in asthma. Juice of bashaka in cough. Juice of kakodumbura in rakta-pitta. Urine of she-buffalo is to be used in anemia. Decoction of biranga and rice in worms. Decoction of biranga and bhallataka in leporsy, Decoction of rohitaka in spleen. Juice of sindu-bara in gleet and stricture. Kanji in colic. Juice of dadrumari in itches and ringworm. Juice of mushali in piles. Juice of arjuna in heart disease. Juice of ucchata roots in rheumatism. Decoction of somaraji and khadira wood in leprosy. Juice of shilodbheda in stone disease. Juice of tribrit in udabarata or intestinal obstruction. Juice of sour pomegranate in gulma. Juice of brahmi in hoarseness of voice. Juice of ashva-gandha and jata-mangsi in phthisis.

(d) Sthalipaka for the second time.

The iron reduced in the above manner is to be boiled with triphaladi, etc. (see page 47) in an iron pot. When dried, it is again to he boiled with some or all of the following juices:—hasti-karna-palasha roots, satabari roots, bhringa-raja, and kesha-raja.

Conclusion:

Rasasastra category This concludes ‘Incineration of iron (26)’ 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.

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