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 Ruby (manikya)

(note: “Ruby” is evidently a contraction of the Sanskritravi-ratna” (i.e. the gem favourite to Ravi or the Sun).)

Its variety.

Manikya (ruby) is of four kinds, viz. (1) padma-raga, (2) kuruvindaja, (3) saugandhika, and (4) nilagandhi.

The best of, the former is lotus-coloured (i.e. white red), transparent, gladdening to the eyes, highly bright, round-shaped, smooth, and heavy.

Kuruvindaja, which grows from a stone named Kuruvinda (corundum), is highly red and beautiful.

Saugandhika, which grows out of sugandhika (spinel), is yellowish red.

Nila-gandhi is generally obtained from the bed of the river, Nila-ganga.[1] It is red in colour with a bluish lustre emerging from inside.

This classification of the rubies is in order of their excellence.

Characteristics of good rubies.

These are:—heaviness, softness, freedom from stains, excess of redness, transparency, smoothness and uniformity of structure, brilliance, and roundness of shape.

Defects of rubies.

(a) They are as follows:—holes, ugliness, absence of lustre, roughness, absence of transparency, flatness, lightness, and deformity of size.

(b) A ruby with two different kinds of lustre in two different parts of its surface is a destroyer of friends to its wearer. A ruby with a mark resembling crow’s foot gives rise to defeat. A crack in a ruby worn causes infliction of injuries by weapons. A ruby with a piece of pebble within it causes the destruction of cattle and friends. A ruby which appears to be coated with milk in a cavity in its body causes much distress. A ruby having the lustre of a drop of honey causes the loss of longevity, fortune, and fame.

A ruby without lustre causes the loss of riches. A ruby with the colour of smoke threatens an accident by lightning.

Characteristics of excellent Rubies.

(a) It is a ruby of an excellent quality which endows its surroundings with brilliance when the sun’s rays are reflected upon it. Such rubies grow from quartz,

(b) It is a ruby of superior worth which, at the touch of the morning sun, vomits, as it were, red flames, or dyes its surroundings with a red lustre.

(c) It is an excellent ruby which reddens even a hundred times its weight of milk; or vomits red flames.

(d) The gem which appears from a distance to be a blazing fire is called vansha-kanti. It is the giver of all wealth.

(e) The best ruby, if kept in dense darkness, illuminates the surroundings with its rays.

(f) It is a ruby which is very rare even to the gods which, if put within a lotus, makes the latter put forth its blossoms immediately.

Weight of rubies.

(a) A ruby of the shape of a gunja should be 10, 7, or 3 gunjas in weight. The first is better than the second, and the second is better than the third.

(b) A ruby of the shape of a shrigala-kola (jackal plum) weighs 12, or 8, or 7 gunjas. Of these three, the first is more valuable than the second, and the second is more valuable than the third.

(c) The ruby which is of the size of a sweet plum fruit should weigh 12, or 10, or 8 mashas. The one which is of the shape of an amalaki fruit should weigh 30, or 20, or 16 mashas.

(d) A ruby which is of the shape of a bimbi fruit should weigh 6, 8, or 10 tolas. A ruby of a greater weight and dimension is not generally available.

Properties of Ruby.

A ruby (duly purified and incinerated) is an increaser of digestive power. It is nutritious and destroyer of kapha, vayu, and waste. It also does away with the evil influence exerted by ghosts and other evil spirits.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

One of the tributaries of the river, Ganges, felling into it near Hard war.

Conclusion:

Rasasastra category This concludes ‘Characteristics of Ruby (manikya)’ 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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