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 Coral (pravala)

Its varieties.

The best of the corals is reddish-white in colour, like the blood of a hare. It is soft, with a surface appearing to be smeared with oil, beautiful, and is capable of being easily perforated. The second class of the corals is as red as red vermillion or the java, bandhuka, or pomegranate flower. Such a coral is stiff and its surface does not appear to be smeared with oil. It is difficult to be perforated. The third class in merit of the corals is yellowish-red like palasha or patala flower. It has a beautiful colour, but very little glaze. Its surface does not appear to be smeared with oil. The fourth class of corals, which is the least meritorious, is blackish-red like the petals of a red lotus flower. It is hard and its lustre does not last for a long time. It is very difficult to be perforated.

Characteristics of good corals.

These are:—(1) redness, (2) appearing to be smeared with oil, (3) capacity for being perforated, (4) globular shape, (5) lastingness of the lustre, (6) thickness, and (7) smoothness of surface.

Characteristics of had corals.

Bad corals are pale-white, grey-coloured, small, rough-surfaced, full of cavities, light, and copper-coloured.

Softness of corals.

Of all the gems, only corals and pearls can be scratched upon by iron.

Properties of corals.

Pravala is efficacious in phthisis, hemorrhage, cough, eye-disease, poison, and evil influences exerted by ghosts, etc. It is light and digestive.

Conclusion:

Rasasastra category This concludes ‘Characteristics of Coral (pravala)’ 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.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: