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 5 - Extraction of oil from seeds of Gunja and Karanja
First process.
Seeds of black as well as of white gunjas are to be powdered. This powder is to be commingled with powdered load stone, the whole thing being kept inside a heap of paddy for sometime. It is then to be rubbed with the decoction of apamarga, and oil to be extracted from it in the afore-said way.
Second process.
Powdered gunja as well as karanja seeds are to be subjected to bhavana with human urine for seven times. The inner surface of a bell-metal pot is next to be smeared with the paste, thus prepared, and heated for sometime in the sun. The paste is next to be confined in a piece of cloth, heated in the sun, and pressed so that oil comes out of it.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Extraction of oil from seeds of Gunja and Karanja’ 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.