Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana

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REVIEW ARTICLE July-Aug 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 4 177 Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana Dr. Malavi Shayan 1 , Dr. Praveen Kumar H 2 1 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, 2 Professor & H.O.D, Dept. of Shareera Rachana, Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA. I NTRODUCTION Gandhaka is included under Uparasas by all the Rasa Granthas . Mercury and Sulphur finds maximum use in Indian medicine. Gandhaka is the principal material used for making the most important preparations like Rasalinga , Rasabandhas . Gandhaka stands next to Parada in importance, it is also considered as an essential substance for Murchana and Marana . The Rasadravyas are classified as Sagandha Murchana and Nirgandha Murchana based on the of presence of Gandhaka . In Ayurveda , more specifically in Rasashastra, most of the things start from the construction of “ Rasalinga ”, the fundamental part of Ayurvedic laboratory. Since Gandhaka is the emissary of Parada in making the Rasa Linga and Caturvidha Address for correspondence: Dr. Malavi Shayan Assistant Professor, Dept. of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA. E-mail: malavi 1331@gmail.com Submission Date: 12/07/2020 Accepted Date: 09/008/2020 Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: www.jaims.in Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization, Vijayapur, Karnataka (Regd) under the license CCby-NC-SA Rasa-Rasayanas , it is necessary to mention its utility as a primary substance. O BJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1 To review all the classical Rasagrantha’s for different methods and medias used for Gandhaka Shodhana . 2 To analyse the rationality behind various methods and medias used for Gandhaka Shodhana. M ATERIALS AND METHODS Totally seven different methods of Gandhaka Shodhana are available by reviewing all the classical Rasagranthas Name of Rasagrantha Gandhaka Shodhana methods Rasa Tarangini [1] Rasa Ratna Samucchaya [2] Swedana method Rasa Ratna Samucchaya [3] Dalana and Vastragalana method Rasa Tarangini [4] Rasa Ratna Samucchaya [5] Rasendra Choodamani [6] Koorma Puta method A B S T R A C T Gandhaka is a primary substance and a fundamental part of Ayurvedic laboratory. Gandhaka being the first among the Uparasa Varga , plays a vital role in the preparation of Chaturvidha Rasa- Rasayanas. Sagandha Yogas are considered as most efficacious among all the herbo-mineral preparations and hence can be used for longer duration without any complications. Also, Gandhaka is the best antidote for Parada Kalpa . Hence there is a requirement to screen, understand, and analyse various methods of Gandhaka Shodhana which are scattered in our classical Rasagranthas . Here is an attempt made to review all the different methods of Gandhaka Shodhana in Rasagranthas and also to analyse the ratiocination behind each method. Key words: Gandhaka, Shodhana, Sulphur.

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Dr. Malavi Shayan et al. Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE July-Aug 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 4 178 Ayurveda Prakasha [7] Rasendra Saara Sangraha [8] Rasa Jala Nidhi [9] Bhavana method Rasa Tarangini [10] Taila Pachana and Nikshepana method Rasa Tarangini [11] Rasa Ratna Samucchaya [12] Damaru Yantra method Rasa Tarangini [13] Gandhanashana method 1. Swedana method - Swedana Kriya is done for one hour and powdered Ashuddha Gandhaka is taken in a cloth, Pottali is prepared and suspended in Dola Yantra containing milk and ghee. By this the impurities will get mixed up in milk and ghee, Shuddha Gandhaka gets collected in Pinda Roopa and ghee starts floating [1],[2] 2. Dalana and Vastragalana method - A Mrutpatra filled half the level with milk is taken, its mouth is covered with a porous cloth smeared with gheeand tied with a thread. Powdered Ashuddha Gandhaka is taken in a spatula, melted and poured over the porous ghee smeared cloth into an earthen pot. Melted Shuddha Gandhaka gets solidified in milk, taken out and washed with warm water, and dried in shade. This has to be repeated for three to seven times [3] 3. Kurmaputa method - A pot is filled with milk and its mouth is covered with a cloth and Ashuddha Gandhaka Choorna is spread over it and covered with an inverted Sarava . Upalas are spread over the Sarava and ignited. Gandhaka melts and penetrates through the cloth and shuddha gandhaka gets collected at the bottom of the pot. Repeating this for 100 times, gandhaka becomes nirgandha [4-8] 4. Bhavana method - One part of Ashuddha Gandhaka with one fourth part of Shuddha Tankana is given Bhavana with Matulunga Swarasa and then with Eranda Taila , dried in shade to obtain Shuddha Gandhaka [9] 5. Taila Pachana and Taila Nikshepa Vidhi - A pot filled with Tila Taila / Kusumba Taila /Sarshapa Taila - subjected to heat by maintaining low flame and added with powdered Ashuddha Gandhaka. Heat is given until added Gandhaka melts and immediately poured into milk. Solidified Shuddha Gandhaka is removed from milk, washed with warm water and dried in shade [10] 6. Damaru Yantra Vidhi / Urdhwapatana of Gandhaka - Four pala of powdered Ashuddha Gandhaka has to be taken in Damaru Yantra and subjected to Urdhwapatana Kriya . Shuddha Gandhaka can be obtained from the inner side of the upper pot of damaruyantra [11],[12] DISCUSSION Ratiocination of each method of Gandhaka Shodhana . 1. Swedana Method The purpose of doing Swedana may be attributing the properties of Swedana Dravya to Swedya Dravya . The chemical reactions that take place during the Swedana process may be due to diffusion and Osmosis. Diffusion refers to the process by which molecules intermingle as a result of their kinetic energy of random motion. Osmosis may also be used to describe a physical process in which any solvent moves, without the input of energy, across a semipermeable membrane (permeable to the solvent, but not the solute) separating two solutions of different concentrations. Although osmosis does not require an input of energy, it does use kinetic energy and can be made to do. Osmosis is a selective diffusion process driven by the internal energy of the solvent molecules. Probable reason for time specificity of Swedana Fick’s law of diffusion says the flux of an atom of a substance travels from one concentration to another concentration in a fixed period of time. The diffusion of the materials from Swedana Dravya to the Swedya Dravya depends on the nature of the substance. Based on this factor exact time duration might have been calculated by our Acharyas.

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Dr. Malavi Shayan et al. Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE July-Aug 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 4 179 Swedana is one such process that makes the drug biocompatible by converting it into an organometallic complex. Hence In Swedana , following changes will be noted, Reduction in hardness: By continuous heating in a liquid media the hard material becomes soft in consistency. Chemical reaction: During Swedana minute particles of the material come in contact with the liquid media, so there may be every possibility of occurrence of a chemical reaction between the material and media. Swedana serves as a purificatory process. Biological changes: Organic components of the liquid media are transferred to the material to make it organo-metallic or organo-mineral compounds, which are favorable to the body. Liquid media also serves as a source of trace elements. The induction of trace elements helps in fulfilling the body requirement of trace elements and also acts in many physiological processes. Dalana - Vastragalana and Kurma Puta Method - In these two methods, Shodhita Gandhaka will be shining yellow colour with a greenish tinge. Shodhita Gandhaka will be found in the form of tubular/ flake like and granular like jowar seeds respectively. Ghee absorbs toxic materials and helps in the removal of fat-soluble impurities. Water and colloidal soluble impurities will be removed by milk. By Vastragalana - filtering through a cloth, separation of stones and other physical impurities will be held up in the filtering cloth. 2. Bhavana Method Charaka mentions the word Karana [14] in the context of Ashtavidha Aahara Vidhi Visheshayatana , which means the procedures to change the innate quality of the drug. For this purpose, Bhavana is also a procedure employed which comes under Samskaras which inturn makes the drug to take the properties in them. As per Acharya Sadananda Sharma, [15] Bhavana means any powdered drug added with suitable Dravadravya and ground well to dry it. According to Acharya Sharangadhara, [16] Drava should be added double the quantity of the powdered drug, which makes it Plavita or completely wet. According to the text Bhaishajya Ratnavali, [17] if Bhavana time is not mentioned then it has to be done for seven days. The drug has to be ground under sunlight in the daytime, which will be soaked in Dravadravya previous night. Thus Bhavana helps to extract special Gunas by doing Samskara . Mardana procedure employed in Bhavana is responsible for Gunavardhana and which inturn enhances the medicinal properties. Even if given in Alpamatra , Bala of drugs will be increased in the medicine. Alpamatra and Alpaveerya of the drug is changed to Mahakarma and Mahaveerya . 3. Taila Pachana and Nikshepa Method When powdered Gandhaka is melted in Taila containing pot , Taila absorbs toxic materials and helps in the removal of fat-soluble impurities. Later when melted Gandhaka is poured into milk, water, and colloidal soluble impurities will be removed by milk. 4. Damaru Yantra Vidhi / Urdhwapatana of Gandhaka Purification by sublimation is achieved by conversion of solid sulphur into gas and condensing the gas to produce only sublimed crystals or flowers of sulphur (rather similar to the distillation process to purify liquids). The purification of sulphur by "sublimation," with the formation of flowers of sulphur, can be carried out easily as the triple point pressure (the temperature and pressure at which a substance can co-exist in equilibrium in the liquid, solid, and gaseous states) of sulphur is low. Flowers of sulphur is the purest form of sulphur and is recommended for products intended for internal use. Its color will be light yellow (lime) and smells like a lemon. The powdered form of sulphur produced by sublimation; may contain up to 30% of the amorphous allotrope; used in rubber vulcanization, agricultural dust, pharmaceutical products, stock feeds. Sublimed sulphur/“Flower of Sulphur” may help as a topical scabicide and antiparasitic agent.

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Dr. Malavi Shayan et al. Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE July-Aug 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 4 180 Also, it helps in quick skin healing, and people usually mix it with cold cream. It may be widely used to treat many skin problems like acne, sores, insect bites, rashes, bacterial infections, bedsores, dermatitis, eczema, fungus/yeast infections, psoriasis type problems, ringworm, wou nds that won’t heal and more. CONCLUSION Among the various methods mentioned for Gandhaka Shodhana , the best method may be Urdhwapatana method as purest form of Shuddha Gandhaka can be obtained from this method. Also, method and media should be chosen as per the need by our Yukti , as the indications to each Shodhana procedure is not mentioned. Thus, it can be concluded that, Shodhana mentioned in Rasashastra texts is to make Gandhaka absolutely non-toxic by removing the impurities and to improve the quality of material, to enhance its therapeutic efficacy, to bring Laghutva , to make Gandhaka palatable, to make its therapeutic actions broadbased and these purification methods remove impurities not only physically and but also brings suitable chemical changes without producing any harmful effects on internal/external administration. REFERENCES 1 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinathashastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publication; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 176. 2 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/Pg 45. 3 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/Pg 46 4 Sadanandasharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinathashastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 177 5 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/46 6 Somadeva, Rasendra Choodamani, Hindi Commentary Siddhiprada by Sadananda Sharma, Choukhambha Orientalia; Varanasi: Edition 1999; Chap 11/Pg 172. 7 Madhava, Ayurveda Prakasha; Arthavidyotini and Arthaprakasini Sanskrit and Hindi Commentary by Gulraj Sharma Mishra, Chowkhambha Bharathi Academy; Varanasi; Edition: 2007; Chap 2/Pg 263. 8 Gopal Krishna, Rasendra Saara Sangraha, English Translation by Ashok D. Satpute, Chowkhamba Krinsadas Academy; Varanasi: Edition 2003; Chap 1/Pg 64. 9 Bhoodeb Mookerji, Rasa Jala Nidhi, Parimal Publications, Delhi; Edition: 2001, Vol 2-Chap 2/Pg 98. 10 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinatha Shastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 178. 11 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinatha Shastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 179. 12 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/Pg 46 13 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinatha Shastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publication; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 180. 14 Agnivesha, Caraka Samhita; Elaborated by Caraka and Drudabala with Ayurveda Dipika Commentary by Cakrapanidatta; edited by Vaidya Yadavji Trikamji Acharya, Chaukhamba Surabharathi Prakashan; Varanasi: Edition 2008; Vimanasthana, Chap 8/Pg 273. 15 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinatha Shastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 2/Pg 21. 16 Sharangadharachraya, Sharangadhara Samhita, English Translation by Himasagara Chandra Murthy, Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Academy; Varanasi: Edition 2010; Madhyama Khanda Chap 7/Pg 177. 17 Govinda Das Sen, Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Hindi Commentary Siddhiprada by Siddhinandan Mishra, Chowkhamba Surabharati Prakashan; Varanasi: Edition 2007; Chap 4/Pg 74.

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Dr. Malavi Shayan et al. Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE July-Aug 2020 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | July - Aug 2020 | Vol. 5 | Issue 4 181 ******************************* How to cite this article: Dr. Malavi Shayan, Dr. Praveen Kumar H. Recapitulation of Gandhaka Shodhana. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci 2020;4:177-181. Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared. Copyright © 2020 The Author(s); Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization, Vijayapur (Regd). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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