A critical study of Gandhaka Shodhana

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REVIEW ARTICLE May 2023 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May 2023 | Vol. 8 | Issue 5 185 A critical study of Gandhaka Shodhana Manisha Rathi 1 , Sharad Rathi 2 1 Professor & HOD, Dept. of Rasa Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College Hospital & Research Center, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. 2 Assistant Professor, PG Department of Agad Tantra evum Vidhi Vaidhyak, Pt. Khushilal Sharma Govt. (Autonomous) Ayurved College and Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. I NTRODUCTION Gandhaka is included under Uparasas by all the Rasa Granthas. Gandhaka is the principal material used for making the most important preparations like Rasalinga, Rasabandhas In modern science it similar to Sulphur Sulphur is known since ages, in Brahatrayi , Sulphur is used in several diseases as a therapeutic agent. Later, after 7 th century A.D Sulphur was used extensively both in Dehavada (in maintaining the health and eradicating the diseases) and Loha Vada (converting lower metals into gold and silver) [1] Address for correspondence: Dr. Manisha Rathi Professor & HOD, Dept. of Rasa Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College Hospital & Research Center, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. E-mail: manishapurvirathi@gmail.com Submission Date: 08/03/2023 Accepted Date: 15/04/2023 Access this article online Quick Response Code Website: www.jaims.in DOI: 10.21760/jaims.8.5.30 Synonym of Gandhaka is Shulbari i.e., Tamrashatru It is an essential agent for the various processes of Parada Samskaras, Marana, Jarana and Bandhana etc Mercurial preparations without Gandhaka are considered to be more toxic The mythological origin [2] is explained as, the product obtained while churning Ksheera Sagara / Samudra Manthana along with Amrita (nectar) Different synonyms [3] like Gandhapashana, Pamari, Kruragandha, Navanita Saugandhika, Gandhi, Bali, Gandhaka, Daityendra, Atigandha, Sugandhika, Balivasa, Gandha, Daityendra and Kushtari etc In ancient texts mentioned Graha Lakshnas of Gandhaka as the colour of genuine Gandhaka should resembles that of the tail of parrot (greenish yellow) [4] It should be smooth, hard and unctuous It should be having the luster of Kapikacchubeeja and Navanita (soft to touch) For Rasayanartha and Loha Vadartha, it should be translucent like the fruits of Amalaki ( Amalasara Gandhaka ). The pharmacological and therapeutic properties explained in Ayurveda are; Rasa: Madhura , [5] Katu, Tikta, Kashaya Guna: Ushna, Sara, Snigdha A B S T R A C T Gandhaka or Sulphur is a non-metallic solid element found in nature Gandhaka or Sulphur is required in human body for proper functioning It is the third most abundant mineral (after calcium and phosphorus) based on percentage of total body weight It is the sixth most abundant macro mineral in breast milk It is present in saliva, bile, protein, amino acids, and insulin Sulphur is mainly present in sulphur containing amino acids like cystine Gandhaka in the body purifies blood, aids healthy digestion, and prevents toxic build-up In Ayurveda, Gandhaka is used in the treatment of variety of diseases since time immemorial It as a free element cannot be utilized by the body, so in Ayurveda, first it is detoxified to get Shuddha Gandhak, and then given Bhavana of herbal ingredients that make it suitable for use Shuddha Gandhak is combined with Shuddha Parad or purified mercury to form Kajjali which is further used to prepare Ras-Aushadhi In combination with mercury, it is used in almost all diseases. Key words: Gandhaka Shodhana, Sulphur Purification, Godughda

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Manisha Rathi et al. A critical study of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE May 2023 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May 2023 | Vol. 8 | Issue 5 186 Virya: Ushna Vipaka: Katu Karma: Deepana, Pachana, Vishahara, Jantughna Dosha Prabhava: Kapha Vatahara, Pittavardhaka. Vyadhi Prabhava: Kandu, Visarpa, Krimi, Kustha, Kashaya, Pleeha, Rasayana. [6] The modern view of Gandhaka (Sulphur) [7] Aryans, Greeks, Romans and Indians used it for fumigation and as medicine It is estimated as the 9 th most abundant element in the universe The general properties of sulphur are : Name - Sulphur Symbol - S Hardness - 1.5 to 2.5 Boiling point - 440.60°Celsius Melting point - 112.80 ° Celsius Atomic Number - 16 Atomic mass - 32.06 Specific gravity - 1.9 to 2.3 A IM AND O BJECTIVES 1 Review the classics for Gandhaka Sodhana 2 Analyze the Gandhaka Sodhana methods M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS There are different methods of Gandhaka Shodhana available in classical of Rasagranthas Among these some methods are described here- 1. Swedana : 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 [8,9] 2. Dalana and Vastragalana : A Mrut Patra filled half the level with milk is taken, its mouth is covered with a porous cloth smeared with ghee and 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 [10] 3. Kurmaputa : 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 [11-13] 4. Bhavana : 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 [14] 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 [15] 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 [16,17] DISCUSSION The discussion section is one of the final parts of a research paper, in which an author describes, analyzes, and interprets their findings In this article discussion based on methods used in Sodhana of Gandhaka. 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

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Manisha Rathi et al. A critical study of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE May 2023 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May 2023 | Vol. 8 | Issue 5 187 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 Swedana is one such process that makes the drug biocompatible by converting it into an organometallic complex During Swedan Karma following actions seen - Reduce hardness and biochemical changes favorable to body In Dalana two methods described here 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. 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 . 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. In Damaru Yantra Vidhi / Urdhwapatana of Gandhaka - 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 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, wounds that won’t heal and more. CONCLUSION Sulphur is used widely in therapeutic hence it’s important to use it after purification To get desired therapeutic effect and to lessen the untoward, toxic or harmful effect caused after its internal administration The colour changes occurred can suggestive of removal of some of the physical and chemical impurities from Sulphur in the form of sand particles and loss during washing. 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 broad-based 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 Tripathi Indradeva, Rasendra Sara Sangraha Translated by Dr Ashok D Satpute: Varanasi, Chaukhamba Krishnadas academy, 4 th ed., 1 st chapter, verse 116, 59 Pp. 2 Vagbhatacharya, Rasa Ratna Samuchaya, edition by Dattareya Anand Kulkarni, Reprint, New Delhi, Meharchand Lachhmandas publications, 2006, 3 rd chapter, page 235, 42,43. 3 Sri Sadanada Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, edited by Kashinath Shastri, 11 th edition, New Delhi, Motilal Banarasidas publication, 2004, 8 th Tarang, page 174- 175 Pp. 4 Acharya Sri Madava, Ayurveda Prakasha, edited by gulrajsharmamishra, 2 nd ed, varanasi, Chaukhambha Brihat Academy, 1999, 1 st chapter, page 261. 5 Vagbhatacharya, Rasa Ratna Samuchaya, edition byDattareya Anand Kulkarni, Reprint, New Delhi, Meharchand Lachhmandas publications, 2007, 3 rd chapter, page 235-45.

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Manisha Rathi et al. A critical study of Gandhaka Shodhana ISSN: 2456-3110 REVIEW ARTICLE May 2023 Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences | May 2023 | Vol. 8 | Issue 5 188 6 Shri Bhava Mishra, Bhava Prakasha, edited by Srikanta Murthy, 1 stedn Varanasi, chaukhamba, 1998, vol 1, 7 th chapter, verse 207, 547 Pp. 7 Mundugaru R, Ballal SR, Bhat S, Basavaiah R. Chronic toxicity studies of gandhaka rasayana - A herbo-mineral preparation used in Ayurvedic practice. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021 Oct-Dec;12(4):673-681. 8 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinathashastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publication; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 176. 9 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/Pg 45. 10 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi:Edition 2010; Chap 3/Pg 46 11 Sadanandasharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinathashastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 177. 12 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/46 13 Somadeva, Rasendra Choodamani, Hindi Commentary Siddhiprada by Sadananda Sharma, Choukhambha Orientalia; Varanasi: Edition 1999; Chap 11/Pg 172. 14 Bhoodeb Mookerji, Rasa Jala Nidhi, Parimal Publications, Delhi; Edition: 2001, Vol 2-Chap 2/Pg 98. 15 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinatha Shastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 178. 16 Sadananda Sharma, Rasa Tarangini, Hindi Commentary by Pandit Kashinatha Shastry, Motilal Banarasi Das Publications; Delhi: Edition 2004; Chap 8/Pg 179. 17 Vagbhataacharya, Rasa Ratna Samucchaya, Hindi Commentary by Dattatreya Ananta Kulkarni, Meharchand Lachhmandas Publications; New Delhi: Edition 2010; Chap 3/Pg 46. ******************************* How to cite this article: Manisha Rathi, Sharad Rathi. A critical study of Gandhaka Shodhana. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci 2023;05:185-188. http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.8.5.30 Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared. Copyright © 2023 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 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and perform the work and make derivative works based on it only for non-commercial purposes, provided the original work is properly cited

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Rasashastra, Dolayantra, Damaruyantra, Samudramanthana, Shuddhagandhaka, Proper functioning, Therapeutic effect, Mythological origin, Modern science, Therapeutic agent, Therapeutic properties, Ancient text, Sulphur purification, Internal administration, Gandhaka Shodhana, Ayurvedic practice, Rasa Grantha, Biochemical changes, Amino acid, Toxic material, Swedana Dravya, Shuddha Parad, Shuddha Gandhak, Ashuddha Gandhaka, Bhavana-proces, Ras Aushadhi.