About the Book
This book
incorporates 27 chapter framed strictly as per most recent UG and Pg syllabus
of Rasashashtra autlined by CCIM.
The chapters,
its concepts and the formulations dealt here are earnestly motivated by ;’scientific
approach’, ‘rationality’, practical applicability’, ‘present day
utility’,’feasibility’ and their worthiness in the field of treatment’.
More than one
method of purification and incineration of ‘Rasadravya’ are intentionally
explained in the book to make the students understand the rationality behind
each method. UG students my choose the easiest method advised by their learned
teachers. However, for PG scholars it is better if they meticulously go through
all the explained methods to evaluate, compare, and understand the rationality.
It is appealed
to the readers of this text to think over the explained concepts with an open
and unconventional mindset.
It is appealed
to the readers of this text to think over the explained concepts with an open
and unconventional mindset.
Hope this book
will be useful to everyone in the field of Ayurveda, especially to the under
graduates. The postgraduates and the students appearing for PG entrance
examination.
About the Author
Dr.
Ravindra Angadi works as Associate Professor and
recognized PG guide in Post Graduate department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya
Kalpana at SDM college of Ayurveda, Kuthpady, Udupi, Karnataka since 2003.
His earlier
books: A Textbook of Bhaishajya Kalpana (as per CCIM’s new UG & PG
Syllabus) and Vaidyaka Pratibhasa Pradip both published by chaukhamba
Surbharati Prakashan Varanasi are widely appreciated and blessed by seniors in
the field; and are gladly accepted by the student fraternity of Ayurveda.
Preface
The origin of
'Rasasastra' has its roots in the 'Indian alchemy'. Alchemy was a form of
chemistry studied in the medieval period, in which people tried to discover
different ways to change ordinary metals into gold. This practice went on for
centuries, yielding some of the significant findings in the field of alchemy.
History of
'Indian Alchemy', can be traced to pre-Vedic period. The archaeological
excavations at Mohenjodaro and Harappa in the 'Indus valley' have brought to
light that, the people in ancient India were possessing chemical knowledge as
early as in the pre-historic period.
Alchemy in
India, was started for the preparation of a 'potion' of life for imparting
immortality and later for the transmutation process for converting ordinary
metals into gold. Indian alchemy derived its essence largely from the Tantric
cult.
Then, in later
centuries, all the previous accumulated alchemical ideas were ' put to
practical use and a number of preparations of mercury and other metals were
evolved as helpful accessories in medicine.
'Rasasastra' or
the Ayurvedic Alchemy is an important branch of Ayurvedic pharmacology. This
branch deals with the use of metals, minerals, gemstones and their processing.
In ancient Ayurveda,
the emphasis has been over the herbs and their therapeutic usages. Later on the
animal products, metals and minerals started to find favor of the Ayurvedic
practitioners. The minerals and metals are very effective and potent for
immunization, rejuvenation and elimination of diseases.
In 'Alchemy',
the primary motto was conversion of ordinary metals into gold, which is a
higher and valuable metal. The experts applied the same analogy to the human
body and found out that the 'sanrika dhatu'
can also be enriched in the same way by the use of different metals. This study
came to be known as the 'Dehavada'.
The study of
Dehavada and the use of metals were successful and it was found that the
mercury was very useful and effective when compared to its other mineral and
herbal counterparts.
In the earlier
days, 'tantrics' made use of the 'rasa-cikitsa methods' for achieving
immortality and these experiments were later utilized for the Ayurvedic
treatments. The modern Indian Ayurveda makes an extensive use of the
'Rasasastra' so much so that it has become the vital or inseparable component
of the therapeutic process.
We all know
that, 'Rasasastra' is not counted among the eight branches of Ayurveda. This is
indicative of the fact that 'Rasasastra' in its initial days was developed as
an independent pharmaceutical science.
Eventually,
'Rasasastra' became a significant part of Ayurveda and has played a major role
in the development of 'Ayurveda' in later centuries.
'Rasasastra'
is the special science, which deals with the metallic, mineral and poisonous
drugs. These drugs are pharmaceutically processed and rendered fit for internal
administration.
This work is a
humble attempt to bring a handy Textbook of 'Rasasastra', which is written as
per the new syllabus outlined for both UG and PG by CCIM.
Hope it will
be useful to everyone in the field of Ayurveda, especially to the under
graduates, the postgraduates and the students appearing for PG entrance
examinations.
Contents
Chapter 1 |
|
History and chronological
development of Rasasastra |
1-11 |
Chapter 2 |
|
Rasasala/Bhesajagara
(The Drug Manufacturing Unit) |
13-19 |
Chapter 3 |
|
Paribhasa
Prakarana (Significant Definitions) |
21-32 |
Chapter 4 |
|
Dravya
Vargikarana (Classified Drugs) |
34-39 |
Chapter 5 |
|
Yantra
(Instruments) |
40-57 |
Chapter 6 |
|
Musa
(Crucibles) |
58-67 |
Chapter 7 |
|
Kosthi
(Specially Built Fireplaces) |
68-71 |
Chapter 8 |
|
Puta
(Ancient Pyrometry) |
72-81 |
Chapter 9 |
|
Parada
(Mercury) |
83-96 |
Chapter 10 |
|
Parada
Astasamskara (Eight Special Procedures of Mercury) |
99-115 |
Chapter 11 |
|
Parada Gati
and Bandha |
116-127 |
Chapter 12 |
|
Jarana |
129-132 |
Chapter 13 |
|
Murcchana |
135-171 |
Chapter 14 |
|
Rasa Dravya Vargikarana
(Classification of Rasa Dravya) |
172-175 |
Chapter 15 |
|
Maharasa |
176-225 |
Chapter 16 |
|
Uparasa |
226-273 |
Chapter 17 |
|
Sadharana
Rasa |
274-303 |
Chapter 18 |
|
Dhatu Varga |
304-415 |
Chapter 19 |
|
Ratna-Uparatna
(Gems and Minor Gems) |
416-467 |
Chapter 20 |
|
Uparatna
(Semiprecious Stones) |
468-490 |
Chapter 21 |
|
Sudha Varga
Dravya |
491-518 |
Chapter 22 |
|
Sikata Varga
(Silicate Minerals) |
519-523 |
Chapter 23 |
|
Ksara Varga |
524-535 |
Chapter 24 |
|
Visopavisa
(Poison and Sub-poisons) |
536-579 |
Chapter 25 |
|
Ausadha Yoga
(Compound Formulations) |
581-643 |
Chapter 26 |
|
Drugs &
Cosmatics Act (DCA) & Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) |
645-654 |
UG: Syllabus |
661 |
PG: Syllabus |
665 |
Colour
Plates of Rasa dravya |
671 |
Alphabetical
Index |
687 |
About the Book
This book
incorporates 27 chapter framed strictly as per most recent UG and Pg syllabus
of Rasashashtra autlined by CCIM.
The chapters,
its concepts and the formulations dealt here are earnestly motivated by ;’scientific
approach’, ‘rationality’, practical applicability’, ‘present day
utility’,’feasibility’ and their worthiness in the field of treatment’.
More than one
method of purification and incineration of ‘Rasadravya’ are intentionally
explained in the book to make the students understand the rationality behind
each method. UG students my choose the easiest method advised by their learned
teachers. However, for PG scholars it is better if they meticulously go through
all the explained methods to evaluate, compare, and understand the rationality.
It is appealed
to the readers of this text to think over the explained concepts with an open
and unconventional mindset.
It is appealed
to the readers of this text to think over the explained concepts with an open
and unconventional mindset.
Hope this book
will be useful to everyone in the field of Ayurveda, especially to the under
graduates. The postgraduates and the students appearing for PG entrance
examination.
About the Author
Dr.
Ravindra Angadi works as Associate Professor and
recognized PG guide in Post Graduate department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya
Kalpana at SDM college of Ayurveda, Kuthpady, Udupi, Karnataka since 2003.
His earlier
books: A Textbook of Bhaishajya Kalpana (as per CCIM’s new UG & PG
Syllabus) and Vaidyaka Pratibhasa Pradip both published by chaukhamba
Surbharati Prakashan Varanasi are widely appreciated and blessed by seniors in
the field; and are gladly accepted by the student fraternity of Ayurveda.
Preface
The origin of
'Rasasastra' has its roots in the 'Indian alchemy'. Alchemy was a form of
chemistry studied in the medieval period, in which people tried to discover
different ways to change ordinary metals into gold. This practice went on for
centuries, yielding some of the significant findings in the field of alchemy.
History of
'Indian Alchemy', can be traced to pre-Vedic period. The archaeological
excavations at Mohenjodaro and Harappa in the 'Indus valley' have brought to
light that, the people in ancient India were possessing chemical knowledge as
early as in the pre-historic period.
Alchemy in
India, was started for the preparation of a 'potion' of life for imparting
immortality and later for the transmutation process for converting ordinary
metals into gold. Indian alchemy derived its essence largely from the Tantric
cult.
Then, in later
centuries, all the previous accumulated alchemical ideas were ' put to
practical use and a number of preparations of mercury and other metals were
evolved as helpful accessories in medicine.
'Rasasastra' or
the Ayurvedic Alchemy is an important branch of Ayurvedic pharmacology. This
branch deals with the use of metals, minerals, gemstones and their processing.
In ancient Ayurveda,
the emphasis has been over the herbs and their therapeutic usages. Later on the
animal products, metals and minerals started to find favor of the Ayurvedic
practitioners. The minerals and metals are very effective and potent for
immunization, rejuvenation and elimination of diseases.
In 'Alchemy',
the primary motto was conversion of ordinary metals into gold, which is a
higher and valuable metal. The experts applied the same analogy to the human
body and found out that the 'sanrika dhatu'
can also be enriched in the same way by the use of different metals. This study
came to be known as the 'Dehavada'.
The study of
Dehavada and the use of metals were successful and it was found that the
mercury was very useful and effective when compared to its other mineral and
herbal counterparts.
In the earlier
days, 'tantrics' made use of the 'rasa-cikitsa methods' for achieving
immortality and these experiments were later utilized for the Ayurvedic
treatments. The modern Indian Ayurveda makes an extensive use of the
'Rasasastra' so much so that it has become the vital or inseparable component
of the therapeutic process.
We all know
that, 'Rasasastra' is not counted among the eight branches of Ayurveda. This is
indicative of the fact that 'Rasasastra' in its initial days was developed as
an independent pharmaceutical science.
Eventually,
'Rasasastra' became a significant part of Ayurveda and has played a major role
in the development of 'Ayurveda' in later centuries.
'Rasasastra'
is the special science, which deals with the metallic, mineral and poisonous
drugs. These drugs are pharmaceutically processed and rendered fit for internal
administration.
This work is a
humble attempt to bring a handy Textbook of 'Rasasastra', which is written as
per the new syllabus outlined for both UG and PG by CCIM.
Hope it will
be useful to everyone in the field of Ayurveda, especially to the under
graduates, the postgraduates and the students appearing for PG entrance
examinations.
Contents
Chapter 1 |
|
History and chronological
development of Rasasastra |
1-11 |
Chapter 2 |
|
Rasasala/Bhesajagara
(The Drug Manufacturing Unit) |
13-19 |
Chapter 3 |
|
Paribhasa
Prakarana (Significant Definitions) |
21-32 |
Chapter 4 |
|
Dravya
Vargikarana (Classified Drugs) |
34-39 |
Chapter 5 |
|
Yantra
(Instruments) |
40-57 |
Chapter 6 |
|
Musa
(Crucibles) |
58-67 |
Chapter 7 |
|
Kosthi
(Specially Built Fireplaces) |
68-71 |
Chapter 8 |
|
Puta
(Ancient Pyrometry) |
72-81 |
Chapter 9 |
|
Parada
(Mercury) |
83-96 |
Chapter 10 |
|
Parada
Astasamskara (Eight Special Procedures of Mercury) |
99-115 |
Chapter 11 |
|
Parada Gati
and Bandha |
116-127 |
Chapter 12 |
|
Jarana |
129-132 |
Chapter 13 |
|
Murcchana |
135-171 |
Chapter 14 |
|
Rasa Dravya Vargikarana
(Classification of Rasa Dravya) |
172-175 |
Chapter 15 |
|
Maharasa |
176-225 |
Chapter 16 |
|
Uparasa |
226-273 |
Chapter 17 |
|
Sadharana
Rasa |
274-303 |
Chapter 18 |
|
Dhatu Varga |
304-415 |
Chapter 19 |
|
Ratna-Uparatna
(Gems and Minor Gems) |
416-467 |
Chapter 20 |
|
Uparatna
(Semiprecious Stones) |
468-490 |
Chapter 21 |
|
Sudha Varga
Dravya |
491-518 |
Chapter 22 |
|
Sikata Varga
(Silicate Minerals) |
519-523 |
Chapter 23 |
|
Ksara Varga |
524-535 |
Chapter 24 |
|
Visopavisa
(Poison and Sub-poisons) |
536-579 |
Chapter 25 |
|
Ausadha Yoga
(Compound Formulations) |
581-643 |
Chapter 26 |
|
Drugs &
Cosmatics Act (DCA) & Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) |
645-654 |
UG: Syllabus |
661 |
PG: Syllabus |
665 |
Colour
Plates of Rasa dravya |
671 |
Alphabetical
Index |
687 |