Dr Kulkarni Parag Umakant PG scholar Rasasastra Govt.

Ayurveda College Tripunithura

 (. . /) Athrvaveda
Ayurveda Shokashatasahastra

Introduction

Adhyayasahastra

Ashtanga

Kaya
Vrushana

Bala

Jara

Rasasastra ?

Graha

Damshtra
Shalya

Urdhvanga

 ; , ()
Rasasastra is a supportive branch to Ashtanga Ayurveda which had developed in medieval period i.e. 8th / 9th Cent. A.D. and onwards.

Rasasatra

Although the word Rasa literally means Mercury & Rasasastra is therefore translated as science of Mercury. In other word we can define Rasasastra as it is essentially the science of inorganic pharmaceutical preparations of Ayurveda.

Rasasastra Pratipadya Vishaya

(... )

Origin of Rasasastra

Chikitsavada Dhatuvada Dehavada

Dehavada
Parada was used for Jeevan mukti by Raseswar Darshana which was ultimate aim of Rasasastra. When Parada undergoes different procedures like Ashtadasha samskara it becomes so much potent and known as Mahushadha Haragauri Rasa

The Kramana samskara

, ,

Dhatuvada
Due to use of Kramana samskara the new utility of Rasasastra was found by Rasa scholars, which was Dhatuvada. In which Ashtadhasha samskarit Parada was being used to convert lower metals like Iorn to higher metals like Gold. But during the course of time the main aim, Dehavada was totally replaced by Lohavada for Ayshwarya prapti & Dhana prapti.

Chikitsavada
During the Boudhakala Rasasastra was in its peak popularity. In late Boudhakala priority of the Rasasastra was change from the Dhatuvada to the Chikitsavada. So from that period Rasasastra was being used to strengthen the body and to cure various diseases.

Rasavidyaavtarana
Mahadev
Parvati Shivasuchara Bhardvaja Nandi Dhanvantari

Agstya
Pulastya 22 Shishyas of Pulastya

Development of Rasasastra
In Satyayuga
Maharshi Bharadwaja brings Rasachikitsa on Martyaloka

In Tratayuga
Shri Ramchandra, Bhairava, Ravana Spread it in south India

In Dvaparyuga
Mahrshi Patanjalee, Matta, Mandavya, Vyadi, Bhimsena, Mayadanava, Nakula Sahadeva, Shishupala, Tarasandha spreads it in western part of India

During Kaliyuga
Boudha Bhagvan Spreads it. After Boudha Dharma Vaidya Samaj spread it.

During the company govt, period the ancient literatures republished

Chronological Involution of Rasasastra

Vedic period
Atharva veda Kanda 2, sukta3, mantra 4-8
Loha, Trapu

Atharva veda Kanda1, sukta35

Hiranya dharana & its internal use

Atharva veda Kanda 7, sukta50

Parada

Chandogya upanishada (6-1to5)

Tikshanaloha used as medicine

 Manu smriti
For Jatkarma hiranya madhusarpi For new born suvarna bhasma lehya

Vishnu Dhrmottar Puran

Abhraka druti was explained

Markandeya Purana
Rasa was used as medicine

Mahabharta
Krutrim suvarna nirman vidhi was explained

Samhita period
1. Charaka samhita Charaka chikitsa 3/4 Manhashila, Haritala, Kasisa are used for external application for purpose of external application Charaka chikitsa 1 (3 rasayanapada) 15-23 Lohadi rasyana for Rasayana karma Charaka chikitsa 1 (3 rasayanapada) 48-65 Shilajatu Rasayana used as rasyana & vajikarna

 Charaka chikitsa 4/79

Vaidurya, Mukta, Manibhasama, Garika, shhankha, suvarna bhasma has used in Udka Kalpana for Raktapitta chikitsa.

Charaka chikitsa 7/70

Gandhaka, Parada & suvaranamakshika has used as lepana in kushtha chikitsa.

Charaka chikitsa 13/73

In Kaphaja udara roga Ayaskruti

Charaka chikitsa 16
Different types of Loha, Tapya, Adrija, Raopya, Makshika etc. has used in Varity of yogas for Panduchikitsa

 Charaka chikitsa 17/125 to 128

Mukta, praval, vaidurya, shankha, sphatika, anjana, Gandhaka has used in Shvasa vyadhi as Muktadya churna with madhu & sarpi.

Charaka chikitsa 23/239

Tamra used in garavisha for vamana & Suvarna with madhu as vishagha yoga.

Charaka chikitsa 23/252

Vajra, Markata, Vishamushika, Vaidurya are used for sarpadanshanivaran

Charaka chikitsa 26/152

Manhashila used as pradhaman nasya in kaphaja pratishyaya

 Charaka chikitsa 26/266

Manhashila, Hartal, Yavakshara, Saindhava, has used in PitakCHuna to treat mukharoga

Charaka chikitsa 7/88

Trapu, Sisa, Loha, churna used in mandal kushtha for external application

Charaka chikitsa 16
Different types of Loha, Tapya, Adrija, Roupya, Makshika etc. are used in varity of yogas for Panduchikista.

Charaka chikitsa 13/73

In kaphaja udar raga ayaskruti is mentioned.

2. Sushruta samhita Sushruta sutra 37/14

Trapvadi gana which includes all the metals and used as- Garakrimihara param

Sushruta chikitsa 9/60

Gandhaka is used in Mahavajrataila for kushta chikitsa

Sushruta chikitsa 10/11-12

Ayaskruti preparation is mentioned in Mahakustha chikitsa internally

Sushruta chikitsa 25/29

Parade used externally in Ghruta from for kushta, vaipadika

Sushruta kalpa 2/5

Fenashma was first time introduced in Ayurvediya samhita.

3. Ashtanga Sangrha & Hrudaya Ashtanga sangraha chikitsa 19/84

Siktha, Sindoor, Tutha, Tarkshya are used in taila form for vicharchika.

Ashtanga sangraha chikitsa 30/13-14

Bhasma nirmana vidhi mentioned

Ashtanga sangraha chikitsa 30/18

For Lohamarana Bhanupaka vidhi introduced

Ashtanga sangraha uttarasthan 50/245

Shukravaradhanartha kalpa explained which contain Parada, Gandhaka, and Shilajatu etc.

Vagbhatacharya introduced Andhamusha first time

Chanakyas period
At that time three types of Suvarana used
Jatiroop (native) Rasavidha (from vedha of mercury) Akarodbhav (from ores)

In this period lohavidya is in its peak level of development. Suvarna made from Rasa i.e. Parada is mentioned as Rasavidha. For suvarna shodhana they used sisakam & for suvarna vikrutikaran they used Hingulam.

Varaha Mihiras period

Although he was the Acharya of Jyotishastra, he had the basic knowledge of Ayurveda and also of Rasasastra. In his literature he explains all Dhatu, Ratna, Manhashila, Gairika etc. He also made a shukravardhak kalpa which includes Parada, Makshika, Loha bhasma, Gandhaka, Shilajatu. This kalpa resembles with the shukra vardhaka yoga of Ashtanga Sangraha. He again explains the payanavidhi of Shastra.

Development after 8th century

1. Nagarjunacharya. (8th century) The Rasasastra mainly developed in 8th century by Rasasidha Nagarjuna. So he has known as first Acharya of Rasasastra. He learned this knowledge from Acharya Sarabha in Nalanda Vidyapitha. He knows about Mayurividya and krutrim Suvarana nirmana from Parada, so he said that

2. Vyadi (9th century) He is a one of the rasasidha acharya. Literature Rasasidha Shastra, Dhatuvada Shastra 3. Acharya Gorakshanath (12th century) He made the Khechari Gutika and suvarna nirmanartha gutika kalpa. 4. Rasa vagbhata (13th century) He wrote a book on Rasashastra named as Ras Ratna Sammuchaya which has many Rasakalpa descriptions. It is the best book of Rasasastra now days.

5. Acharya Nityanath (13th century)

He explained krutrim Manikya nirmana & Indranil nirmana in his book Rasaratnakara.

6. Acharya Sadanada Sharma (20th century)

Acharya wrote Rastrarangini which has some advance procedures of Raskalpa nirman vidhi. He mentioned some acids like sulphuric acid, sorakamla, Lavanamal, & also oxygen suvarnamandal, rajatmandal, suvarnalavan etc. This book is very famous now days for Rasaushadhi Nirmana.