Rasa Sindhoora Method
Rasa Sindhoora Method
Rasa Sindhoora Method
INTRODUCTION :
The preceptors of Indian rasa shastra were initially indulged very much in the
achivement of a disease free and decay free body ( deha veda) and the conversion of
a lower metal to a higher metal i.e. a metal having higher economic value (loha veda )
simultaneously . but later their attempts in the field of deva veda became dominant.
Since the necessity of the removal of elements was the primary concern .acharyas
showed their keen intrest on the by products of veda karmas for therauptic purposes .
Acharyas found mercury and few other metalsminerals are very
useful. They observed that some toxic and harmful effects are likely to be produced in the
body if such metalsminerals are such.hence to minimize or to remove sodhana, marana,
gandhakajarana etc. gandhaka(sulphur) is considered as an essential element for various
purposes of mercury such as murchana,jarana etc..
It is also claimed in different texts that mercury does not become
therauptically useful unless in cinerated with sulphur (bali jarana ) in different ratios .
As rasa shasthra developed, the methods of effective preparation
of drugs are also developed because of as time goes on the human community
suffered due to the lot of elements Kupipakva method is developed mainly for
gandhaka jarana in which sulphur is added with mercury in different proportions and
burns it with the help of fire in glass bottle(kupi). The aim was to produce strong bond
structure between the molecules of mercury and the sulphur, to combat the strong and
chronic diseases .
As time and requirements increased our acharyas and vaidyas
Invented new experiments by adding some metals ( eg, gold, silver, copper, tin) and
non-metals ( like haritala, manahshila ) in the kupipakva method. Due to the miraculous
and dramatic effects in the dreadful & chronic elements, kupipakva rasayanas got lot of
name & fame. And thus the streams of practicing kupipakva rasayanas gradually
increased.
Definition:-
It means the medicine which is prepared by treating or cooking mercury and other
medicines on fire is known as Kupipakva-Rasayana. Mercury & other medicinal
substances are treated on fire in a specially formed glass bottle which in Rasa-shastra
texts is known as Kupi. Hence the preparation is called as Kupipakwa.
Medicines which are prepared with mercury as one of the main ingrediant, in a
glass bottle (kupi) in valukayantra are called as kupipakva Rasayana.
Kupipakva method is developed mainly for gandhakajarana in which sulphur is
added with mercury in different proportions and burns it with the help of fire in glass bottle.
According to Ayurveda Prakash, murcchana and jarana may be used as synonyms but
which is true only in the context of gandhakajarana.
Pure parada or Ashta sanskarita parada & gandhaka are grinded in a mortor &
pestle to make them into an amalgam which is black in colour & known as kajjali. This
kajjali is then triturated with said different herbs juices & is treated with the heat (Agni) by
the help of kupi (glass bottle). For the heating gradual increasing of heat is necessary like
mild, moderate & more. Depending upon the ingredients & paka kala, the colour varies
like Red (sindoora) & white (karpoora) etc.
The entity Rasayanshastra has two special words Rasa & Ayana. Rasa means
mercury & Ayana means a way or path. Hence all mercury containing medicines are
called as a Rasayana. Mercurial medicines cures the diseases, increases strength,
immunity (oja), intellect (medha) & stablizes the life, hence called as Rasayana.
Furnace is not to be built in open space, otherwise rain in rainy season & scorching
sunlight in summer will cause trouble during the preparation & with winds flowing, the heat
will not be provided sufficiently.
The room should be sufficient roomy or should have sufficient place to store fire material
like wood, coal etc & extra bags of sand.
It is better to built the room to near by the water reservoir or water-store.
The room/place should be away from the residential areas. But should have all
requirements which are required for the preparation of Rasa.
Must have the Light system, electrical supply. Because kupipakva rasayana preparations
requires 2-3days & nights. For night it must have Light system.
IMPORTANT INSTRUMENTS/APPARATUS:-
a. Kupi (Bottle):-
Even after the development of the technique of kachakupi (glass bottle) preparation, the
earthen crucible, copper bowl and damaruyantra were very much in use for the
preparation of medicines like kupipakva.
Rasataragini refers to the glass-coated earthen vessel for the preparation of Rasapushpa,
but in due course, the use of glass bottle became more frequent due to its availability,
easy handing, economical factor & its inertness towards different components of mercurial
medicines.
Advantage of glass-bottle: The most important advantage of glass-bottle is, the rasas
which prepared in glass-bottle, they get very beautiful & smooth, slippery surface. This is
not possible in any another material bottle.
- In earthen crucible (Mrunmusha) the chances of breaking or tearing are more. And
also some chances to leak the volatile material from the bottle.
- Iron kupi gets reacted with sulphur & leaves thin layers of iron.
- Breaking of glass-bottle to collect the medicine is also very easy & convenient.
- The bottom of the bottle should be flat or dome shaped (convex). Do not take the
bottle having concave bottom-surface.
- A Beer bottle is a good choice.
The neck of the bottle should not be long:- (Ref : kupipakva rasa nirman vigyan)
While preparing kupipakva rasa a thing we came to know that the prepared medicine
does not stick at very high in bottle neck, in spite of that, its sticks at that height of 3-4
inches from the bottom of the bottle. If heat is increased yet to some more extent in such
circumstances the rasa will stick above the level of 5 inches. But, sulphur &
Navasadar(NH4CL) will definitely stuck to the more upper level. If bottle neck is
unnecessary lengthy, sulphur & navasadar are definitely to accumulate in the lumen &
occlude the passage resulting in the tearing of the bottle. Generally the fumes of sulphur
& Navasadar are responsible for braking of the bottle. The height of the glass-bottle
should be approximately 12-13 inches.
b. Valukayantra:-
Valukayantra, also known as sikatayantra, is the apparatus to provide heat to kupi.
Generally valukayantra made-up of iron (bucket shaped) is used for Kupipakva
formulations however, Ayurveda pralash describes it made out of clay and coated with
clay & cloth for kupipakva methods. The size of valukayantra should be selected in
comparison to kupi. i.e. almost of equal height, to achieve the better results and to avoid
the loss of fuel.
Valukayantra is filled with sand(valuka) and it is called Lavanayantra when filled
with lavana (Salt). The purpose of filling sand or lavana in Valukayantra is to provide a
constant temperature and also to provide support to the kupi.
Ayurveda prakash describes valukayantra having a small hole covered with mica
sheet at its bottom for kupipakva processes, perhaps to increase the temperature at a
faster rate.
Accordint to R.R.S 9/33-36:-
A beer bottle is taken & coated by 7 layers of clay & mud of 1 finger width & is allowed to
dry. Now kajjali is poured up to 1/3rd part of the bottle. As big Iron bucket is taken. Pour a
sand in that iron bucket up to the height of 2 inches.
Now the bottle is placed in the bucket & the vacant part is filled with sand up to the
neck of the bottle (up to the 2 inches below of the bottle-mouth).
The bottle should be at the center of Iron-bucket (valuka Yantra)
While pouring the sand, in valuka yantra, care should be taken to seal the mouth of
the bottle with a cork or paper, to prevent the entry of sand in the mouth of bottle.
Otherwise this sand will spoil the inner medicine (kajjali).
Now this valuka yantra is placed on furnace and gradually increasing Agni (heat) is
given i.e. Mrudu, Madhyam & TivraAgni.
For how much time one should heat the bottle? When a dried grass placed on
the heated sand starts getting burnt up to that time we have to heat it.
We can fill the Iron-bucket with sand, Lavana or Bhasma (Ashes).
This valuka yantra is used for gandhakjarana, kupipakva rasa nirmana & parada
golaka paka.
The Iron bucket/pot should occupy totally the diameter of furnace with open space
of approximately 1 Angula (2cm) surrounding it equally. With this surrounding open space
Agni-Jwalla (Flames of Agni) will give constant & equal heat to all parts of valukayantra.
And it also allows to escape the smoke or fumes from the furnace.
The Iron bucket shape pot should be 12 inches in height & width should be enough.
So that after placing the kupi in it, a sufficient space of 2 inches be remain vacant
surrounding to the bottle.
In case of mud-pot tie a iron wire surrounding to the mouth of mud-pot to prevent
the tearing or breaking of the pot.
Valuka (Sand) for Valukayantra:-
- It is better to procure the sand from river-bank.
- The sand should not be very fine nor having big sized stones.
- The sand particles size should be moderate & having same size of particles.
- Sand from seas-beach is not allowed.
- Same sand is useful for 3-4 times. Also store the extra sand bags in the Room, so
that eventually if the valuka yantra is broken & sand is wasted, you need not run at the
eleventh hour for searching the new sand.
Upto which level we should fill the sand in sand bucket or valuka yantra?
Fill the sand around the glass-bottle upto 2 3 inches below the neck of the bottle. Never
fill the sand up to the neck and in this condition if bottle will break by some reason, then it
is very difficult to pull out the bottle outside. Second reason is there may be the chance to
enter thje sand through the tears of glass, bottle, if filled upto the neck. It may spoil the
medicine.
If bottle will be open upto 2-3 inches at the upper side, it is very easy to pull out, in some
emergency conditions.
C. Furnace (Bhrashtri):
Muffle Furnace:
As a heating device for Kupipakva muffle furnaces are very much convenient in
various aspects. Any type of temperature pattern for any short duration could easily be
maintained through it. Muffle furnace checks the fluctuation of temperature. It is eco-
friendly also, neither it requires wood as fluel nor it produces a lot of fumes & dirt.
Wood Furnace: ( furnace in which fuel is wood)
If we are using the furnace in which we will use wood as a fuel, then it better to
insert iron rods in that furnace while constructing. It is easy to burn firewood over the
mesh of rods. The meshwork formed due to the iron rods enables the heat, that is
generated by burning small wood pieces, to be utilized upto the maximum extent than
compared to general furnace which not have iron-rod meshwork inside it.
For maximum burning of wood pieces air is very necessary. (O2). This iron-rod
mesh enables the more entry of air in the mouth of furnace. The more entry of air in the
mouth of furnace. The wood pieces, burns on the mesh easily & produce more heat than
the furnace where wood is place in the mouth of furnace on the ground.
It saves the more consumption of wood.
For this furnace outlet for the smoke will goes outside & heat is provided to the
valukayantra in proper manner.
Baluka-Yantra is to be inserted in this furnace as such its half part should be
inside the lumen of furnace.
Mineral Coal Furnace:
Production of heat in the coal furnace is very high. If proper ventilation ( supply of
oxygen) will be there, at place where the coals are burning, temperature goes to upto 700
- 800C. In order to control the entry of air in the mouth of this furnace, a valve
arrangement at the mouth of furnace is must. So that by opening & closing or adjusting
the valve we can control the heat, by controlling the air-entry inside it.
Gas Furnace:
In this furnace the temperature depends upon the flow of fuel-gas to the furnace. If
flow is more the heat production inside the furnace will be more.
Electric Furnace:
In Electric Furnace the production of heat is depends upon the flow of electricity.
With the help of regulator having numbers 1-2-3-4, the electric flow can be controlled
leading to change in heat generated.
It is wise to know prior hand that how much temperature can be generated in this
furnace. And also the prior knowledge of at various indicated (1-2-3-4) of the regulator
how much electric flow is going inside & producing how many heat, is also must. Once we
knew these things & temperature at which various kupipakva rasas are prepared, then
we have to just insert the kupi in furnace & adjust the temperature accordingly that rasa.
The rasa will prepare automatically without any feat of breakage of bottle. And due to the
constant & sufficient heat the kupipakva - rasa will also become pakva without any
problem.
According to convenience Electric Furnace is most useful than other furnace.
Secondly gas furnace then mineral coal furnace & then wood furnace are convenient.
d. Pyrometer:
The meter or instrument which measures the temperature is known as pyrometer.
Measuring the temperature at different stages during the kupipakva-rasa preparation is
must for the standardization & convenience.
Pyrometers are of Two Types:
Pyrometer which can be inserted directly in the fire flames of the furnace. It shows the
temperature of Agni in furnace.
The second one are small in size & can be inserted in the sand upto the bottom of the
valukayantra. (it is better to keep this pyrometer in the iron canal, which covers this
pyrometer). This shows temperature of sand.
These pyrometers are made up of different different metal alloy.
Rasavaidya should know the different temperature levels for the preparation of different
kupipakva-rasas. Eg: Rasa-Sindoora forms the compound at 260C and if and if heat /
temperature exceed ti 270C - 275 C. It starts evapouration & stick to the throat of the
bottle. When compound (or rasa) is prepared, remember not to exceed heat than 270C -
275 C, otherwise fumes will come out in large quantity blocking bottle mouth & leading to
the brakage of bottle. So care must be taken to reduce the temperature when mouth of
bottle occluded.
It is very much mandatory to control heat in kupipakva rasa preparation, to prepare proper
medicine. Every Rasa-vaidya must know the temperature pattern and heat regulation.
MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS:
a) Khalwa Yantra: Khalwa Yantra is necessary to prepare Kajjali (Powder) of
required drugs for kupipakva rasayana. Prior to heating procedure in valuka yantra proper
mixing of drugs in khalwa yantra is must for better result & to get maximum quantity of
medicine.
It is also useful & required for trituration (Bhavana) of kajjali by means of different
herbal juices. Eg: To prepare Malla-Sindoora, Bhavana of Kumari-Swarasa is
necessary.
And also after the completion of kupipakva-rasayana medicine, we will get that
rasa in thick layer (like scale) form & some rasa in granules form. To administer for
therapeutic purpose, it should be very fine. Thats why mardana (pounding) in khalwa-
yantra is necessary.
b) Kupi-Stand: After the wrapping clay & cloth on the glass-bottle, it is must drying
of that layer. Then & then only we should wrap another layer (total 7 layers). For the quick
& proper drying of layers of clay & cloth, kupi-stand is necessary.
In the absence of kupi-stand we can put that bottles inverted on the plane surface
for drying the layers.
c) Different sized trays & spatula are also required for the drying process of kajjali
after each trituration (Bhavana). Prior to filling the kajjali in bottle it should be properly
dried. To fill trhe kajjali in bottle, different size of spatula are also required.
d) Iron-Rod (Loha Shalaka): While heating the medicine / kajjali in bottle,
the mouth of glass-bottle can get obstructed with the condensed fumes of Sulphur &
Navasadara (Ammonium Chloride). This obstruction or occlusion may cause the breakage
of bottle.
* To avoid this, it is must to relieve the obstruction by means of hot iron-rod (shalaka)by
inserting it in the mouth of bottle frequently.
* The rod is heated & then inserted into the mouth of bottle, thus the sulphur and other
kshara are burnt and the obstruction is relieved.
* For the sake of convenience the length of rod should be 3 foot (36 inches).
* The grip of the rod should be made up of wood and the rod should be slender at the
end.
e) Copper coin or copper foils:
* After complete burning of the sulphur, the blue Flames will be stopped. After this, the
whitish fumes will be come out from the mouth of bottle. These are the fumes of Mercury.
* To test that whether these are Fumes of Mercury, copper foil should be kept on the
mouth of bottle. After removing if white coloured spot will be there on that copper Foil, it
confirms that now the mercury is evaporating. It is a right time to apply mudrana (Sealing
of the mouth of bottle) by the cork and clay.
f) Knife:
* After removing the kacha-kupi from the Valuka-yantra, Knife is recquired to remove the
closely adherent layers of clay and cloth.
* Sometime it is also useful to break the bottle to remove the collected medicine, from
inside the bottle.
g) Wodden-Rod or Wooden-Piece:
* After removing the layers of day-cloths and breaking of the bottle, wooden-rod is
required for hamering the bottle to slip the layers of pakva rasa from the bottle.
h) Airtight bottles/Containers:
* After collection of the pakva-rasa from the bottle, it should be preserve and store in the
airtight bottle.
* If airtight container is not used, some reactions of the atmospheric gases may be occur
on the prepared medicine.
MATERIAL REQUIRED FOR KUPIPAKVA - RASA
a) Drugs and Bhavana Dravyas:
Mercury for Kupipakva Method:
Mercury for Kupipakva Method: inspite of hingulottha parade, if Vishesha shodhita parade
is used, it is increases the rasayana property & also it gives veryt quick result.
Bubhukshita parade, if added in this method, it increases the rasayana property more
than vishesha shodhita parade
* The main ingredients of kupipakva-rasayanas are Mercury and Sulphur. Before going to
prepare Kupipakva-rasa Collection and Purification of all ingredients should be done, to
save the time.
* Every ingredient should be purified (Shodhita) prior to Kupipakva-vidhi. Unpurified
(Ashodhita) ingredients may cause some severe adverse effect.
* Most of the Kupipakva-rasa needs trituration i.e., Bhavana of various herbal drugs prior
to paka process.
e.g Kumari swarasa, Vatakura-swarasa, Nimbu-swarasa, Raktakurpasa pushpa Swarasa
etc
b) Clay & Cloth: [Wrapping Material]
* Ayurveda Prakash describes saindhava & anaskriti for coating khadiya clay, whereas in
Rasendracintamani, Khatika, Mud & Saindhava are described for coating on glass bottle.
* Clay should be sticky and not contains any stones or foreign material. It is better to add
some powder of cowdung and Horse stool with the clay (or earth) to provide more
strength.
* It is also better to use plane Multani-Mitti with water for the clay.
* The pieces of cloths should be enough long and wide to cover the whole bottle at a time.
Do not take very old pieces of cloths.
* Many rasavaidyas use smooth cotton inspite of cloth with Multani-Mitti and applies it
only once as it is stout enough.
c) Water:
* For different purposes eg.
* To wet the multani-mitti and pieces of cloths water is required.
* During the heating process in furnace, it is also important to keep a big reservoir of
water aside the room as a preventive care to avoid burn accidents, if occur. Water is also
required for Mudra (sealing) preparation.
d) Firing Material:
Fire Wood: It is better to use dry wood pieces of Babbula (Acacia Arabica). Babbula
wood produces more constant heat. The thickness of firewood should be approximately
equal to the circumference of human forearm storage of enough firewood is necessary to
avoid further problem. To give three Agni approximately 5 mana ( 200 kg) Firewood is
needed.
The Firewood should be properly dried otherwise it will produce unnecessary
smoke in the furnace and also supply less heat than requirement.
Coal: Mineral coals are useful, storage should be enough useful for coal-furnace.
Gas: Fuel gas is useful for Gas Furnace.
Electricity or Power Supply: For Electric Furnace.
e) Match box and Kerosene:
This material is required during the process of breaking of bottle. [see the point breaking
of bottle].
f) First Aid Box:
In kupipakva-rasayana vidhi most of the work is related to the heat/Agni. Sometimes
during the handeling the apparatus burns or scalds may occur to the worker or vaidya.
Also, during the cleaning of the mouth with the iron-rod, some toxic fumes of sulphur,
Arsenic trioxide (Somal), Harital, Manashila etc. may cause some adverse effects, if
inhaled. To treat this some medicaments should be present with us.
g) Observation Book:
* Observations increase the knowledge of person. It is better to keep Record from the
Starting of the preparation to the end, of each procedure.
* This record is also useful for to write the quantity of different drugs taken & obtained final
medicine.
* Most important is to note the temperature in different stages.
* This previous records and observations are very much useful for future drug
preparations.
Procedure ( Method of Preparation):
Kupipakva rasayana procedure can divide into three phases:
1. Preheating Phase : It includes
a. Kajjali Preparation and Trituration
b. Coating of bottle (Kapadmitti)
c. Filling of raw material in bottle.
2. Heating phase :It includes
a. Heating procedure and temperature pattern.
b. Observations
c. Cleaning of mouth of bottle
d. Paka-pariksha
e. Precautions
f. Mudrana (Sealing ) Procedure.
3. Post-heating Phase:It includes
a. Breaking of bottle
b. Test of prepared medicine
c. Storage