Rasa Vidya

The Science of mercury is known as Rasa Vidy a in Ay urv eda. I spent some of my most memorable time in India

working with this science and try ing to understand it. Here is a paper I wrote on the topic for the California College of

Ay urv eda. I will leav e the name of some medicines unmentioned, so as not to create any trouble in the Ay urv edic

world. Most companies do not import these medicines, but it is possible to find them here in America without going to

India. To support the av ailability of these medicines would be to keep their names secretiv e.

Rasa Shastra

“There is no better medicine than mercury, no greater god than Mahadeva, no better friend than the

physician, and no better deed than a gift.” –B. Mukherji

Rasa is a word that has many meanings; in this present context it is used to mean the element mercury.

Shastra means science. Rasa Shastra literally means the “science of mercury” but generally refers to the

science of making minerals assimilable for the body so they can be used as medicines. Ayurveda

believes that nothing is good for everybody and everything is good for somebody. Various minerals,

some like mercury considered toxic, can by proper procedures be made into medicines. This essay

explains the general basics of Rasa Shastra and gives a closer look at the magical rasa itself.

In India, the Ayurvedic doctor uses 20% pure herbal preparations, 30% pure mineral preparations and

50% herbal and mineral preparations1. This percentage of usage shows there is much value to using

mineral preparations.

In the Vedas, gold and silver had a ritualistic use, the uses of bhasma (prepared minerals) came

after the vedic period.

Rasa Shastra is believed

to have come about in

the 6th and

7th century2. The

Buddhist sage,

Nagarjuna, is

considered the first to

use mercury3and to

have done much in the

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propagation of rasa

shastra.

Rasa Shastra is divided into two main categories: Alchemy- turning mercury into gold, and Rasayana-

rejuvenation of the mind-body-spirit. It is said in the rasa texts that metallurgy is a science which was

taught by Shiva (God)

Himself. It is also stated that

mercurial operations are

successful by the grace of

God. Rasa shastra is a very

spiritual science with many

facets to see and understand.

Just as herbs have their rasa, virya, vipak, so do minerals. For example, gold is madhura (sweet) and

kasaya (astringent) in rasa, snigdha (oily) and laghu (light) in guna, sita (cold) in virya, and madhura in

vipak. It’s actions are visanga, varnya, rasayana, brimhana, rucikara, dipana, medhya, smriti vardhana,

and it is the best vrisya (aphrodisiac). It is used for yaksma, unmade, tridosha rogas, garavisa, and jara.

It checks wasting of the body tissue in rajayaksmadi, improves body complexion, and acts as an

antimicrobial, and antipyretic. Silver is kasaya (astringent) and amla (sour), snigdha and sara, sita in

virya, madhura in vipak. Its actions are vayasthapana, lekhana, vrisya, balya, rucya, vatapitta hara, it

gives strength to the brain, heart and stomache. It is indicated for bhrama (vertigo) and unmade

(insanity), palpitations, pre-ejaculation, and mada (intoxication)4.

Many minerals also have a more

magical type of prabhav. For

example, Charaka says that no

poison can be sustained in the

body of people who have ingested

gold because the presence of gold

destroys the effects of all types of

poisons especially Garavisa5. It is

said that people who ingest tin

preparations never get

sukraksaya even during dreams6.

Lapis lazuli produces feelings of

well being while expelling all

doshas from the body.

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Mercury and other minerals have to

go through shodana (purification)

before they can be made into

medicine. The procedures are called

samskaras (works or procedures) for

purification and assimilation. For

mercury, there are 18 samskaras in

the extreme method. Shodana

removes the harmful substances or

impurities present minerals or drugs

that would cause toxic effects or

diseases in the body. Listed in rasa

literature are disorders associated

with impurities in each substance. For

example, “unpurified and not

properly purified incinerated silver if used internally may cause sariratapa (burning sensation in the

body), vidbandhata (constipation), sukranasa (loos of semen), ayunasa, balanasa (loss of strength and

longevity), destroys sariapusti (growth of body tissues), and produces many diseases”7. Improperly

purified shilajit gives rise to inflammation, hysteric fits, giddiness, loss ofappetite, hemorrhage, and

constipation8.There are generally remedial measures for taking impure rasa kalpas. For example, to

remove the effects of taking impure shilajit, ¼ tola a day of maricha (black pepper) in ghee for seven

days is administered.

Most substances are used only after they are made

into bhasma or pishti forms, this process is called

marana. Marana processes make the substances into

fine particles so they can be properly digested and

absorbed easily into the system and mix with the

dhatus. Proper assimilation allows for their desired

effect to take place without any harmful side effects.

Improper digestion and assimilation would lead to

ama. Marana processes are also used to increase the

natural property of the drugs and some times new

properties are introduced to the mineral

compound.9

Indian women preparing Praval Pishti

Rasa kalpa (substances) are mixed with herbs because they are considered nirindriya. Metals have no

senses, so by preparing them with herbs they are converted to saindriya (with senses)10. An example of

how this is done can be illustrated with iron chacopyrite, more commonly called pyrite and known in

Sanskrit as suwarnamakshika (looks like gold). It is used as a rasayana, for brain disorders, and to

increase hemoglobin. First it is powdered. It’s shodana (purification) is in two parts, the first is called

limbooswarasa, where it is heated for 3 days, 8 hours a day in castor oil, it then changes color. Then is

nimboswarasa, where it is heated with citrus (lemon) for three days. Next is marana where it is put in a

grinder for 8 hours a day with aloe (the whole plant inside and out). It is then dried in the Sun and

marana is done again for a total of 20 times. The aloe is the Maharana, the herb you grind the mineral

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with, which is determined by the reason it is being prepared. In this way a mineral can be given senses

with which it will affect different places in the body. As another example, if a rasa preparation is made

with kutaki (arogyavar..) it will affect the liver, if it is made with brahmi (smritisagaras) it will affect the

brain. In relation to the herb the mineral is then a yogavahi (catalytic carrier), it carries the herbs more

potently.

Grinder mixing for 8 hours a day In the over 100 texts on Rasa

Shastra there are about five different

ways to prepare suvarnamakshika,

adding different herbs to make it

saindriya –to give it a tendency. If it

is mixed with triphala it works on the

eyes, if it is mixed with ashwagandha

it works on the reproductive organs.

What are the benefits of using rasa

kalpa (mineral products)? They are

effective in smaller dosages. In

India, they do not regularly

capsulize their herbs and will often

put the

powder directly into the mouth and then drink it down. Smaller dosages meant there would not be as big

a problem with taste which improves patient compliance. The shelf life of rasa kalpa are much longer.

Kutaki (Picrolize kurro) is a liver herb that removes obstructions in the bile duct, and increases fat

metabolism. It is very bitter in taste. Alone a patient needs to 2tsp 3x a day for jaundice or hepatitis. Its

shelf life is six months. Arogyavar is a rasa kalpa that has kutaki as the first ingredient with kajjoli

(mercury and sulfaur) to boast metabolic effect. The patient now only needs 450ml. The shelf life of

arogyavar is 3-4 years. Rasa kalpa can also increase the speed of a healing action because they act fast.

The science of

working with

minerals is named

after rasa

(mercury). This is

because it is

considered such a

powerful medicine.

It is said that when

mercury is properly

prepared, it

balances all three

doshas, has a

soothing effect on

the body, prevents

Bottles in furnace coated with multani

murti and filled with Mercury and Sulfur

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disease and old age.

It nourishes all the

vital parts of the

body and increases

the strength of the eyes. It is vrisya (aphrodisiac), balya (tonic), snigdha (anointing), rasayana

(rejuvenative), vrana sodhana and ropana (wound cleaner and healer), and krimighna (antimicrobial)11.

When it is compounded with any herb it heightens the medicinal properties. Mercury issaid to give a

firm physique, a stable mind, and to be the best destroyer of disease12.There are various reasons for the

powerful effects of mercury in medicine. It is considered holy because it is the semen of Lord Shiva.

Mercury is known to contain all six tastes. The body has 13 agnis within it. The jatharagni is the gross

digestive fire. Then there are subtle agni, seven dhatu agni and five bhutagni. A problem with meda is

related to medagni, as a disease of asthi dhatu is due to a problem with asthiagni13. Each dhatu has five

bhutagni in a different proportion which gives it differentiation. So, for example, if one was treating a

calcanial spur, one would look for an herb that works on both asthi agni and prthviagni (earth element

agni) because it is the earth element of the asthi that is imbalanced. The action of an herb on the

bhutagni is determined by the rasa (taste) of the herb as well as the plant appearance and the location it

growsMercury plays its role here by being shatras, which means it contains all six tastes. The potency of

any herb is increased with mercury because of its ability to help the herb work on all bhutagnis of a

particular dhatu or organ system14.

The special furnace for mercurial operations at Vaidya Godbole’s Whenever there is

mercury there is

always sulfur.

Mercury is

considered the

seed of Shiva and

sulfur is the

secretion of

Parvati, the

Goddess. When

they are mixed

together through a

long process they

are called kajoli.

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Many drug labels

will not list

mercury and

sulphur but will

refer to them as

kajoli. There is much mysticism surrounding the use of mercury and its relation to Shiva, this is often

attributed to its healing powers.

Some synonyms of mercury are Parada, Rasaraja, Maharasa, Mishraka, Shivaviryam, Suta, and all

names which apply to Shiva Himself15. The name Rasa comes from the root ‘ras’ which means to eat.

Mercury is given this name because of its ability to swallow every metal. To explain swallow, it can be

seen that vegetables are unstable, they decompose. If a vegetable is boiled in lead it would be subsumed

in the lead. Lead is subsumed in tin, which can be subsumed in copper. Copper is subsumed in silver,

silver into gold, and gold is swallowed by mercury. It is believed that all metals can be swallowed by

mercury. Just as individual souls attain the supreme by merging with Shiva, all metals are absorbed into

mercury.16 This is believed to make mercury competent to destroy the body of disease and prepare it

for liberation.

There is also a large amount of spiritual

teachings around rasa shastra and the use of

mercury. For those who make rasa kalpa it is

said they should have an image of the Shiva

lingam made of mercury and gold in the

laboratory. This is called a Rasalingam and is

very auspicious to look at, touch and

worship. It is said that “eating, touching,

giving, meditating upon, and adoring of

mercury are the five different ways of

worshipping it –all of which tend to destroy

great vices. The man who succeeds in

subsuming even the minutest particle of

mica, acquires the merit arising from performing one hundred sacrifices. This is what Shiva Himself has

said. The man who vilifies mercury, which is the strength of Shiva Himself, and is the greatest of all

things, rests in hell eternally. The man who gives patients mercury, duly purified and duly prepared

over fire, attains for ever merits derived from the performance of Tuladana (a ceremony in which the

performer gives away to the poor his own weight in gold) and Ashwamedha (a ceremony in which a horse

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is worshipped and sacrificed). The man who dies with mercury still in his stomach is freed from great

sins, and attains emancipation.”17

Stoking the alchemical fire Charak tells us that “Only that which

can bring about a cure is a correct

medicine. And it is only he who can

relieve his patients of their ailments

who is the best physician.”18 It is

important to understand the actions of

the various rasa kalpa so as to use

them efficiently.

What should determine whether you

can use a rasa kalpa? First, one must

look at the power of the disease and its

stage, is it chronic or acute. Two, the

power of the patient’s agni. Three, the

patient’s economic situation.

There are some cautions to remember. Minerals shouldn’t be used with children, they are too powerful.

Children don’t require hard drugs.19 Generally minerals are not given to those under age 9 or over 80

years of age.20 Minerals are considered hard to digest so one must consider the strength of the agni as

well as the strength of other important points like marmas and organs. Minerals are like weapons; herbs

are like wooden sticks, minerals are like guns. Make sure they are being used correctly or they can

harm. There is less chance of harm with herbs alone.

There are some general directions for

taking mercury, mixed or unmixed

with other substances. A proper

anupanna should be used according to

the desired want of the practitioner.

Just before one takes a drug they

should pray to God in the form most

appealing to one’s own mind. A sattvic

and dosha specific diet should be

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followed as well as general dietary

rules to make sure that agni is strong.

Exposure to the sun should be limited

in the hot time of year because of its

ability to poison the blood with pitta. Sleeping during the day should be avoided. Excessive exercise is

contraindicated. Rasa medicineshould be taken on an empty stomach except by the old or weak who

should take it with food. Rasa medicine should not be taken when thirsty, weakened by fasting, or

immediately after taking food.21 Signs that the medicine is not being fully assimilated into the system

are exhaustion, burning sensation, indigestion, fainting fit, head disease, uneasiness, and weakness.

Improper digestion and assimilation of mineral preparations give rise to new diseases. If impure

mercury is used the negative effects are removed by using correctly purified sulphur. There are also

other herbs listed in the rasa texts if sulphur is not appropriate for the situation. Triphala or another

mild laxative should be used if there is slight constipation from rasa kalpa, but flushing the system is to

be avoided, the body should be made to assimilate the mineral preparation.

Understanding the purification and preparation of minerals and poisonous herbs and substances in Rasa

Shastra gives us a clearer understanding of how they come to be medicine before us as practitioners.

Understanding the minerals and how they work brings our herbal treatments to another level.This brief

overview of Rasa Shastra should help inspire one to dig deeper into the knowledge of metals and

minerals. This essay also lays the foundation for which other research can be grounded within.

Hari Aum

1 Lecture at the International Institute of

Ayurveda by Dr. Desponde, January 7, 2000

2 Dr. Desponde

3 Vaidya Godbole

4 Joshi, Damodar, p.33-41

5 Joshi, Damodar, p.34

6 Joshi, Damodar, p.62

7 Joshi, Damodar, p.269

8 Mukerji, B., p.158

9 Joshi, Damodar, p.III

10 Vaidya Godbole,

January 8th, 2000

11 Joshi, Damodar, p.4

Vaidya Godbole (in back), Daya mixing medicine

(front)

1 2 Mukerji, B., p.1 1

1 3 Lecture by Dr. Phaldake, January 1 9, 2000

1 4 Dr. Phaldake

1 5 Mukerji, B., p.1 0

1 6 Mukerji, B., p.1 2

1 7 Mukerji, B., p.1 1

1 8 Charak Samhita, chap 1 , [1 34]

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1 9 Dr. Desponde

20 Mukerji, B., p.365

21 Mukerji, B., p.365

Freedom opening the kupi (bottle) after it has undergone 24 hours of heating and

3-4 days of swangashita (cooling with no method or device to cool it -so molecules can change).

Bibliography

Bhagav an Das. Charak Samhita.

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