Definitions in Rasa Shastra part 1

For student of Rasa shastra it is important to be well versed with the knowledge of Paribhasa i.e definitions. As paribhasa itself is vast subject, an attempt is made by these series of presentations to bring the knowledge easily available to learners.

1. PARIBHASHA IN RASA SHASTRA PART-I Dr. SOMIL DUBEY B.A.M.S, M.D (RS & BK) MEDICAL OFFICER, M.P GOVERMENT

2. Importance of paribhasha (definitions) Such terminologies which brings out clarification to hidden, untold, half-told and doubtful matters of subjects is called Paribhasha or definitions in Rasashastra . The learner of subject must be well versed with these terms before going into the subjects as by understanding them he will never fail in subject.

3. Dhanvantari bhaga After the medicine is prepared certain part for any preparation is fixed that is offered to the physician in the name of Dhanvantari bhaga by which the patient gets relief from his disease. The part is- half part for mercurial preparations. One eight in case of Taila (medicated oils), ghee and avlehas (confections). One seventh for metallic preparations, powders, pills .

4. Rudrabhaga One eleventh of the money the retailer collects from the patients on the purchase of drugs is commissioned to physician in name of rudra bhaga . If a physician collects more commission than the prescribed above and gives spurious medicines he is called Visvasghati vaidya .

5. Lavanapanchaka (five salts) Saindhava lavana (rock salt) Samudra lavana (common salt or sea salt) Bida lavana (ammonium chloride) Sauvarcha (black salt) Romaka lavana (lake salt) if Chullika lavana is added to above it is called Shada lavana .

6. Lavanatrika (three salts) Saindhava lavana (rock salt) Ruchaka (black salt) Bida lavana

7. Kshara dvaya and traya (group of two and three alkalies ) Svarji kshara (sodium bicarbonate) Yava kshara (alkali preparation of barley ash containing Potassium bicarbonate and Potassium carbonate) Adding Tankana (borax) to above two makes Kshara traya .

8. Kshara Panchaka (five alkalies ) Ksharas of Palasha ( Butea monosperma ) Muskaka ( Stereospermum suaveolens ) Tila kshara ( Sesamum indicum ) Yavakshara Svarjikshara

9. Kshara ashtaka (eight alkalies ) Alkalies of Snuhi (Euphorbia nerifolia ) Palasha ( Butea monosperma ) Apamarga ( Achyranthes aspera ) Chincha ( Tamarindus indicum ) Arka ( Calotropis gigantea ) Tila ( Sesamum indicum ) Yavakshara Svarjikshara

10. Mutrashtaka (eight mutras ) Eight mutras (urine) are collectively called as Mutrashtaka She sheep She goat Cow She buffalo Male Elephant Male camel Male horse Male ass

11. Amlavarga (group of sour drugs) Jambira , nimbuka (citrus indicus ), Amlavetasa ( garcinia indica ), Amlika (Tamarind), Naranga (Tangerine), Dadima (pomegranate), Vrushakamla ( cocum ), Bijapuraka (citrus fruit), Changeri ( Oxalia corniculata ), Chanakamla (sour liquid taken from the plant of bengal gram. Karkandhu ( Ziyphus jujuba ), Karamardaka , Chukrika are commonly called as Amlavarga . They are used for purification, liquefaction and digestion of the drugs of mercurial kingdom.

12. Amlapanchaka (five sour drugs) Amla vetasa Jambira Matulunga Naranga Nimbuka

13. Panchamrittika (Five clays) Equal powders of- Brick Ash Earth from ant-hill Gairika (red ochre) Salt ( saindhava lavana )

14. Panchatikta (five bitter drugs) Guduchi ( Tinospora cordifolia ) Nimba ( Azadirachta indica ) Patola ( Trichosanthes cucumerina ) Vasa ( Adhatoda vasica ) Kantakari ( Solanum xanthocarpum ) All these five are taken in equal quantity

15. Madhura traya (three sweet drugs) Ghee, jaggery and honey taken in equal quantity is called as Madhura traya .

16. Panchamruta (five nectars) Cow’s milk curd of cow’s milk cow’s ghee honey and sugar these five in equal quantity.

17. Panchagavyam Milk Curd Ghee Urine Cow dung (liquid part) These five products or bi-products of cow taken are taken in equal quantity.

18. Ksheera traya (three milky latexes) The latexes of Arka ( Calotropis gigantea ) Vata ( Ficus bengalensis ) Snuhi (Euphorbia nerifoli )

19. Dugha varga (group of milks) Milk of – She elephant, mare, cow, female sheep, she goat, she camel, she buffalo, she ass, woman, kakodumbara , snuhi , dugdhika (Euphorbia hitra ), udumbara ( Ficus racemosa ), arka , nyagrodha , asvatha and tilvaka .

20. Taila varga (group of oils) Tila , sarsapa , dhatura , bhallataka , eranda , neemba beeja , jaypala , danti , kusumbha and aalsi .