CONCEPT OF MAHARASA

PRESENTED BY- Dr.NITIKA RATTAN.

ABHRAKA (MICA)

1. SYNONYMS – It has numerous Synonyms in Sanskrit-

Gagan, Bhringa ,Abhra ,Kha ,Vyom, Vajra ,Ghana ,Girija , Bahupatra ,Anantaka, Ambara, Girija beeja ,Gouriteja.

2. ENGLISH NAME – Mica

3. OCCURRENCE – India is the leading producer of Sheet Mica ,followed by Brazil, and Madagascar. In India ,the chief sources are Nellore (Andhrapradesh), Bihar ,Rajasthan and Karnataka.

4. APPEARANCE – Mica is a group of minerals that contain atoms of aluminium ,oxygen and Silicon bound together into flat sheets. Mica has perfect Cleavage ie. It splits cleanly into thin sheets . Mica may be colourless ,black ,brown, green or violet.

5. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES – Mica is Soft and Fragile but few varieties are flexible.It is insoluble in Water and the bad conductor of heat and electricity.

6. VARIETIES – ABHRAM SITAARUNSHYAMPITAVARNAVIBHEDTACHATURVIDHAM SMAKHYATAM KRISHNAM GADAPAHAM (R.T

10/3)

ABHRAKA According to Response to Heating, it is four

types-1. PINAKA2. NAGA3. MANDUKA4. VAJRA

According to its Colour ,it is also of Four Types-

1.PITA2.SHWETA3.RAKTA4.KRISHNA

PINAKAMNAAGMANDUKVAJRAVIBHEDTA CHATURVIDANTU KRISHANABHRAM RASAVISHARDEE (R.T 10/4)

1.PINAKA ABHRAKA- On Heating ,the pieces of Mica starts getting separated and creates a sound that resembles the sound of an ARROW . Rasaendra Sara Sangraha has described it as a CHITCHIT sound.

2.NAGA – This Variety of Mica when Heated ,creates a sound that resembles to HISSING OF ENRAGED SNAKES.

3.MANDUKA –The Sheets of Mica on Heating get thrown out which resembles the JUMPING OF FROGS.It is mentioned in Rasendra Sarasangraha that it creates the sound that of a CROAKING FROG.

4.VAJRA – In this variety of Mica ,neither sound is created at all and nor any visual effect is seen. It remains as it is and no obvious changes are there.

VAJRA ABHRAKA is the best ABHRAKA according to its respond on heating.

sarvashreshtham tu vajraabhram mahavyadhiharam param dehsiddhikarashchapi jaraveroopya nashnam (R.T. 10/12)

ACCORDING to MODERN SCIENCE MICA is classified into two main types..

• 1. CHEMICL CLASSIFICATION.• 2. GEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION.

CHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION –

• FeromagnesiumMica.• Alkaline Mica.

GEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

• Biotite • Lepidolite• Phlogopite• Mucovite• Pargonite

PURIFICATION OF ABHRAKA-

PRATAPTAM SAPTAVARANI NIKSHIPTAM KANJIKOABHRAKAMNIRDOSHAM JAYTE NOONAM PRIKSHIPTAM VAAPI GOJALETRIPHLA KWATHITE CHAPI GWA DIGDHE VISHESHTA ( R.R.S.2/16-

17)

The pieces of Mica are heated till they become red and dipped in the decoction of Triphla or sour gruel or cows milk. This procedure is repeated for Seven times .Mica gets purified.

DHANYABHRAKA-

Churnaabhram shalisanyuktam vastrbadham hii kanjikee

Niryatam mardanadwastrad dhanyaabhramiti kathyate.(R.R.S.2/21)

Purified Mica is powdered and ¼ part of covering paddy added ,is put in a blanket rag and tied firmly. Then it is kept in a sour gruel for a day and thereafter ,it is rubbed with hand so that mica entirely gets out into the sour gruel. This is taken out and washed and Dried in the sun .It is Dhanyabhraka which is used incinerating the Mica.

INCINERATION OF MICA-

• DHANYABHRAKA is processed with the juice of KASAMARDA and is subjected to GAJAPUTA. After repeating this procedure for Ten times incineration of mica gets ready.

• MICA is subjected to heating from twenty to hundred times for CURATIVE purpose,while for promotive uses it is heated uptoi thousand times.SHATAPUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA is commonly used in practice.

AMRITIKARAN OF BHASMA-

• During the procedure of Incineration ,Mica is proceesed with various substances which makes mica sharp(tikshna).To reduce this sharp attribute of mica AMRITIKARANA process is done.

According to R.R.S.-

• The Incinerated Mica 1/10 part is mixed with Triphla kwath 16 part and cow ghee 8 part are heated till it become dry.Mica after this procedure excels in properties like a Nectar.

USAGE- Incinerated Mica is used in Diseases like Diabetes , tuberculosis,Asthma,Anaemia, and Hysteria.

DOSAGE-

• DASHPUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA 120-240mg• SHATAPUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA 60-120mg• SAHASTRA PUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA 15-60mg

FORMULATIONS –Chandrakala Rasa ,Panchamrit Parpati, Arogyavardhini vati ,Mahayograja gugglu, Ekangveer Rasa.

VAIKRANTA (TOURMALINE)• SYNONYMS – Vaikrant has various Synonyms in Sanskrit like

Vakrant , Kuvajraka, Jirnavajraka ,Churnavajraka .

• ENGLISH NAME- Fluorspite or Fluorspar or Tourmaline.

• OCCURRENCE- Canada ,South Africa ,Peru , Thailand . In India it occurs in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

• CHARACTERISTICS – It occurs in wide range of colours

including yellow , blue, pink ,purple and green . It is fragile and octahedral.

PROPERTIES OF MICA –

1. It is heavy and has cubic structure.

2. Hardness is 4 as per Mohs scale.3. Its specific Gravity is 3.18.4. Refractive Index of Fluorite is 1.43.5. Chemical Composition is CaF. In Ancient times it was

used as a substitute for Diamond.6 .On Heating , it shunes but with further heating it gets

melted.7. It is insoluble in water.

VARIETIES OF VAIKRANT-

• Rasaratnasamuchya have mentioned Eight varieties of Vaikranta according to its colour –

• White ,red ,yellow, blue, grey, black and multicoloured.

• Only Black Vaikrant is used .

PURIFICATION OF VAIKRANT –

Kulthekwathsanswino vaikrant prishudhyti (R.R.S.2/66)

• Vaikrant is purified by steaming it in the decoction of kulthakwatha for nine hours in dolayantra.

INCINERATION PROCESS-• Purified Vikrant is mixed with equal quantities of pure

sulphur and then mixture is processed with the lemon juice and subjected for 8 Gajaputas.

PROPERTIES and USAGE –

AYUPRADESH BALAVARNAKAROATIVRISHYAPRAGYAPRADA SAKALDOSHGAPRAHARI DAPAHARI (R.R.S 2/57)

Vaikrant bhasma is cold in potency , has sweet post digestive effect and it alleviates all the doshas. It promotes the body strength ,improves complexion, increases memory and it has rejuvinating property.

DOSE – 5 to 10 mg.