CONCEPT OF INCINERATION OF RASADRAVYAS

WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES Sharma et al. S SJIF Impact Factor 6.647 Volume 6, Issue 3, 1054-1062 Review Article ISSN 2278 4357 CONCEPT OF INCINERATION OF RASADRAVYAS Sharma Shreeshananda V.* 1 and Kavya S. B. 2 1 Reader and Head, Dept. of PG Studies in RS & BK, JSS Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru. 2 PG Scholar, Dept. of PG Studies in RS & BK, JSS Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru. Article Received on 14 January 2017, Revised on 05 February 2017, Accepted on 25 February 2017 DOI: 10.20959/wjpps20173-8804 *Corresponding Author Dr. Sharma Shreeshananda V. Reader and Head, Dept. of PG studies in RS & BK, JSS Ayurveda Medical College, Mysuru. ABSTRACT The main aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of healthy person and to cure the diseases of the patients. To achieve both the aims we need the tools which are nothing but the Oushadha and Ahara. In Ayurveda these oushadha are prepared from herbs, minerals, metals and animal products accordingly they are called herbal preparation, mineral preparation and herbo-mineral preparation. Among theseminerals, Metals and some of the animal products are subjected to shodhana, later marana process to prepare Bhasma which are used as medicine. KEYWORDS: Marana, Minerals Metals, Bhasma. INTRODUCTION The literal meaning of marana is killing. Marana is one of the processes adopted for making the metals and minerals suitable for internal use after shodhana to prepare the Bhasma. Maryathe ithi [1] Maryathenashayathebhasmikriyatheiti In this process Minerals and metals are subjected to incineration to obtain the bhasma.in the process of marana metals and minerals are converted into such a fine state of subdivision that when used internally they become easily digested and absorbed. If metals are subjected to marana process properly the metals become colloidal form which is easily absorbable. They can eradicate deadly diseases if they are administered properly and if they are consumed for many days regularly, they build up body and prevent the diseases as well as senility. www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1054

MATERIALS AND METHODS General process of marana After the process of shodhana, the minerals and metals are triturated with specific liquids in khalvayantraand small chakrikas of 1 1 ½ inch diameter are made 10-12 such chakrikas are placed inside a sharava of 6-8inch diameter dried in shade. Later another sharava is covered over it and sandibhandana is done with 7 layers of multanimitti smeared cloth and dried. Thus the prepared sharavasamputa is placed inside a specified puta which is filled with 2/3 rd volume of cowdung cakes. Again the remaining part is filled with cowdung cakes and lit with fire. After complete burning of cowdung cakes it is allowed to cool on its own, the sharavasamputa is collected and opened, chakrikas are powdered. The whole process is repeated several times depending on the mineral taken until the bhasma passes the tests which are considered as basic standard test to use therapeutically. Role of bhavana in marana (Levigation) Yacchurnitasyadhatvaderdravaihisampeshyashosham Bhavanamtanmatamvijnairbhabana cha nigadyathe. [2] Bhavana is the process in which the choornas of minerals and metals are subjected to mardana with the specified liquid until the liquid gets driesup. In the process of marana, bhavana is the initial and important stage as 1. It makes the shodhitha material fit to prepare in to pellets. 2. To impart the organic properties to inorganic materials. 3. To make the material to finer particles. Ex-1. In Abhrkabasmikarana RRS 2/22 Kasamarda is used for bhavana with abhraka, this make the property finer and help chakrikanirmana etc. The abhraka is best used in respiratory disorders. Bhavana by kasamarda.may further enhance this property of abhraka. 2. In SwarnamakshikaBhasma RT 21/20 NimbuSwarasa is used as bhananadravys in swarnamakshika marana Role of putapaka in marana: This is the actual stage of the marana process. The amount of heat to be given depends on the hardness of the different substance used for marana process. www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1055

Definition of puta according to rasarratnasamuchaya. Rasadidravyapakanampramanagnapanamputam neshtonyunadhikahapaakahasupakamhitamaushadam [3] Puta is the process in which the degree of heat which is necessary for the incineration of rasa, maharasa, uparasa, sadharana rasa, Dhathuvarga, sudhavarga, sikatavargais understood. It is advised to use the appropriate puta to give required temperature and the heat should not be less or more. The best quality of Bhasma prepared by using appropriate puta is having so many good qualities like Bhasma became Apunarbhava, Varitaratwa, Anapsumajjana, Rekhapurnatwa, Laghu, sheegravyapthi, deepaka RRS 10/48-50. Rasendrasarasangraha says that by putas the prepared bhasma becomes devoid of doshas and enhanced by therapeutical properties. After each puta bhasma (mardana) are done along with kashtoushadi therefore it is said that puteputevidatyathmardanamgunavardanam - ra.chi. The type of puta for each mineral is specified in our disease like Swarnaroupyavadegneyamputamkukkutakadikam tamrekashtadijovanhirlouhegajaputani cha [5] For swarna and roupya- kukkutaputa For tamra- teevragni by kashta For lohas- gajaputa More putas also may help in deepening the colour i.e the changes in colour are also affected by number of putas. According to rasendrachudamani, greater number of putas help in making the bhasma more sukshma, laghu and jalaplava etc According to rasendrasarasangraha, putas numbering from 10-100 are said to produce disease removing property in bhasma. While putas numbering 100-1000 are claimed to produce rasayana property. By the effect of putas minerals and metals are brought to a state of irreversibility. www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1056

Name of the puta No of vanopalas Mahaputa 1500 Gajaputa 700-600 Varahaputa 150 Kukkutaputa 100 Size of pit 2hastha= 91cms LXBXH 1 Rajahastha= 57cms LXBXH 1Aratni= 42cms LXBXH 2 Vithasthi=46 cms LXBXH Average temperature o C Duration to attain swangasheetha Uses 1000 5hrs Vajra,Abhraka,etc. 1000 4hrs 30 min 950 3hrs 950 3hrs 30min Kapothaputa 8-600-800 1hr Ideas behind marana of rasa dravyas 1 To convert minerals and metals intobhasmas 2 To make minerals easily absorbable and assimiable. 3 To enhance the therapeutic properties. 4 Imparting organic qualities in the inorganic minerals Abhraka, kurmapristha Manikya, etc. Rajatha, Swarnamakshika, etc. Tutta, tarkshya, Mrigashringa, etc. Rajatha, Swarna,Parada 1. To convert minerals into bhasmas Bhasma is the resultant product of incineration. Bhasma is an alkaline ash, prepared by incineration of mineral drugs along with herbs. Bhasma is one of the therapeutical dosage forms of rasadravyas that can be administered to the patient or the Bhasma canbe utilized for the preparation of other dosage forms like Khalviyayogas, parpati, kupipakwarasayana, pottali, Avalehya, Asava and Arista etc. Most of the ingredients are reduced to oxides and sulphides of metals and non-metals with such stable complexes, they are easily absorbable in the system. Dhatubhasmas are classified in to four types based on the media used in the process of marana. Lohadinammaranamshrestamsarveshamrasabhasmana moolibhirmadhyamamprahuhukanishtamgandhakadibhi arilohenalohasyamaranamdurgunapradam [5] Shersta Bhasma-The bhasma prepared with parada and its compounds Madhyama Bhasma-The bhasma prepared with vanaspathya dravyas www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1057

Kanishta Bhasma-The bhasma prepared with gandhaka and its compounds. Adama Bhasma-The bhasma prepared with arilohas. 1. As mercury is having the quality of mixing easily with other metals and minerals, it forms amalgam and when this has subjected to incineration helps in the disintegration of the metal and minerals in to finer particles and there even the traces of mercury will not be present in the final product. Thus it can be infer that the bhasmas prepared by adding parada are considered to be the best. 2. Bhasma prepared by using Oushadha Moolikaare considered as madhyama. Here the alkaline and acidic contents of vegetables drugs also help in the disintegration of atoms but in this case the bhasma is liable to contain the residue of vegetable drugs after being subjected to puta. In this type of the organic materials of the vegetable drug is burnt leaving traces of inorganic material which is mixed with the bhasma. Thus it may contain some amount if impurity besides the organic material (acc to damodharjoshi). Though percentage of such of the materials is very low it contains the same but the residue alkali is considered dhatukarshaka and pumsatvajanaka. Here these bhasmas may be considered madhyama. 3 The bhasmas prepared using gandhaka and its compounds are considered as kanishta because in this cases though there is a chance of evaporation of sulphur etc some portion may remain and likely to change the property of the finished product. Hence the bhasma are given least therapeutic importance. 4. Bhasmas prepared using arilohas are adama These arilohas like manashila, haratala are likely to affect The properties of original substance to great extent by forming compounds like sulphides and oxide and if arsenic is remained can produce disastrous effects. Hence such bhasmas are not recommended. 2.To make minerals easily absorbable and assimiable By the process of marana the substance are brought to fine state i.e because of the Bhasma gunas like sukshmatva, laghutva etc. they are made easily absorbable and assimiable. Ex- Abhraka which is very hard and cannot be powdered or not administered with marana. The abhrakabhasma is fine and hence easily digested and absorbed for better efficacy. www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1058

3.To enhance the therapeutic properties- To prepare bhasma, repeated bhavana with aushadi dravyas and putas are given which may certainly enhance the therapeutic property. 4. To impart organic qualities into inorganic minerals Because of their inorganic nature the minerals are heterogenous to tissues. Vanaspathya dravyas used in the process of marana may make these homologous to the tissues. STANDARDIZATION OF MARANA PROCESS Whether the bhasmas of metals and minerals made upto the standard or not?. To know this bhasmapareekshas are told by our acharyas. All the tests mentioned in the texts are aimed to make the substance laghu from guru, fine from bulky, and digestable & absorbable from undigestable and unabsorbable, to bring them to irreversible form on consumption these should be tasteless and should not produce harmful effects like nausea, vomiting etc. The physical tests like 1. Varitaratva 2. Rekhapurnatva 3. Nischandrika The chemical tests like 4. Apunarbhavatva 5. Niruthatwa 1 Varitaratwa: If a bhasma floats over the surface of the water, it can be regarded as a standard one. It should be present in all the prepared bhasma. While testing if some particles of the bhasma sink in the water, it indicates unconverted minerals and some more putas are required for the perfectness of the bhasma. Here the surface tension of the water plays an important role i.e the particles of a bhasma become so fine that they cannot break the surface tension of the water in the ordinary way. If the bhasma attains such a stage they may be recommended for internal use. 2. Rekhapurnatwa: This is another test, which again indicates the fineness of bhasma. Here the bhasma is rubbed between the thumb and index finger and the test is known as rekhapurnatwa. And when the particles of the bhasma attain such a state that they could enter www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1059

the furrows of the fingers it is presumed that they may also be absorbed into the system and then the process of marana may be considered complete. 3. Nischandratwa: This is not a common test applicable to all bhasmas. It is prescribed only for the bhasmas of certain dravyas like suwarna, abhraka etc which are shinning. For this test a portion of the bhasma should be rubbed in between the fingers and the thumb and the rubbed portion should be examined in sunrays. If any shining particles is seen over the fingers or the thumb the bhasma should be subjected to further putas to make it completely lusterless. The chemical tests for metallic bhasmas 4. Apunarbhavatwa: This test is most important as the bhasmas which are not apunarbhava are likely to produce many harmful effects in the body. The bhasma is said apunarbhava, when the original metal cannot be re obtained even after blowing in the fire, mixing the bhasma with mitrapanchaka(guda, gunja, tankana, madhu, ghrita). This indicates the complete oxidization of metals. 5. Niruthatwa: In this pocessbhasma is mixed with roupya and blowed vigorously in fire. If not even a little amount of bhasma mixes by the increase in the weight of silver, such bhasma is called niruthabhasma. If the weight is increased the bhasma needs further processing. Apart from these, few specific tests are told to decide the quality of some rasa bhasmas. Ex- when tamrabhasma is kept in amladrava for few hours, the appearance of green colour indicates improper marana. Specific BhasmaPariksha Pharmacopeial standards of bhasms as per CCRAS www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1060

DISCUSSION Sl.No. Tests Description 1 Colour Odour 2 Identification 3 Particle Size 4 Loss on drying at 105 o C 5 Total Ash 6 Acid-insoluble ash 7 Water soluble ash 8 Assay of element(s) 9 Ayurvedic Specification Lusterless(Nischindrica) Fine enough to enter the cervices of finger(rekhapurnatwa) Floats on water(varitara) Smokeless(Nirdhooma) Tasteless(Niswdu) Irreversible(Apunarbhava Marana is the process of preparation of Bhasma of different minerals and metals. Prepared Bhasma may be used as it is as dosage form or further these bhasmas can be utilized for the preparation of other dosage forms like khalviya rasayanas, parpati kalpas. Marana is the unique procedure explained in Rasashastra to prepare the dosage form which is having the particle size of nanometer. The proper amount of agni (temperature) is essential in conversion of the materials in to Bhasma. In olden days as there is no thermometer or pyrometer to read the temperature rasacharyas have formulated puta which gives the required temperature to convert minerals and metals in to Bhasma based on the hardness and character of the material. Bhasma parikshas are the quality control measures of the Bhasma which indicates the knowledge of rasacharyas about the characteristics of the ideal medicine when they are used therapeutically. CONCLUSION Marana is the unique procedure to prepare the Bhasma. Proper amount of heat is essential in conversion of the metals and minerals in to Bhasma. If the amount of heat is less than required, material will not convert into Bhasma. If the amount of heat is more than required the materials return back to its original form. Hence proper amount of heat can be get by proper puta in marana process. www.wjpps.com Vol 6, Issue 3, 2017. 1061

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