Review Article

Review On Classical Preparation Methods of Rasakarpura

Mehta N. J.1 Patgiri B. J.2 Prajapati P. K.3
1
Dept of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Shree Gulabkunvarba Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat Ayurved
University, Jamnagar; 2,3 Dept of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching &
Research in Ayurved, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar.
Corresponding Author Email : nekymehta@rediffmail.com

Abstract:
In ancient time medicines (formulation) were mainly prepared by the physicians themselves. Formulations are prepared by changing
ingredients as per the need of patients and as per the availability of drugs. Therefore sometimes many references are found for the
preparation of same formulation. As per the rule of Drug and cosmetic act related to packaging and labeling of medicine needs reference,
because sometimes as per method, medicine changes their action. So here an attempt was made to review all the references of formulation
‘Rasakarpura’.
Key Words: Rasashastra, Rasakarpura, Preparation

Annals Ayurvedic Med. 2013:2 ( 4) 160-167 method. Rasakarpura and Rasapushpa are most contro-
versial regarding their self existence. Most of Acharyas
Introduction: opinion that both are same but Acharya Sadanand Sharma
mentioned the difference between them for the first time.
Rasakarpura is a Nirgandha (without Gandhaka
He mentioned separate methods for preparation of
– sulphur) type of Murchhana (formulation). Rasakarpura
Rasakarpura and Rasapushpa in his classic i.e. Rasa
is first time mentioned in Rasa Prakasha Sudhakara by
Tarangini. [4]
the name of ‘Ghanasara Rasa’[1] in 12th century AD. While
in Bhava Prakasha, it is mentioned that Rasakarpura is
Now days, 53 references are found for the prepa-
the choice of drug for treatment of Upadansha (syphilis].[2]
ration of Rasakarpura in various Rasa classics.[5] As per
Rasakarpura is also included in Schedule E1 of Drug and
the use of instruments for sublimation like Damaru Yantra
Cosmetic Act 1940 and Rules 1945 [3]
(Table 1), Valuka Yantra (Table 2) and other instruments
(Table 3) they were tabularized as below.
The word Rasakarpura comprise of two words,
‘Rasa’ and ‘Karpura’. Rasa means Parada and Karpura
means a substance which is white in colour. Rasakarpura
is a white colored mercurial product prepared by Kupipakva

Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Vol-2 Issue-4 Oct.-Dec. 2013 160

 N.J. Mehta et. al : Review on Classical Preparation Methods of Rasakarpura

Table 1 : Suplimation from Damaru Yantra

Methods Ingredients

Navasadara
Heating

Saindhava

Sphatika

Khatika
Gairika
Parada Instrument

Ishtika
Kasisa
Others Duration

[44]

Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Vol-2 Issue-4 Oct.-Dec. 2013 161

 N.J. Mehta et. al : Review on Classical Preparation Methods of Rasakarpura

Table 2 : Sublimation from Valuka Yantra

Methods Ingredients

Navasadara
Heating

Saindhava

Sphatika

Khatika
Gairika
Parada Instrument

Ishtika
Kasisa
Others Duration

[44]

Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Vol-2 Issue-4 Oct.-Dec. 2013 162

 N.J. Mehta et. al : Review on Classical Preparation Methods of Rasakarpura

Table 3 : Details of method for preparation of Rasakarpura in various instruments

Methods Ingredients

Navasadara
Heating

Saindhava

Sphatika

Khatika
Gairika
Parada Instrument

Ishtika
Kasisa
Others Duration

01[44] + + + - + - - - - Vidhyadhar 16 Yama

Tankana,
[45]
02 + - + - + + - - Ahiphena, Kupi 4 days
Chandana
Valmika,
03[46] + + + - + - + + Sthali 4 days
Kshar
Tankana,
Madhu, Andha
04[47] + - - - - - - - -
Laksha, Musha
Oorna
05[48] + + - - + - - - - Musha, 2 days
[49]
06 + + + - - - - + - Patana 4 Yama
07[50] + - - - - - - - - - 1 day
[51]
08 + + - - + - + - Valmik Patana 48 hr
[52]
09 + + - - - - - - - - -
Tankana,
10[53] + + + + - + - - - -
Tuttha, Sora
120 kg
11 [54] + + + - + - - + Sambhar -
wood
2.5 mana
12[55] + - - - - + - - - Vajra mudra
wood
[56]
13 + + - - - - - - Sambhar Lavana 24 hr
14[57] + + - + - - - + - Chullika 2 Yama
[58]
15 + + + - + - + - Katuki - -

Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Vol-2 Issue-4 Oct.-Dec. 2013 163

 N.J. Mehta et. al : Review on Classical Preparation Methods of Rasakarpura
Above tables shows different ingredients, used in-
strument and heating patterns of 53 references of
Rasakarpura preparation method. The main ingredients are
Parada, Saindhava Lavana, Sphatika, Kasisa, Gairika,
Khatika etc. Mainly two types of instruments are used in
the preparation of Rasakarpura as evident from different
texts e.g. Damaru Yantra and Valuka Yantra. Three types
of Agni viz. Mandagni, Tivragni and Krama Vivardhita
Agni (gradually increased heating pattern) are found in dif-
ferent methods. Minimum 2 Yama (6 hours) to maximum
56 Yama (7days) heating duration is found to be mentioned
for preparation of Rasakarpura in classics.
Discussion:
Rasashastra is the science dealing with Rasa (mer-
cury) and its processing. This is a system that stemmed off
alchemy in which there is extensive use of Parada, metals,
nonmetals and poisons substances. This is one of the im-
portant branches in the field of Ayurved for the purpose to
cure the patient by using different type of formulations and
one of them is Rasakarpura.
Kupipakva process is an easiest process for subli-
mation of the product, particularly for the preparation of
Rasakarpura. It is the process of converting a solid di-
rectly into vapor and condensing the vapor into solid state
of same composition.[59] In Kupipakva process trace ele-
ments of raw drugs can be found in final sublimate along
with chief component, which make the drug more effective
and less toxic.
Most of the methods can be compiled as specified
quantity of Shuddha Parada (purified mercury), Shuddha
Sphatika (purified alum), Shuddha Kasisa (purified fer-
rous sulphate), Saindhava Lavana (rock salt), and other
substances like brick powder, Gairika (red ochre) etc are
triturated together for several hours until the mixture is con-
verted into lusterless, fine, impalpable powder of uniform
consistence. The mixture is put inside sublimation instru-
ments and is subjected gradually heat treatment on a sand
bath (Valuka Yantra). After selfcooling the prepared
Rasakarpura is collected from the upper portion of the
instrument.[60]
In modern literature, it is mentioned that mercury
does not react with chlorine directly at room temperature
Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Vol-2 Issue-4 Oct.-Dec. 2013
but sulphate form of mercury can easily react with chlorine.
So they prepare mercuric sulphate as intermediate product
for preparation of mercuric chloride.
The great Acharyas of Ayurveda also knew this
fact very well. They use various sulphate compounds for
preparation of Rasakarpura along with Parada and
Saindhava, which may firstly convert Parada in a sulphate
form. The following chief ingredients with their probable
role in the chemical reaction in the preparation of
Rasakarpura are as –
Parada (mercury) is the chief content of the
Rasakarpura; it is found in all the classical references of
Rasashastra text. One reference (Method number 06 in
Table 1), Hingula (Cinnabar – sulphide form of mercury) is
used for the preparation of Rasakarpura; but it is an indi-
rect use of Parada.
Sphatika (ammonium alum or double sulphate or
potash and aluminum alum), when it is heated, it loses
sulphuric acid. Thus, the released sulphuric acid might react
with mercury resulting mercuric sulphate, and then further
react with other drugs to form Rasakarpura.
K2SO4 . Al2 (SO4)3 . 24H2O = K2O + 4H2SO4 + Al2O3 +
20H2O
Kasisa is chemically ferrous sulphate. It is a drug
that may release sulphuric acid during heating.
2FeSO4 7H2O  Fe2O3 + H2SO4 + SO2 + 6H2O
Gandhakamla, the concentrated sulphuric acid is
heated with mercury; it will convert mercury into mercuric
sulphate.
Hg + 2H2SO4  HgSO4 + SO2 + 2H2O
Chloride content of Saindhava Lavana (sodium
chloride) or Navasadar (ammonium chloride) may react
with the sulphate form of mercury in the process for pre-
pare chloride compound of mercury i.e. mercury chloride.
HgSO4 + 2NaCl  HgCl2 + Na2SO4
Alum or ferrous sulphate, when heated, yields some
sulphuric acid. This reacts with rock salt to liberate hydro-
chloric acid. The latter undergoes aerial oxidation in con-
164
 N.J. Mehta et. al : Review on Classical Preparation Methods of Rasakarpura
tact with ferric oxide from the brick dust, Gairika (red
ochre), clay, etc., acting as catalyst, and sets free chlorine,
which attacks the mercury, giving rise to calomel (Hg2Cl2).
Alumina from alum or from clay may also catalyze the reac-
tion to a certain extent like the ferric oxide.[61]
K2SO4 . Al2 (SO4)3 . 24H2O = K2O + 4H2SO4 + Al2O3 +
20H2O
Hg + 2H2SO4 = HgSO4 + 2H2O + SO2
Hg2SO4 + 2NaCl + Hg = Na2SO4 + Hg2Cl2
For the duration and pattern of heating, minimum 6
hours to maximum 7 days is found as Mandagni (mild heat),
Madhyamagni (medium heat), Tivragni (strong heat) or
Kramagni (gradually increased type of specific heating
pattern) in various references. Types of heat treatment de-
pend on the materials and methods used for the prepara-
tion.
Mainly Damaru Yantra and Valuka Yantra are
found in most of the references. They both are used to sub-
lime the Rasakarpura. For sublimation in Damaru Yantra,
the mixture is filled in an earthen pot and same sized another
earthen pot is put on it, in such a way that the shape re-
sembles just like a Damaru. Heat treatment is given di-
rectly to the lower pot by subjecting directly on hearth or
indirectly in Valuka Yantra. For sublimation in Valuka
Yantra, the mixture is filled in glass bottle, Musha (cru-
cible) or Damaru shaped earthen pot and heat treatment is
given through Valuka (sand). This Yantra is set on hearth
and heat is provided by fuel like hard coal, wooden coal
etc.
Around 53 references of Rasakarpura prepara-
tions are found in literature. By these references of prepa-
ration, Rasakarpura and Rasapushpa may be achieved,
as both words are used as synonym in some classics due to
its physical properties like white colour and mercury as con-
tent of formulation. Mercury forms two series of compounds,
mercuric and mercurous.[62] Rasakarpura and Rasapushpa
both are Nirgandha type of Kupipakva Rasayana and
lots of opinion regarding their chemical nature and compo-
sition are exists. The products obtained by these methods
are mercuric chloride and mercurous chloride for
Rasakarpura and Rasapushpa respectively along with other
trace elements. Rasakarpura is chemically HgCl2 while
Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine Vol-2 Issue-4 Oct.-Dec. 2013
Rasapushpa is chemically Hg2Cl2 or HgCl.[63] Rasakarpura
is white Suchiakara (needle shaped crystals) while
Rasapushpa is Parpatakara (flat in shape) and white in
colour.
Manganese dioxide is used to prepare mercuric form
of chloride.[64] Manganese is seen as trace element in
Saindhava[65], so there may be chance to find mercuric
chloride as chief component than the mercurous chloride in
final product.
In modern literature, for the preparation of chemi-
cally 100% pure mercuric chloride is describe as, Mercuric
chloride is made by heating or dry mixture of equal weight
of mercuric sulphate and common salt with a little manga-
nese dioxide (being added as an oxidizing agent to prevent
the formation of mercurous chloride) in a glass bottle (with
a long neck) on a sand bath. The mercuric chloride sepa-
rates by sublimation (hence, its trivial name) on the cooler
upper part of the bottle. The cake of the sublimate is re-
moved and the mercuric chloride is purified by recrystalli-
zation from the hot water.[66]
After these all available ancient and modern data
related to manufacturing process of Rasakarpura prepara-
tion is chemically briefly said as
Hg + 2H2SO4  HgSO4 + 2H2O + SO2
HgSO4 + 2NaCl  HgCl2 + Na2SO4
Conclusion:
As per the availability of drugs and chemical nature
of the ingredients great Acharya of Ayurved prepared
Rasakarpura by different 53 methods to cure various dis-
eases. They also knew the scientific reactions of the drugs
so they first prepared sulphates of mercury and after that
Rasakarpura and Rasapushpa as chlorides of mercury.
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Source of support : Nil
Conflict of Interest : None
167