Kala Ashram Ayurvedic Medical College And Hospital

Chronological development
of
Rasashastra
PART - 2

Dr Sani mol Sunny

Assistant Professor (RSBK)
 Rasashastra

Rasashastra astang ayurveda

Indicative of the fact –Rasashastra in its initial days was

developed as an independent pharmaceutical science.

Eventually, Rasashastra became a significant part of

Ayurveda and has played a major role in the development
of this science in later centuries.
 HISTORY PERIOD

• Vedic period

• Samhita period

• Sangraha period

• Modern period
 Vedic period
References for rasa dravya can be traced from vedic period
Origin of development of rasashastra – veda
Vedic period – chaturvidha chikitsa – among them daivi chikitsa was
related to rasashastra. Hence alonfg with herbs rasa dravyas are also
used
Rigveda-
• hiranya (swarna) and tamra and kamsya
• swarna- ornamental use and kamsya – utensils or weapons

• No description of loha dhatu

• Ayas used in terms of tamra (not loha) or dhatu
• But later on in brahman and upanishad period- lohitayas- tamra
and krishna ayas- loha
Yajurveda
Hiranya, ayas, syam loha, sisa, and trapus

Arthav veda-
• Rajat.lohitayas, syam ayas, and sisa
• Dakshayani hiranya –
protect from evil and enhancement of life and strength
hence rasayan used by kings for his protection.
• Parad as pakshi –when enter into body then bheshamubhayo
(rasayan karma)

Mahabharat – artifical swarna

Manusmriti – swarna+mani, mukta & praval
Yagyavalakya - swarnamadhuprashan
Mohenjadaro and harappa civilisation –bronze period- Cu+Sn
• swarna,rajat,tamra,sisa,kamsya, vanga, vaiduryam, neelam shilajit
etc

Kautilya arthashastra- 4th cen B.C detailed description of rasashatra

• rasaviddha swarna nirmana

• use of hingula in swarna testing
• identification of Swarnadi dhatu mines were also given

Loha vidya in gupta kal – lauhstambha –iron + phosphorus –

analysed by Headfield.
 Samhita period
Reference of rasa dravya and their use for therapeutic purpose
may be readily traced from all the three “brhattrayi”

1. Charak samhita - most ancient classical text book – 1200 BC

Audbiddha, jangam and parthiva dravya

Parthiv Dravya –
Herbal drugs were prominently used for therapeutic purposes
However the references of ras dravya also found
• dhatu- swarna rajat,tamra, trapu, sisak and lauha
• Ratna –manikya mukta pushparag,praval, hirak, vaidurya,
sphatika, shukti and shankha
• Khanij –shilajatu, hartala, manashila, tutha, swarnamakshika,
gandhak, anjana etc
2. Sawarnikarnartha parad – dwivarniya chapter

3. Hema churna and tamra churna- vishanashanartha

4. Lauhadi rasayan (Ayaskriti)

5. Navayas lauha – rajas

6.Muktadya churna –swas, kasa, hikka b) kushtahar – manashila,

hartala, kasisa etc c) pandu – lauh dhatu, punarnava mandur etc
7.Use of dhatu in basti-netra nirmanartha
8. Pumsavan sankarartha

NOTE: This indicates the knowledge of using metallic and

mineral drugs for chikitsa purpose in Charak period
2. Sushruta samhita – second most ancient book

Herbal drugs were prominently used for therapeutic

purposes, However the references of ras dravya also
found in shushruta samhita than charak samhita

• Use of parad precisely indicated for external purpose

• Dravyasamgrahiniya chapter- use of metals for inernal use
are mentioned.
• First reference of dravya - Gauripashan
• Swarna in swarna prashan
• Dhatu- swarna, rajata, tamra,loha, naga, kamsya, pittala
and mandur
• Ratna- manikya, mukta, pushparag, praval, vajra,
suryakanta, nagamani, sphatika, shankha and shukti
• Mineral drugs – shilajatu, hartala, manashila, tuttha,
makshika, kasisa, sphatika, anjana,tankan
• 38th chapter in sutra sthan – ushakadi gana and trapvadi gana
• Mahavajrak tail- gandhak
• Use of musha(crucible) in medicine preparation.
• Dhatus are used in churna form
• Ayaskriti formation explained more precisely
• Loharishta – lauha in prameha
• Anjana – best in raktapitta
3.Ashtang Sangraha and Ashtang Hridaya
• Both were written based on charak and sushruta samhita
• During the era of this book the scope for Rasashastra had
become more prominent.
• Ras, guna, virya vipaka of dhatus were mentioned
• The first glimpse of dhatu bhasmikaran (metallic
incineration) is seen in rudimentary stage.
• Reference of ayaskriti is found in ashtang hridaya for prameha
chikitsa.
• Difference b/w swarna makshik and rajat makshika
• Lauha pak – first reference of bhanu pak
• First reference of andhamusha.

• Dhatu- ayoraja, ayomala, swarna, rajata, tamra,loha, naga, vanga

etc
• Ratna- manikya, mukta, praval, pushparag, vajra, vaidurya,
suryakanta, sphatika varatika, samudrafena etc

• Mineral – parad, shilajatu, hartala, manashila, gandhak,

gandhapashan, gairik, makshika, souviranjana etc
Brihatsamhita – Acharya Varhamihir – 5th century
• Specific description of ratna for dharanartha + dhatu ,hartala,
gairik and manashila

• Shukravardhak yoga (also mentioned in ashtang sangraha and

hridaya, rashridaya tantra- kshetrikaranartha)

From vedic period to 5th -6th century explanation of use of parad was not so
clear as in rasa classical texts . Even other rasa dravya were used in their
churna dosage form which is again mentioned in concise form .this form is
quite different from bhasma nirmana . After this period the development of
rasa shastra was at its optimum peak .

• Rasendra mangal – nagarjuna- 7-8 th cen.AD

• Rasa hridya tantra – shrimatgovind bhagvatpadacharya – 8th
cen/11th cen.
आधनु िक काल