Alchemy and Metallic Medicines in Ayurveda

ALCHEMY AND METALLIC MEDICINES IN AYURVEDA

ALCHEMY AND By the Same Author Published by CONCEPT

TODARANANDA-AYURVEDA SAUKHYAM SERIES

No. I Materia Medica of Aymveda / No.2 Basic Principles of Aymveda NO.3 Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases in Aymveda (part One)

METALLIC MEDICINES IN

AYURVEDA

No.4 Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases in Aymveda (part Two) No.5 Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases in Aymveda (part Three) No. 6 Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases in Aymveda (part Four) No.7 Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases in Aymved (part Five) No.8 Five Specialist Therapies of Aymveda (pancha-Karma) NO.9 Jatro-ChemistIy of Aymveda (Rasa Saslra) A Handbook of Aymveda (The Handbook has been published in Italian and Japanese edition) Message Therapy in Ayurveda (Pancha-Karma Therapy ofAyurveda Series No.1)

by

VAIDYA BHAGWAN DASH D.A.M.S., HP.A., M.A., Ph.D.

Aboot 1he Author

V.idya Bhagwan Dash has had an outstandingly brilliant academic career. He holds a Master's degree and a doctorate from Delhi UDiversity in addition to postgraduate qu alifications in Ayurveda. A Sanskrit scholar, he handles the English language with equal felicity. A significant advantage to his Jr0pensity for research in Ayurveda is Dr. Dash's proficiency in Tibetan, Gennan, French and Mongolian. In the course of nearly twenty-five years dedicated to

research in and the practice of Ayurveda, Dr. Da!h has attended several important conferences and seminars both in India and abroad. He has aho contributcd innumerable articles to reputed national and international journals in indology, medicine and science. The author of many irnl)()l·tnnlpllbll cu li o n ~ covering several aspects of Ayurveda and Tibetan medicinc. hI) hll~ to hl8 credit tJlree volumes of an English translation of Caraka S"r1Iliflf. IUlllncicnt Aylll'vrdn cllulslc . lie Wll~ recently on a short-term assignment as WHO Ollt\liUUlI In 'l'rttdltlnnlll Medicine 10 the Government of Bhutan. li e Will Wi.)1 klnj.\ II" I)cput y Adviser (Ayurveda) to the Government of India in the Mlnl"lIy of Ill' hlll! IIlld 1!"lIIlIy Wolfllre till 3 1 May 1981. when he took voluntary retirement with. VlllW Il) (llIlIhlt' hllli In devote more time for academic and research work .

", INCBPTPUBUSIllNG COMPANY, NEW DELID-llOO59

All fights rest:l"\cd. No part orthi~ work may be reproduced . stored It1 i.l rclrieyal S) ste ill. or lra115milkd ill any form or by any 1l1(,C111~. dcc lronic . 111I.:c hanit:: al. photoc tlp) ing. micro li lrnillg. record i ng or otherwise. withou t the prior wr itten permission urlhe cupyright owner and the p ub lisher.

CONTENTS

List of Plates and Figures /Il do-Romanic Equivalents of Devaniiglllf Preface INTRODUcnON Superiority of Mineral Drugs (18), Distinctive Features (19), Pwpose of Processing (19), Deha Siddhi and Lauha Siddhi (21), Concept of Health (21), Aim of Rasayana Therapy (22), Alchemical Achieveme.nts (22).

I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF RASASAsTRA II. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS Starting of Cosmic Evolution (31), Evolutiol\ of Matter (32), Evolution of Mahabhiltas (33), Molecular and Atomic Motions (35), Heat and its Manifestation (36), Application of Force (37), Philosophical Background (37). ISBN 81-7022-077-7 First Published 1986 Reprinted 1996. 2003 J: Va iJ)ct11 ~m 'lill l OO:~:~:ihi 'R'i "'l'Ifcr: «1'%'1 '1 f4 if) oq 't I

1{g'I'1'"'l'ld

f