Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances
by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 47,185 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828
This third volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi deals with purification techniques of the Seven Metals (sapta-dhatu) and various Gems (ratna). It also deals with substances such as Alkalis (kshara), Salts (lavana), Poisions (visha) and Semi-poisions (upavisha) as well as various alcholic liquors. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (“the ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, che...
Part 1 - Characteristics of Sandhana or Samdhana (liquors)
Sandhanas are of three different kinds, viz. (1) alcoholic, (2) non-alcoholic but fermented drugs, such as asavas, aristas, etc., and (3) non-alcoholic but fermented, drinks, sometimes used as ingredients of medicines (such as kanji).
Of these, the first two are practically everlasting, and increase in quality every day; whereas the third does not last for a very long time.
(1) Alcoholic Liquors (wine).
Wine is of various kinds. Of these, the following eight are well-known:�(a) gaudi, (b) madhvi, (c) paisti, (d) kadamvari (e) varuni, (f) madhuki (g) maireyi and (K) mardvika.
Wine may be undistilled as well as distilled. It may be distilled by means of the Tejo-yantra, Nadika-yantra, Baruni-yantra, and Baka-yantra (see pages 280-85, vol. I).
(2) Non-alcoholic but fermented Liquids.
Fermented but non-alcoholic liquids are of various kinds. Of these, the following thirteen are well-known:�(a) asava, (b) arista, (c) sidhu, (d) shukta, (e) gura-shukta, (f) chukra, (g) tushamboo, (h) dhanyamla, (i) kanji, (j) sauvira, (k) aranala, and (l) shindaki.
All of these are used as ingredients of medicine.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Characteristics of Sandhana or Samdhana (liquors)� included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory. The text includes treatments, recipes and remedies and is categorised as Rasa Shastra: an important branch of Ayurveda that specialises in medicinal/ herbal chemistry, alchemy and mineralogy, for the purpose of prolonging and preserving life.