Concept of Agni in Rasa Shastra & Bhaishajajya kalpanaAyuvarno balam Swasthayam utsaho upchyo prabha

Ojastajoagneya pranachchokta dehagnikahetua (Ch Chi 15 /3)

In Ayurveda, Agni maximally represents digestive and metabolic fire of the body.The Term Agni in common language means “Fire” However in the context of the functioning of a living organism which maintains it’s integrity and performs its vital activities by converting Pakadi- Karmas or Bio Physical or Bio-Chemical Process.

Types of AgniSaptbhideha dhataru dhatwa dwiwidham punaaYatha swamagnibhi pakam yaanti kitt prasadwatt

(ch chi 15/15)Agni is divided in to three broad headings• JATHARAGNI = 1• DHATWAGNI = 7• BHUTAAGNI = 5

JATHARAGNI It is related with the gastro intestinal digestion and absorption The Ayu (Life span) ,Varna(Complexion),Bal(Vitality)

Swasthya(Good Health) Utsaha(Enthusiasm) Oja(Vital essence) Tej(Lusture) all are derived from jatharagni in body

BHUTAGNI

There are five kinds of Agni innate in each of the maha-bhoot of the body Prithvi,Apya,Agneya,Vayava and nabhsa.

Every Bhutagni digest its own corresponding component Mahabhoota in the ingested food which is a compound of Mahabhootas.

DHATWAGNI• The body substaining dhatu which are seven, undergo

combustion by their Dhatwagni each of them gets transformed in to products namely Parasad and Kitta

RELATION OF AGNI WITH PRAKRITI

• Agni have strong relation with different types of prakrities• In Vata Parkriti vishmagni is very common• In Pitta Prakriti Agni is very potent• In Kapha prakriti agni is mainly mandagni.• Of all the 13 agnis are not in normal state and remain

untreated, several types of diseases may develop due to accumulation of ama

• Lastly, we can say that agni plays very important role in growth ,development and maintenance of body.

Concept of Agni in Rasa Shastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana

Introduction Rasashastra is the science of herbo-mineral metallic

components. It mainly revolves around “Mercury and its preparations.

The review of ancient Rasa literature revealed that the ancient Rasacharyas have recognized doshas in almost all drugs including metals

To remove these doshas they described suitable techniques and procedures such as shodhan and marana etc.

Agni plays vital role in Rasa-shastra because it is used for the process of bhasmikaran

Concept of Bhasmikaran

• Bhasmas are unique preparations of Ayurveda• The classical texts of Ayurveda prescribe in details the

way the Bhasmi Karan process need to be performed.• Bhasmas are prepared by puta method. There are

different methods of putas explained for different metals and minerals according to their physical and chemical nature.

• Bhasmas are prepared by the process of marana by putpaka method by which minerals and metals are converted into a micro fine form

OBJECTIVE OF MARANA PROCESS

• It is described in Rasa Shastra that various metals ,minerals ,gems and animals products etc should be used after converting them into pisti or Bhasma form.

• The main objective of Bhasmas is to reduce the particle size so that these can be easily absorbed in the system.

• Bhasmas are prepared by Putpaka method.

Definition-Rasadidravyapakanam pramanana gyapnamputamNeshto nunaadhikya paka supakam hitamaushdham (R.R.S.10/47)

• Putpaka is that which indicates the quantum of heat required by Rasadi dravyas(Mercury) Mineral /Metal for their proper paka or incineration is know as puta.

• In general language puta means the mode of heating• It indicates the source and amount of heat required or

considered to be necessary for the paka(conversion) of the substance into a suitable dosage from so as to make it absorbabal in the system.

What is Putayantra

• Puta is the ancient method of heating device explained by almost all Acharyas which is used for the marana/incineration of different metals and minerals etc.

• This yantra consists of two earthen sharavans or pots which are keeping upside down in the mouth of two sharvas or pots are in contact with each other

• Dravya used for marana is kept inside properly filled the gap between the two sharavas or pots and sealed with the help of Multanimitti.

CLASSIFICATION OF PUTAS

• According to text putas have been classified into following types which are as follows

PUTA AGNI SURYA CHANDRA PUTA (Paka through Fire),(Paka by sun rays) ,(Paka by moon rays) AGNI PUTA Agni puta means paka through fire. It is also called as Direct Puta because in their puta direct heat is

given to the dravya

Classification of Agni puta

• Agni puta is of following types depending upon the heat given to the dravya• MRUDUAGNI• MADHYAM AGNI• TIVRA AGNI

These 3 are again divided into followingMRUDU AGNI 1.Lavaka Puta2.Kapota PutaMADHYAMA AGNI

1.Kukkuta Puta2.Varaha PutaTIVRA AGNI

1.Gaja Puta2. Mahaputa

EFFECTS OF PUTAS

Puta is an important part of maran process. Any metal or mineral subjected to marana process needs some kind of putas for its paka

According to Rasendra chudamani a greater number of putas help in making bhasma more ruksha,sukshma,jalaplava(floatable water) and in producing vichitragunadeepti(wonderful properties) in Bhasmas

• Further according to Rasendra sara Sangraha putas numbering (i) 10-100 enhances vyadhihara property in Bhasma

• (ii) 100-500 Putas produce Vajeekarana property in Bhasmas

• (iii) putas numbering 100-1000 are claimed to have rasayana property.

ANUKTHA PUTA MANA• In the absence of any recommendation about the type of

puta to be applied it should be decided by considering the nature of the metal /mineral subjected to the putapaka

• If it is mridu dravya then the puta having low capacity should be chosen, but if it is a madhyma or kathina dravya then the puta having moderate or high degree of heating capacity should be used.

• Rasa Kamadhenu, Rasendra Sara Sangraha,Rasa Ranta Samuchya have also mentioned the same opinion about the Anuktha puta.

Heating through Electric Furnaces

• As far as possible Vanyopalas should be used as fuel and if wooden charcoals are to be used as fuel then proper care should be taken for maintenance of heat

• Now a days electric furnaces are also used for preparing almost all the bhasmas.

• Heating through electric muffle furnaces may be used to attain better heating results and superior quality of finished products and this system controlled heat may yield best results and heat loss may be avoided.

Concepts of Musha

Agni plays important role in musha also Musha is also the another device or important part of Rasa

shastra procedures Principle Musha mainly works on the principle of eradicating

the doshas by heating the drug in it.

Types of Musha• 1. Samanya Musha• 2.Vajra Musha• 3.Pakva Musha• 4.Gostani Musha• 5.Vritank Musha• 6.Vajradravnika MushaIn modern it is called as crucible

Conclusion• 1.Agni play the important part of Rasa shastra procedures• 2.Without agni any procedure of Rasa shastra is not possible• 3.So,as for healthy body, Agni is necessary similarly for the

normal procedures of Rasashastra Agni is important.• 4.All the putas ,Musha are dependent on agni only.