(- - )

Presented by K.J.Karthika
1st year PG , Dept of R&B,GAVC,TPRA

SAMSKARA IN AYURVEDA
Paradi guna
Ashta aahara vidi vishesha ayathana
A synonym of karana (samskara: karanam
mattam|| ch.su.26/34), etc.
The Shodasha samskara.
A pharmaceutical procedure
Deha samskarana by vamanadi karma.
Pratisamskarana or the redaction of book.
Parada samskara

DEFINITION OF SAMSKARA

It is the pharmaceutical procedures that bring

about
qualitative alteration done for
improvement
,enhancement,
modification,
lowering bad effects.
In Rasashastra paarada samskara is of prime
importance

SHODANA AND SAMSKARA

(..)

Shodana concentrates in the removal of
doshas while samskara aims in potentiating drug
along with the same.
Shodana can be considered as a part of
samskara but all samskaras are not shodana.

NUMBER OF PAARADA SAMSKARA

:


: :(. ./)

Text

Number of
samskaras
mentioned

Bhagavan shankara
Rasachintamani.
Rasapadhati,Rasopanishat,
Rasatarangani
Rasaratnasamuchayam, Rasarnavam,
Rasendrachoodamani,
Rasaprakashasudhakara,
Rasadhyaya,Rasakamadhenu,Brihath
yoga tarangini,
Rasaratnakara,
Aanandakandam,Rasasara,Ayurvedap
rakasha

2
11
16
18

19





:
: (R.R.S.11/15-16)

18 Paarada Samskara
Swedana
Mardana
Murchana
Uthapanam
Patanam
Rodana
Niyaamana
Dipana
Gaganabhakshana

Chaarana
Garbhadruthi
Bahyadruthi
Jaarana
Raga/ranjana
Saarana
Samkraamana
Vedha
Shareerayoga

DIFFERENT OPINIONS REGARDING

SAMSKARAS
Text

Additional
Samskara

Deleted
samskara

Difference
in
nomenclatur
e
Rasarnava
- Dravana for
m
garbhadrut
hi
- Ranjana for
raga
Rasaratnak - anuvasana - Vedha
- Ranjana for
ara
raga
- shareerayoga
Rasaprakas
- Ranjana for
hasudhakar
raga

Aanandakand - Paatasaaran
a
a
- Utghatana
- savida
Rasapathati
- Anuvasana
- Bandhakrit
- Maarana

Rasasaara

- Sankramana
- Shareerayoga

- Gaganabhaksh
ana
- Garbhadruti
- Bahyadruti
- Ranjana
- samkraamana
- Anuvasana - Gaganabhaksh
ana
- Mukhakaari
- Utghatana - charana

Ayurveda
prakasha
Rasakamadhen
u
Brihat rasayoga
tarangini
Rasachintamani

- Anuvasana
- Patasarana
- Patasarana
- Paatsaarana
- savida

- shareerayoga
-

gaganabhakshana
veda
shareerayoga
Uthapana
Chaarana
Garbhadruthi
Bahyadruthi
saarana
Veda
shareerayoga

Rasaadhyay - Paatasaar
a
ana
- Mukhakaa
ri
- Bandhakrit
- Marana
- Pratisaara
na
- Utghatana
- Anusaaran
a
Rasatarngin
i

- Dipana
- Gaganabhaksha
na
- Chaarana
- Garbhadruti
- Baahyadruti
- raga
- shareerayoga

- veda
- shareerayoga

Shodasha parada samskara according to

Rasopanishat
Shodana
Tejana
Pachana
Dashana
Charana
Patana
Nigrahana
Bandhana

Vahnyankusha
Pakshacheda
Agnikarma
Rasakriya
Ranjana
Kramana
Saarana
Pratisaarana

AMOUNT OF PARADA NEEDED FOR

SAMSKARA



: :
(.. /-)

2000/1000/100/28/10/5/at least 1 pala of Paarada
should be taken

1. SWEDANA (FOEMENTATION)

|| (.../)


: : (.../)

:

:.. )

Process
: Swedanam
Yantra
: Dolayantram
Medium for swedana : Kanjika
Intensity of heat : Mriduagni(96 C - 98
C)
Duration
: 3 days for dehasidhi
21 days for loha sidhi
Drugs used as kalka
Aasuri
Patu(saindhava)
Each drug 1/16th
Trikatu
part of parada
Chiraka
(kalamsham)
Aardraka
Mulaka

The drugs are made into fine powder and kalka is

prepared with it.
One angula of kalka is coated in vatapatra/betel
leaf/kadali patra which is made into a receptacle and
allowed to dry.
Parada is put into this and sealed with kalka and leaf.
Cover it with four folded cloth and make into a potali.
Suspend the potali in dolayantra and perform swedana.
Recover mercury after process by washing kalka in
hotwater.
The recovered mercury id strained 3-4 time through four
folded cloth before carrying out mardana.

PRECAUTION
Refill kanjika in dolayantra time to time.
The potali should not touch the bottom of the
yantra.
There are suggestions to replace the kalka every
day but it is not very necessary for 3 day
swedana but in 21 day swedana for lohasidhi,
reinforcement of kalka is necessary.

OUTCOME OF SAMSKARA


Both acidic and alkaline substances used in this
samskara.
Impurities lose adhesiveness.
Impurities dissolve in the liquid medium used
and Hg become relatively free from impurities.

DISCUSSION
Kanjika is an alliance of weak acid and crude vinegar .
In this combined interaction of alcohol and weak acid the
blemishes of paarada get somewhat separated from its
surface.
When mild heat is provided in the above medium the
impurities of paarada gets losen due to ksharana,
dalana,and
bhedana of kshara and ushna, tikshna guna of
: :
Kanjika might help in stimulating the therapeutic
amla dravya.
properties of paarada.

2.MARDANA (HOT
-TRITURATION)

(.../-)

: :
(.../)

Process
Yantra

Mardanam
: Tapta khalva yantra made of
loha
Medium for mardana: Kanjika
Intensity of heat : (45 C -50 C )
Duration
: 3 days for
dehasidhi(24hrs*3day/12hrs*3day)
21 days for loha sidhi
Drugs used as kalka
Grihadhuma
Ishtika churna
Dadhi
Guda
Saindhava lavana
Aasuri

Each drug 1/16th

part of parada
(kalamsham)

Mercury and drugs are placed in tapta khalvayantra &

triturated well using kanjika for three days.
Recover mercury after the samskara by washing kalka
with hot water.
If more mercury is retained in klaka conduct patana and
recover
: : (./)

The recovered parada is filtered 3-4 times through a four
folded cloth
Some aacharyas recommend addition of abraka stwa and
swarna to parada after the 3 day grinding with drugs by
which a distinct color (yellowish tinge) is imparted to

PRECAUTION
Kanjika should be added time to time while
grinding.
Filtre suta through a four folded cloth is necessary as
the ishtika choorna tend to settle down with mercury

OUTCOME OF SAMSKARA

: |
(.../)


(.../-)
The Hg becomes free of bahirmala.
Will get characteristic colour
The qualities increase.

DISCUSSION
Parada completely gets divided to minute particles and
get mixed up with the kalka.
Maximum surface area exposed to kalka,
Dravyas predominant of kshara amla rasa thus removal
of maximum impurities.
Heat given during trituration act as stimulating agent for
paarada.
While triturating with carbonic drugs like gruhadhooma,
dagdoorna and guda and with silica(ishtika choorna) the
carbon act as reducing agent and silica act as adsorbent

3. MURCHANA (FAINTING)
. .

(.../)


: :(.../)

:

: :
:

Process
Yantra

Mardanam
: Tapta khalva yantra made of
loha /special hot plates
Medium for mardana: Kanjika
Intensity of heat : (45 C -50 C )
Duration
: 3 days for dehasidhi
7days for loha sidhi(Ayu.pra)
Drugs used as kalka
Gritakumari swarasa
Each drug 1/16th
Triphala /ankolam(rasarnava) part of parada
Chitraka/Aragvadha(rasarnava) (kalamsham)

METHOD
Mardita paarada is triturted for three days in a
tapta khalwayantra with the above said
medicines and kumari swarasa till Hg loses
cohisiveness
and
break
into
globules/nashtapishtatva.

OUTCOME OF THE SAMSKARA

Hg loses its natural physico chemical properties
i.e,attain .


( /)
The parada attain naaga varna & also loses its
chapalata and dravata.

(.../) the Hg will be
free of all blemishes.

DISCUSSION
WHAT IS NASHTAPISHTI(swooning)?
The condition achieved in which the parada loses its
natural properties after it is ground with various drugs.
|
: (.../)
:
The conversion of Hg into very fine indivisible particle .
Practically 36 hrs was needed for its formation.
Easily attained if kumari swarasa is the medium of

The

drugs

pradhana.

involved
It

excert

are

katu

kashaya

the

functions

such

rasa
as

bhedana, shoshana, kshalana and lekhana by

which the blemishes are removed.

4. UTHAPANAM(REVIVAL OF NATURAL
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES)


( )

(.,./)

Process

Yantra

:
2.
3.
4.
5.

1. svedanam
Prakshalanam
Mardanam
Aatapam
Paatanam

:Dolayantram
Tapta khalva yantra made of loha
Urdhvapatana yantram/vidhyadharayantra

Medium for swedana

: Kanjika
Medium for prakshalana
: kanjika,ushnajalam
Medium for mardana
: kanjika,ushnajala
Best time for aatapa
: vaishakha jyeshta masa
Intensity of heat
: -------Duration
: --------

METHOD
Moorchita paarada is subjected to swedana with
kanjika in dolayantra. By this the paradawhich are
separated as globules will combine together.
Then it is subjected to prakshalana with ushna
kanji or ushnajala by which rest of the paarada
trapped in kalka can be recovered.
This kalka is again subjected to mardana in tapta
khalva yantra with ushnajala . Kalka which is light
will flow away with water and the heavy particles
of mercury will settle down.

The paarada is subjected to aatapa after

mardana preferably during vaishakha and
jyeshta months.
According to paarada vijnaneeyam
mardana
should be conducted in aatapa with nimbuka
swarasa.
The mercury which is not recovered by the above
steps is regained by paatana.

OUTCOME FROM UTHAPANA

Parada regain the swabhavika avastha.

(.,./)
Note: Maximum chance of loss of parada during
this samskara.

Some

scholars

just

consider

continuaton of murchana samskara.

it

as

the

5. PATANA(SUBLIMATION)

||(../)

:

:(..-/)

Opinion regarding the type of patana

to be performed.
Type of Patana
Only urdhva patana
Both urdhva and adha
patana
Urdhva,adha and tiryak
patana

Author
Rasahrudaya tantra
Rasarnava, Rasasaara
Rasendra
choodamani,
Rasaratna
samuchayam,
Rasendra
chintamani,
Rasaprakasha
sudhakara,
Rasaratnakara, Rasapadhati,
aanandakanda,
Ayurveda
prakasha, rasakamadhenu.

URDHVAPATANAM
, : :, ( .
../)

:

: (.. 11/)

Process
Yantra

Mardana, Urdhvapatanam
:

Vidyadharayantra, Damaru yantra ,

Taptakhalva yantra
Duration for mardana

Intensity of heat

378 C -438 C

Duration

3 days with tamra

once /thrice for dehasidhi

7 times for lohasidhi

DRUGS
Parada
Tamram
Acharya
Shalinath
Madhava

1 part
part.
Drugs
Haridra and kumariswarasa
Tutha and swarnamaksika (here
nashta pishti is formed with and it is
subjected to patana in Damaruyantra)

METHOD
Parada is mixed with amount of tamra and
subjected

to

mardana

(according

to

Aanandakanda tapta khalvayantra is used )for 3

days so a shulbha pishti is formed.
The shulbapishti is kept in the urdhvapatana
yantra and subjected to patana.
The sublimed paarada is collected from the
upper pot.

Sl
NO:

TEXT

Rasarnavam

Rasaratnasamuch
ayam
Rasaratnakara
Anandakanda
Rasendra
chintamani
Ayurvedaprakasha

Rasakamadhenu

3
4
5

Ratio Ratio of
of
tamra
parad
a
1 part Pishtayo
ga

part

NO: of times
for patana

7 times

1/3

1
3

1 part
tutha/tap
ya

I part
-

OUTCOME OF SAMSKARA

:(R.R.S11/63)
All the doshas from yogika,spatakanjuka, and oupadhika
is relieved by this samskara.

DISCUSSION
In a practical documentation Parada and tamra

were

taken in the ratio 3:1 ratio and triturated with nimbu

swarasa.
It

was

observed

that

the

amalgamisation

was

accelerated with the use of nimbu swarasa

After urdhvapaatana when the parada was washed using
kanjika the colour of parada turned golden which was
considered as the ranjana

guna of tamra by Dr.V.M.

ADHAPATANA
.: , , :
: , : , ( .../)
Same procedure as that
Adhapatana is conducted.

of

Urdhvapatana

but

PROCEDURE ACCORDING TO RASA RATNA

SAMUCHAYA


: (.../)
:
:
:
:(.../-)

Process
Yantra

Mardana, Adhapatanam
: Vidyadharayantra, Damaru yantra ,
Taptakhalva yantra,
dipikayantra

Duration for mardana: 3 days with tamra/till

nashtapishti is
obtained.
Duration
: 7 times
Drugs
Parada
1 part
Tamram
part.
(Or drugs as indicated in various treatises)

METHOD
The paarada subjected to urdhvapaatana is
subjected to mardana with various drugs till
nashta pishtatva is obtained.
The paarada is then kept in adhapaatana yantra
subjected to the adhapaatana.
The sublimed paarada is collected from the
bottom pot after the process.

The intensity of heat given during

adhapatana
Sl No: Heat intensity
1
:

2
3
:

4
5
:

6

Reference
Rasaarnavam
Rasendra choodamani
Rasaratnasamuchayam
Rasaratnakara
Aananda kanda
Rasendrachintamani

Mercury vapourises by 360 degree Celsius thus on an

average we need to provide only a maximum of 400
degree Celsius for an average duration of 2-3 hrs for the
entire parade to sublime.

OUTCOME OF ADHAPATANA

:(.. /)
Parada obtained after subjecting to the process of
urdhvapatana and adhapatana can be used for preparing
the rasayana yoga by adding various other drugs into it.
Patana process conducted in dipika yantra is free from all
kinds
of
blemishes.
: :(.. /)

TIRYAK PAATANA
, : : (.
../)

:




:

: (.../)

Process

Yantra

Mardana,Tiryakpatanam,Swedana
:

tiryak patanna tantra

Duration for mardana: till nashatapishti is

obtained/1yaama(Aa.ka.amr)
Duration

Till paarad become

Drugs
Parada

1 part

Slakshna Abhraka dalam /dhanyabhram

Aaranaala

qs

(Or drugs as indicated in various treatise)

part.

METHOD
The paarada after urdhva and adha patana is subjected
to mardana with slakshna abhraka dalam with aaranala
as medium for one yaama / nashtapishtatva formation.
This is kept in tiryak paatana yantra and subjected to
tiryak paatana.
The paarada is then subjected to swedana in dolayantra.
The swedita paarada again subjected to tiryak paatana
till it become .

The intensity of heat given during Tiryak

Paatana

Sl
Description
No:

Reference

Aanandakandam

Rasaratnakara

Rasaratnasamuchaya
m
Rasaprakashasudhaka
ra
Rasendra chintamani

Ayurveda prakasha

OUTCOME OF THE SAMSKARA

: (.../)
Paarada become capable of sustaining intense heat.

feature of murchana samskara we can see that similar

condition arises during adhapatana and tiryak paatana
also.
** Acc to some scholars swedana is conducted after all 3
patana tritutating paarada with triphala, trikatu, chitraka,
lashuna & kumari as kalka and tushambu as medium in
dolayantra.

Effects of samskaras till paatana

: : :(.../)
: (..)
The parada becomes sluggish and calm.

6. Rodhana/Bhodana samskara
(awakening)
: :



(.)

: : , ,
:
: , : :

(..)

Rodana is carried out as a measure to restore the potecy

of paarada which has become napumsaka , mrita praaya
and mandaveerya from the first 5 samskara.
The parada at this state will be unable to take into it the
swarnadi lohas as grasa thus to impart bubhksha to
Parada bhodana is conducted.
The bhodana samskara can be conducted in two different
methods
1. Swedana in dolayantra.
2. Keeping parade intact in an earthen pot containing

Method 1

(../)

Process
: Swedana
Yantra
: Dolayantra
Duration for Swedana : 3 days.
Medium for swedana
: srishtyambu/saindhava jala
The intensity of heat given :
madhyamagni( ayu.pra)
Drugs
Parada
1 part
Sanindhavam
qs
Jalam
qs
(Or drugs as indicated in various treatises)

Method
The paarada processed till the paatana samskara is
suspended inside a pot containing saindhava jala/
srishtimbu and subjected to swedana for three days.
The swedita paarada is collected washed and filtered.

PREPARATION OF SAINDHAVA JALA

()
Proportio Proportion
reference
n of
of jala
saindhava
10 pala
3 prastha Rasaprakashasudhakara

Danwanthari samhitha
1 part
5 times
(Bhagawan Dash)
500g
4 litre
(sidhinandan Mishra)

OPINION REGARDING
SRISHTYAMBU


( )
: :

Generally it is considered to be samudrajala.

Some scholars have mentioned it to be the menstrual
blood of

healthy 16 yr old girl.

There is

another opinion of sristhyambu being

muthra, sukra and

shonitha of go, avi, nara and nari.

Practiclly the process is now carried out using

saindhava jala.
We may to a great extend conclude that samudra jala
should be

ideally taken for this process and in its

absence we may utilize

lavana yukta jala.

Method 2

(.../)
The paarada is kept undisturbed in a pot filled with saindhava jala
for three days and on the fourth day it is taken out, washed and
filtered.
As per Ayurveda prakasha the process can be carried out
in vishvamitra kapala/kachakupi and the container is
buried in earth at a depth of one Rajahastha.

Outcome of the samskara

Sl Outcome
no

1
2
3

: :

4
5

Reference
Rasahruhayatantr
am
Aanandakandam
Rasendra
chintamani
Rasendra
choodamani
Rasaratna
smuchayam
Rasasaara

7.NIYAMANA(CONTROLLING)
: :(.
.)

: (.../)

Process
: Swedana
Yantra
: Dolayantra
Duration for Swedana : 1 day (Rasendra.
Chi)
3 days.(R.R.S)
Medium for swedana
: kanjika
The
intensity
of
heat
given :
madhyamagni
( general)
Drugs used as kalka
Tambula
Each drug 1/16th
Lashuna
part of parada
(kalamsham)
Saindhava
Bringaraja
Vandyakarkoti
chincha
(Or drugs as indicated in NIYAMANA GANA

METHOD
:
(.. /)
:

(.../)
The rodhita paarada is suspended in dola yantra and is
subjected to swedana using kanjika as medium for 1-3
days.
The kanjika is charged with the above dravyas during
swedana.
The paarada is recovered after swedana and filtered well.

 : :
( .../)
According to Rasa Hrudaya Tantra niyamana is considered
synonymous to paksha chedana/ paksha kartana. And this
process can be carried out only with abhraka satva
jaarana/chaarana in paarada.

:
( )
According to rasarnava, after niyamana ,the thermal
stability of paarada is greately increased

OUTCOMES OF NIYAMANA
SAMSKARA
.

Sl no: Property

Reference

1
2

Rasendra mangala
Rasaratnasamuchayam

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Rasahrudayatantram
Rasendrachintamani
Rasaprakashasudhakaram
Rasasaaram
Rasaraaja shankaram
Rasaarnavam
Yoga tarangini

8. DIPANA SAMSKARA
: :

:
(..)
:

: (.../)

Process
: Swedana
Yantra
: Dolayantra
Duration for Swedana : 3 days.
Medium for swedana
: kanjika
The intensity of heat given :
madhyamagni
( general)
Drugs used as kalka
Drug 1/16th portion of paarada
Sphatika(phitkari)
Kasisa
Saindhava
Tankana
Maricha
Raajika
Shigrutwak
(Or drugs as indicated in various treatises)

METHOD
The niyamitha paarada is suspended in dola yantra and
is subjected to swedana using kanjika as medium for 3
days.
The kanjika is charged with the above dravyas during
swedana.
The paarada is recovered after swedana and filtered well.

( )
** if one is unable to perform deepana samskara for three
days then atlleast

perform it for one complete day(24

OUTCOME OF THE SAMSKARA

( .)
Sl no: Property

2
3
4

Reference
Rasarnavam,
Rasahrudayatantram,
Rasaratnakaram,
Aanandakandam.

Rasendrachoodamani,
Rasapathati
- R.R.S

Rasasaaram

THE BENEFIT OF ASHTASAMSKARA

:

(...)
(..)

For therapeutic administration/dehasidhi with parada only

ashta samskara is necessary. By the end of 8 samskara
the paarada becomes free from all blemishes.
Only 1/8 th of paarada will remain after Ashtasamskara.

CONCLUSION
The 8 process actually includes only 3 main procedure
swedana, mardana and paatana.
The first 5 is targeted to remove impurities and the last 3
to enhance therapeutic action.
Now days much loss of mercury is not found practically
as with the advancement of techniques 99.9% pure
merrcury is available in the market.
It was noted that practicaly 67 days were taken to
complete 8 samskaras.

THANK YOU