CLASSIFICATION OF RASA DRAVYA

INTRODUCTION:

With a view to removing the suffering and miseries of all the living subjects
throughout the world, different types of drugs found in nature have been used by an-
cient scholars. The drugs of vegetable origin come first in the series due to their easy
availability and processing. But with passing of time certain other non-pharmacological
measures like Mantra, Mani, Sastra, Agni etc were incorporated in therapeutics.the use
of metals and minerals come still later in the series.

Out of the long list of metals and minerals of modern metallurgical and miner-
alogical text, only selected few have been described in ancient Ayurvedic texts. This may
be due to lack of knowledge about these metals or non-usefulness of these in Loha-
vedha or Deha-vedha.

According to ancient Ayurvedic scholars, Parada (Mercury) is considered most

important amongst all metals recognised for their therapeutic value. This is due to its
power of influencing the properties of other metals and minerals without losing its own.
Thus since ancient times, Mercury has been given highest importance and a specialized
branch of learning and therapeutics by the name Rasa Shastra and rasa Chikitsa has
developed after Mercury.

Metals as we know them today were known in Indian Culture for thousands of
years, however, their medicinal use; especially internal administration has started since
the period of Charaka Samhita and was developed further along with the development
of Rasa Shastra.

Mercury has never been administered alone in Rasa Shastra. It is either processed
or added with other drugs to be administered in a therapeutic form. Substances of ani-
mal, plant and oceanic origin were used by ancient researchers in experimentations up-
on Mercury.
 The range of these substances vary from simple and easily available substances
like Mica to potently poisonous substances like Arsenics, from comparatively cheaper
products like Gairika to precious stones like Vajra and purely plant products like
Kampillaka to still ambiguous substances like Kankushta.

It can be seen that many of these substances were proved of little use while
many useful new substances were discovered. Hence the need to classify these sub-
stances was felt and every famous author of classical Rasa Shastra texts developed his
own method of classification of these substances.

Generally these drugs are classified in to four distinct classes named- Rasa, Dhaa-
tu, Ratna and Visha. . The class of ‘Rasa’ is predominantly possessing ‘Rasaayana’ (adap-
togenic effect) effect. Dhaatus are grouped together on account of their capacity to
provide structural strength to the body. The minerals possessing gem quality are
grouped as Ratna, whereas inherently highly poisonous plants are grouped as Visha

Classification is chiefly based on the following criteria:

a) Constituents of the substance

b) Utility of the substance in Mercurial operations
c) Efficacy of the substance in potentizing Mercury
d) Utility of the substance in Deha Vedha (Therapeutics)
e) Utility of the substance in Loha Vedha (Metallurgy & Alchemical operations)

THE CLASSIFICATION:

This classification does not have a common distinguishing feature. The class of
‘Rasa’ is predominantly possessing ‘Rasaayana’ (adaptogenic effect) effect. Dhaatus are
grouped together on account of their capacity to provide structural strength to the
body. The minerals possessing gem quality are grouped as Ratna, whereas inherently
highly poisonous plants are grouped as Visha.

The basic classification is that Mercury is regarded as Rasa / Maha Rasa / Rasen-
dra due to its unique qualities and rest of the substances are rated as Upa–rasa being
inferior to Mercury in properties and efficacy. All these substances, though graded as
Upa-rasa, are classified into further sub-groups basing on their degree of utility in Mer-
curial operations. Though the nomenclature of the classes is similar, the contents vary.

The substances which are of high utility and importance in mercurial operations
are classed as Maha Rasa. But when actual names included in this class are observed,
this criteria proves to be wrong as Sulphur, the most important, useful substance in Mer-
curial operations and which is second only to Mercury is placed in Uparasa group and
Chapala which is hardly ever used to prepare any medicine is placed in Maharasa
group.

The number of substances included in Maharasa group according to various texts

of Rasa Shastra is as under:

MAHARASA DRUGS ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT TEXTS

S. NO. NAME OF THE TEXT REFERENCE DRUGS

1. Rasa Ratna Samucchaya (8) (2/1) Abhraka, Vaikranta, Makshika,

Vimala Shilajit, Sasyaka, Chapala &
Rasaka

2. Rasa Ratna Samucchaya (8) (6/50) Anjana, Vaikranta, Makshika,

Vimala, Hingula, Sasyaka,
Chapala & Rasaka

3. Rasa Hridaya Tantra (8) (9/4) Vaikranta, Kanta, sasyaka, Mak-

shika, Vimala, Shilajit, Hingula &
Rasaka

4. Goraksha Samhita (7) (2/20) Abhraka, Vaikranta, Makshika,

Vimala, Shilajit, Sasyaka, Rasaka &
Hingula

5. Rasarnava (7) (7/2) Makshika, Vimala, Shilajit, Rasaka,

Sasyaka, Hingula &Srotanjana

6. Rasendra Chudamani (8) (10/1) Abhraka, Rajavarta, Vaikranta,

Sasyaka, Vimala, Silajith, Tuttha &
Tapya
 7. Rasopanishad (7) (4/4) Makshika, Vimala, Rasa, Vaikranta,
sasyaka Chapala & Shilajith

8. Rasa Prakasa Sudhakara (8) (5/2) Abhraka, Makshika, Vaikranta,

Vimala, Rasaka, Shilajith, Rajavarta
& sasyaka

9. Ayurveda Prakasa (1) (2/347) Parada

10. Rasa Paddhati (6) (1/38) Vaikranta, Abhraka, Shilajith,

Chapala, Makshika & Tuttha

The substances which are of secondary in importance with reference to Mercurial

operations are placed in Uparasa group. In this class also we come across with great
degree of variations and differences from text to text regarding the drugs placed.

. The number of substances included in Uparasa group according to various texts

of Rasa Shastra is as under:

UPARASA DRUGS ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT TEXTS

S. NO. NAME OF THE TEXT DRUGS

1. 1 Rasa Ratna Samuc- Gandhaka, Gairika, Kaseesa, Kankshi, Talaka,

chaya, Goraksha Manahsila, Anjana & Kankushta
Samhita & Rasa
Prakasa Sudhakara
(8)

2. Rasa Hridaya Tantra Gandhaka, Talaka, Manahsila, Sphatika,

(8) Kaseesa, Gairika, Kankushta & Anjana

3. Rasaraja Lakshmi (5) Gandhaka, Haratala, Manahsila, Sphatika &

Gairika

4. Rasarnava (8) Gandhaka, Talaka, Shilajith, Saurashtri,

Khaga, Gairika, Rajavarta & Kankushta
 5. Rasendra Chud- Gandhaka, Haratala, Sphatika, Manahsila,
amani (8) Sauveeranjana, Kankushta, Kaseesa & Gairika

6. Rasopanishad (7) Gandhaka, Gairika, Kaseesa, Kankshi, Talaka,

Manahsila, & Kankushta

7. Rasendra Sara San- Gandhaka, Haratala, Manahsila, Kaseesa,

graha (20) Gairika, Anjana, Vajra, Vaikranta, Abhraka,
Kharpara, Tuttha, Vimala, Varatika, Kaanta
Pashana, Hingula, sankha, Bhunaga, tanka-
na, Shilajith & Khatika

8. Ayurveda Prakasa Gandhaka, Hingula, Abhraka, Haratala,

(2/1) (19) Manahsila, Srotanjana, Tankana, Rajavarta,
Kant aloha, Sphatika, Sankha, Khatika, Gairi-
ka, Kaseesa, Rasaka, Kapharda, Sikata, Bola &
Saurashtri

9. Ayurveda Prakasa Kankushta, Vajra, Vaikranta, Bhunaga, Shila-

(2/349) (8) jith, Sindura, Samudra phena & Sambuka
10. Rasa Paddhati (3) Gandhaka, Haratala & Manahsila

11. Rasa Manjari (20) Gandhaka, Haratala, Manahsila, Kaseesa,

Kankushta, Anjana, Vajra, Vaikranta, Ab-
hraka, Kharpara, Tuttha, Vimala, Varatika,
Kaanta Pashana, Hingula, sankha, Bhunaga,
tankana, Shilajith & Khatika

12. Ananda Kanda (23) Gandhaka, Talaka, Manahsila, Sphatika,

Kaseesa, Gairika, Kankushta, Anjana,
Abhraka, Kharpara, Tuttha, Swarna Mak-
shika, Varatika, Kaanta Pashana, Hingula
Sankha, , Bhunaga, Tankana, Shilajith, Sikata,
Sindura, Samudra Phena & Sambuka

The drugs with lesser importance are placed under Sadharana Rasa group or
group of ordinary substances. This classification is unique to rasa Ratna Samucchaya and
the drugs placed in this group are: Kampillaka, Gauri Pashana, Navasadara, Kapharda,
Agnijara, Girisindura, Hingula & Mriddarusringa.
 After considering these three main classes, the other classes are explainable as
they are based either upon their physical properties or medicinal properties. In these,
the important class is that of Metals. The available metals at that time are Gold, Silver,
Copper, Lead, Tin, Brass and Bronze. In addition, other metals like Vartaloha, Chandraka,
Sulbanaga and Ghosha are also mentioned but ever used to prepare medicines. Proba-
bly they are important from the point of view of Dehavada.

The metals which are used to prepare medicines are classified in three groups:

a) Suddha Loha - Gold, Silver, Copper & Iron

b) Puti Loha - Lead & Tin
c) Mishra Loha - Brass & Bronze

Some texts like Rasarnava and Rasa Kamadhenu have classified the metals with a
different nomenclature which reads as under:

a) Sara Loha - Gold & Silver

b) Sadharana Loha - Iron & Copper
c) Puti Loha - Tin & Lead

Similar such variations can be seen in other works on Rasa Shastra.

Another entity under which various minerals are classified is Upa-dhatu. In the later
period of development of Rasa Shastra, it was revealed to then research workers that
most of the minerals which are used to prepare medicines are in fact the by- products
of some of the known metals and being such, their properties are similar. Such sub-
stances were called Upa-dhatu.

As the knowledge expanded with the passage of the time, newer and newer
substances were included in this group. The term upa-dhatu has not been defined in
any of the works but only the names of the upa-dhatu group of drugs are given by dif-
ferent authors and the names change from book to book.

i) Ayurveda Prakasa (7) - Tapyam, Vimalam, Tuttham, Kamsyam,

Pittalam, Sinduram & Sila NIryasa
 ii) Bhava Prakasha (7) - Swarna Makshikam, Tara Makshikam,
Ritka, Tuttham, Kamsyam, Sinduram,
Shilajith
iii) Rasa Chandanshu (7) - Swarna Makshikam, Tara Makshikam,
Tuttham, Kankushtam, Jasada,
Sinduram, Loha Kittam

The concept of upa-dhatu, the changes and additional knowledge of the

original metals must definitely be due to the knowledge of chemistry which was
quite advanced during those times. This concept must have been developed so
as to facilitate use of substitutes when original metals are not available to prepare
medicines.

Man is known to know about precious stones from thousands of years.

Throughout the ages Gem-stones have been a symbol of Wealth, Power & Su-
premacy. Basically, they were used for decorative and ornamental purposes.
From Crown to richly decorated robes, ornaments vessels and even weapons
have traditionally been adorned with jewels.

The mysterious appeal, the exquisite colours and the play of light within
them would alone have made them precious to many. Their rarity, hardness and
durability have made them doubly valuable. There are over 3, 000 different min-
erals but only about 50 of them are commonly used as Gem-stones.

In later periods it was postulated that various planets in the sky do have ei-
ther good or bad effects on human fate and precious stones can be used either
to avoid bad effects or enhance good effects. Depending upon the preciousness,
these precious stones are classified as Ratna, Upa-Ratna & Kshdra Ratna (Precious,
Semi-precious & Non-precious).

CLASSIFICATION OF RATNA:

a) Sreshta Pancha Ratna - Padmaraga, Indranila, Marakata, Pushyaraga,

Vajra
b) Samanya Pansha Ratna - Nila, Vajra, Padmaraga, Mauktika, Vidruma
c) Ashta Mani - Vaikranta, Suryakanta, Vajra, Rajavarta,
Mauktika, Sarpamani, Chandrakanta, Marakata
d) Nava Ratna - Manikya, Mukta, Vidruma, Marakata,
Pushyaraga, Vajra, Nila, Gomedika & Vaidurya

The substances of lesser market value, durability, hardness and appeal are placed
under Upa-ratna group and they are - Vaikranta, Suryakanta, Chandrakanta, Raja-
varta, Pherojaka, Sphatika Mani. Certain other texts have included Vyomasma, Palan-
ka, Rudhira, Puttika, Sugandhika, Trinakanta, sange Yasab, Akika etc in this group of
upa-ratna.

Yet another class of substances is the Sudha varga and Sikata Varga. This is a to-
tally new concept and is completely based on the knowledge of Chemistry. There
are many oceanic products like corals, Conch-shells, Oyster-shells, Cowries, Sepia,
Back of tortoise and many others. Most of these products are produced by the oce-
anic animals as their protective covers and are chemically various salts of Calcium like
Carbonates, Phosphates etc. All these substances and certain other substances like
horns of Deer; Egg-shells etc are placed in this group of Sudh-varga. Here the word
sudha means Calcium.

Some minerals like Kousheya (Asbestos) and certain other similar substances
which does not contain calcium but contain other minerals like Silica are grouped
under Sikata Varga. This classification comes into existence quite late in the texts of
Rasa Shastra.

Substances of high toxicity are placed under Visha-varga and substances of less-
er toxicity under Upa-visha varga. The substances grouped under this category are
known to exert harmful effect on both body and mind and sometimes leading even
to death. The number of the substances in visha-varga varies from 5 – 18
according to different texts.
 In addition to the above groups, Rasa texts gives description of certain other sub-
stances which helps and play an important role in purification and other processes of
Metals and Minerals. These substances were placed basing on similarities into Lavana
varga, Kshara varga and Amla varga, Dravaka gana, Mitra Panchaka etc.

The mineral and metallic substances used in Ayurvedic drugs are classified in dif-
ferent ways basing on their morphological, chemical characteristics and more im-
portantly their usefulness in mercurial operations and processing.

CONCLUSION:

The classification of Rasadravya does not have a common distinguishing feature.

No concurrence can be seen in the criteria adopted for classification and as a result
there is ambiguity in classification and also confusion regarding the drugs and sub-
stances placed in different groups. There is a variation in pattern of classification as well
as inclusion of a particular mineral or metal in a particular class.

The concepts of classification have changed from time to time depending upon
the availability, utility and properties of the substances and the nomenclature is based
upon the beliefs and experiences prevalent in those respective periods.

The period in which they were classified is very vast and the geographical area
over which it has occurred is also quite large. As regards to name and number of the
drugs in each group, there seems to have existed controversy. But the nomenclature
has remained the same in most of the cases. Classification of Rasa dravya on scientific
lines could be seen from 6th century onwards and the classification mentioned in Rasa
Ratna Samucchaya is widely accepted and followed in the modern era as scientific.

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