Rasa-Dhatu-Kosha (Metallic and Mineral Drugs in Ayurveda)

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Dr. S.R. Sudarshan (b-1961) is a graduate in Ayurveda from the Government College of Indian Medicine, Bangalore. While practising as an Ayurvedic Physician he also obtained a diploma in Homoeopathy from the British Institute of Homoeopathy. He is how practising in both systems of medicine. He is also deeply involved in academic Ayurveda, especially in its clinical aspects.

He has collaborated in the preparation of the first three Volumes of the Encyclopedia of Indian Medicine (Published by Popular Prakashan, Bombay for Dr. Parameshvara Charitable Trust, in 1985) and has authored the remaining four volumes of the series (under publication). He has revised and enlarged the well known Indian Materia Medica of K.M. Nadkarni for the forthcoming and fifth edition (Popular Prakashan, Bombay). He has also written two books, one on Asthma and the other on Diabetes for the Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore.

He is the co-author of the two Volumes on Oshadhi Kosha (Kalpatharu Research Academy, Vol.1 1993, and Vol.11 under Publication) and of Ahara-tattva. He has also written a book on Homeopathic Treatment of Fevers published by B-Jain Publications, New Delhi.

He practises at 305, 6th Cross, I Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore-560 011.

The Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore is an Institution running with the benign blessings of his Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji under the auspicious of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Established in 1981, Kalpatharu Research Academy has strided across the horizon of Indological Research and Publications with giant steps, and today stands as an Institution known for its unique quality of Research work.

Kalpatharu Research Academy is dedicated to the cause of preservation of the ancient heritage of India; it has encouraged Research in the fields of Agama, Veda, Tantra, Jyoutisha, Mantra-Sastra, Vastu, Yoga, Silpa, Ayurveda etc.

Among its prestigious publications (numbering more than seventy till now), are Six Vol’s. of Pratima-Kosha, Twelve Vol’s of Agama-Kosha, Three Vol’s. of the Art and Architecture of Indian Temples, and several Koshas like Ganesha-Kosha, Lalita-Kosha and Navagraha-Kosha, Oshadhi-Kosha, Salagrama-Kosha etc.

The Academy has plans of undertaking intensive Research in the field of Veda and Vedanga, and intends publishing “Bharatiya-Samskriti-Sarvasva-Kosha” an Encyclopaedic work in several volumes dealing with all aspects of Indian Tradition and Culture. It seeks to promote Education, Culture, Science, Art, and learning in all its branches. The approach will be broad- based and multi-disciplinary.

An extensive, comprehensive and specialist reference library has been built up to assist the Research Workers in the Indological disciplines. A valuable collection of Palm-Leaf manuscripts relating to Veda, Vedanta, Vedanga and allied subjects has already been made; the collection work is continuing.

Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham has been running a Guru-Ku/a type of Institution on traditional lines to impart Vedic Education at several places. Some of these Institutions are over 100 years old. It is the intention of Kalpatharu Research Academy to take an active part in continuing this age-old tradition and act as the Research & Publication wing for these Institutions.

Our ambition is to develop as a National Centre for higher learning in Veda, Vedanga and Shastras and facilitate the propagation of unique Sanskrit and Vedic Texts in the National and International arena.

This Publication is the Seventieth of its achievement in this field.

The Kalpatharu Research Academy, Bangalore, has established itself as regular and well-known learning center of Indology. It has brought out several monumental woks on temple culture, iconography, architecture, sculpture, religion and philosophy, under the project of ‘Bharatiya-Samskriti-Samskriti-Sarvasva-Kosha’. The Academy plans to bring out authentic volumes on all aspects of Indian tradition and culture. Several publications are already on the the anvil.

The present publication is the first of the many volumes planned by the Academy on the traditional Indian system of medicine. Rasa Dhatu-Kosha is a brief encyclopaedia on the metals and minerals used in Ayurveda. The Academy is grateful to Dr. S.R. Sudarshan, an Ayurvedic Physician of Bangalore, for having prepared this excellent volume for the Academy. The Academy hopes to bring out more volumes on Ayurveda in near future.

The Academy acknowledges with gratitude the blessings received from the Jagdguru of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham and the Chief Patron of the Academy, Sri Sri Sri Rharati-Tirtha-Swamiji, and the interest and support shown in our research work by the Administrator of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, who is also the Chairman of the Academy.

Grateful thanks are also due to the officers of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India and to the Ministry of Education, Govt. of Karnataka and to the Omkar Printers for producing this book expeditiously and efficiently.

According to Ayurveda, there are supposed to be three methods of treatment, the divine or superior method, the human or moderate method, and the demonic or inferior type. The best kind of treatment employs metals and minerals because these are easy to administer, are given in minute dosage, and are extremely effective. The moderate method is using herbs in the forms of decoction, powder, lehyas, and so on. The least desirable treatment is by surgery, which causes suffering, and is to be used as the last resort.

This book is an attempt to present in a succint manner, information pertaining to the metals and minerals in Ayurveda. The main text which has been referred to is a 12th century text, The Rasa-Ratna Samucchaya.

It was felt that it would add to the utility of the book if the metallurgic aspects were considered in the light of modern metallurgy. I could think of no better person to do this other than Sri Nagesh Rao, who was head of Department of Metallurgy in H.M.T., visiting Professor of Post-Graduate Department of Metallurgy, Bangalore University and National Awardee for import substitution. He has very kindly waded through the entire text and has given his comments on almost every aspect. I am grateful to him for his help and for his words of encouragement.

I also thank Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji for enabling me to write this book and for offering his support to complete this project. I also thank Sri P.S. Venkatesh Babu and Sri B. Nagendra of Omkar Offset Printers for producing the book in an excellent manner.

**Contents and Sample Pages**