Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Indian Agriculture before Maharshi Parashara
Dr. Dillip Kumar Kar
The first basic need of the human being is food. The importance of food from plants and animals had been realized by the farmers. The most important crops grown at early stage are : Rice, Wheat, Corn, Sugarcane and Sugar beets, Dairy products like milk, cheese, poultry products such as chicken, eggs, Olives etc. Non food crops such as rubber, fiber plants, tobacco, and cotton were gradually introduced. The Vedic literature bears ample testimony to the Agricultural basis of the life of the people of those times. Pusan was a pastoral deity. He was supposed to be the protector of the Animals and to lead them to the proper place when they strayed away. The Îgveda testifies to the people’s knowledge of some system of irrigation. The rainfall is an important source of water, particularly for cultivation. Before tilling the land the knowledge of rainfall is quite necessary. The Îgveda (4.33.07) clearly highlights the importance of irrigation and changes of Agricultural productivity whereas the Atharvaveda refers to different sources of water.
The Sources of Water for Cultivation
In Îgveda the following rivers are praised for their service of beings by offering their milk like water as a mother cries for her son.
+Í—Ì t¥ÌÌ Í²ÌŒÌÌâ ̨ͨÌÙ͘ÌzÉ ˜ÌÌtÌœúÌâ ¥Ì̬ÌÌ +ÌÊÑtÌ Ì™Ì²Ìâ¥Ì ŒÌâÌ¥Ì: *
œúÌ`Ìâ¥Ì ™ÌÙŒ¥ÌÌ Ì™ÌÍ²Ì t¥Ì͘ÌtÌÆ Í²ÌZÌÌæ ™ÌzùÌ ²Ì̘ÌOÌëÉ Ìë¥ÌtÌÌ͘ÌÌKÌÍ²Ì **
<˜ÌÉ ˜Ìâ OÌWâó ™Ì˜ÌÙÌ⠲̜ú²¥ÌÍtÌ ¨ÌÙtÌÙ͇ù ²tÌÌâ˜ÌÉ ²ÌZÌtÌÌ Ìûs™ÌÌ *
+ͲÌFíòšÌ ˜ÌûˆßùŒÌâ Í¥Ìt̲tÌ™ÌÌ%%`Ì×FòÕ™Ìâ ¨ÌßsÌÙ»Ì ²ÌÙÌÌâ˜Ì™ÌÌ ** (R.V. - 10.75.4,5)
1. Gañgá 2. Yamuná
3. Sarasvatè 4. Ùutudrè
5. Paruúïè 6. Marudvødhá
7. Asiknè 8. Vitastá
9. Arjikèyá 10. Ùuúomá
+Ì ™ÌtÌÆ ²ÌÌFÉò ™Ì¨Ì²ÌÌâ ¥Į̥̀ÌÌÌÌ: ²Ìœú²¥ÌtÌÕ ²ÌÌyÌÕ Í²ÌŒÌÙ˜ÌÌtÌÌ *
™ÌÌ: ²Ì٥̙ÌtÌ ²ÌÙzÙùQÌÌ: ²ÌÙŒÌÌœúÌ +ÍÌ ²¥ÌâÌ Ì™Ì²ÌÌ ÌÕ™ÌÌÌÌ: **
May the seventh stream Sarasvatè, the mother of the Sindhu and those rivers that flow Copious and fertilizing, bestowing abundance of food and nourishing the people by their waters, come at once together. (Rgveda - 7.36.6)
tÌVe²tÌÙœúȬ̘ÙùtÌÉ ÌÙû ¥ÌÌœÉú ÌÙût˜ÌÌÌ *
t¥Ì®õÌ ÌÌâ¨ÌÌ™Ì Í¥Ì ™ÌtÌÙ œúÌ™Ìâ ÌÌ—ÌÌ ÌÌâ +²˜Ì™ÌÙ: ** (R.V - 1.142.10)
Rain Water also one of the main source of Vedic period. The following Øca invokes thus; "Send for our nourishment and prosperity the quick falling wonderful abundant water in the center of the clouds, effecting of itself much good".
¨ÌÉ ÌÌâ +ÌÌÌâ ŒÌÌ™ÌÌ: ¨Ì˜ÌÙ ²Ìt¥ÌÌÜ™ÌÌ: * ¨ÌÉ ÌÌâ LÌÍÌÍw̘ÌÌ +ÌÌ: ¨Ì˜ÌÙ ™ÌÌ: FÙò˜—Ì +Ì—ÌßtÌÌ: ̥ͨÌÌ Ì: ²ÌtÌÙ ¥ÌÌÏÌFòÕ: **
áaÆ No Ëpo Dhanany¡Å áamu Santvan£py¡Å . áaÆ No Khanitrim¡ ËpaÅ áamu Y¡Å Kumbha Ëbh¤t¡Å áiv¡ NaÅ Santu V¡rÀik¢Å .. Atharvaveda (1.6.4).
i. ŒÌÌ™ÌÌ +ÌÌÌâ (Dhanany¡ Ëpo) - Water in the barren land,
ii. +ÌÜ™ÌÌ (An£py¡) - That in the Ponds,
iii. LÌÍÌÍw̘ÌÌ (Khanitrim¡) - That produced by digging well,
iv. +Ì—ÌßtÌÌ (Ëbh¤t¡) - That brought in a Pitcher,
v. ¥ÌÌÏÌFòÕ: (V¡rÀik¢) - The rain water,
Manure
+É ÊxÉ©ÉÖSÉ& ¶ÉEÞònäùEòÉä +{ÉɦɮúiÉ * Ë NimrucaÅ áak¤deko Ap¡bharat . (Îgveda 1.161.10)
The above verson of the Îgveda mentions that the Îbhus were noted as separating cow-dung, evidently as source of manure used for fertilizing the lands.
Insecticides/Pesticides
The following verses of Atharvaveda refer to +VɶÉÞRÂóMÉÒ (Aja¿¤´g¢), EòEÇò¶ÉÞRÂóMÉÒ (Karka¿¤´g¢), EòEÇò]õ¶ÉÞRÂóMÉÒ (Karka¶a¿¤´g¢), ¨ÉävÉɶÉÞRÂóMÉÒ (Medh¡¿¤´g¢), and +®úÉ]õEòÒ (Ar¡¶ak¢) as pesticides. The powder of any one of these herbs is smeared on the root or is mixed with water and poured at the root of the plant; the plant grows well because the insects and pests are destroyed. Neem cake, Tulsi are referred as good pesticides and insecticides and are used as such.
<xpùºªÉ ªÉÉ ¨É½þÒ où¹ÉiÉ ÊGò¨Éä̴ɷɺªÉ iɽÇþÊhÉ *
iɪÉÉ Ê{ÉxÉι¨É ºÉÆ ÊGò¨ÉÒxÉ où¹ÉnùÉ Jɱ´ÉÉÄ <´É **
où¹]õ¨Éoù¹]õ¨ÉiÉÞ½þ¨ÉlÉÉä EÖò°ü¯û¨ÉiÉÞ½þ¨É *
+±MÉhbÚ÷xiºÉ´ÉÉxÉ Uô±ÉÖxÉÉxÉ ÊGò¨ÉÒxÉ ´ÉSɺÉÉ Vɨ¦ÉªÉɨÉ漃 **
ªÉä ÊGò¨ÉªÉ& {É´ÉÇiÉä¹ÉÖ ´ÉxÉä¹´ÉÉä¹ÉvÉÒ¹ÉÖ {ɶÉÖ¹´É{º´ÉxiÉ& *
ªÉä +º¨ÉÉEÆò iÉx´É¨ÉÉÊ´ÉʴɶÉÖ& ºÉ´ÉÈ iÉrùÎx¨É VÉÊxÉ¨É ÊGò¨ÉÒhÉɨÉ **
Indrasya Y¡ Mah¢ D¤Àat Krimervi¿vasya Tarha¸i .
Tay¡ PinaÀmi SaÆ Krim¢n D¤Àad¡ Khalv¡Ä Iva ..
D¤À¶amad¤À¶amat¤hamatho Kur£rumat¤ham .
Alga¸·£ntsav¡n Chalun¡n Krim¢n Vacas¡ Jambhay¡masi ..
Ye KrimayaÅ ParvateÀu VaneÀvoÀadh¢Àu Pa¿uÀvapsvantaÅ .
Ye Asm¡kaÆ Tanvam¡vivi¿uÅ SarvaÆ Taddhanmi Janima Krim¢¸¡m .. (A.V. – 2.31.1,2,5)
Ê´É·É°ü{ÉÆ SÉiÉÖ®úIÉÆ ÊGò謃 ºÉÉ®úRÂóMɨÉVÉÖÇxɨÉ *
¶ÉÞhÉɨªÉºªÉ {ÉÞι]õ®úÊ{É ´ÉÞSUôÉ欃 ªÉÎSUô®ú& **
+ÊjÉ´ÉiÉ ´É& ÊGò¨ÉªÉÉä ½þÎx¨É Eòh´É´ÉVVɨÉnùÎMxÉ´ÉiÉ *
+MɺiªÉºªÉ ¥ÉÀhÉÉ ºÉÆ Ê{Éxɹ¨ªÉ½Æþ ÊGò¨ÉÒxÉ **
Vi¿var£paÆ CaturakÀaÆ KrimiÆ S¡ra´gamarjunam .
ᤸ¡myasya P¤À¶irapi V¤cch¡mi YacchiraÅ ..
Atrivat VaÅ Krimayo Hanmi Ka¸vavajjamadagnivat .
Agastyasya Brahma¸¡ SaÆ PinaÀmyahaÆ Krim¢n .. (A.V. – 2.32.2.3)
BªÉ¦ÉMÉzÉÉä¹ÉvÉÒxÉÉÆ ´ÉÒ¯ûvÉÉÆ ´ÉÒªÉÉÇ´ÉiÉÒ *
+VɶÉÞRÂóMªÉ®úÉ]õEòÒ iÉÒIhɶÉÞRÂóMÉÒ ´ªÉÞ¹ÉiÉÖ **
EyabhagannoÀadh¢n¡Æ V¢rudh¡Æ V¢ry¡vat¢ .
Aja¿¤´gyar¡¶ak¢ T¢kÀ¸a¿¤´g¢ Vy¤Àatu .. (A.V. – 4.37.6)
i´ÉªÉÉ ´ÉªÉ¨É{ºÉ®úºÉÉä MÉxvÉ´ÉÉȶSÉÉiɪÉɨɽäþ *
+VɶÉÞRÂóªÉVÉ ®úIÉ& ºÉ´ÉÉÇxÉ MÉxvÉäxÉ xÉÉ¶ÉªÉ **
Tvay¡ Vayamapsaraso Gandharv¡Ä¿c¡tay¡mahe .
Aja¿¤´yaja RakÀaÅ Sarv¡n Gandhena N¡¿aya .. (A.V. – 4.37.2)
DevJeev$³eb Meer<e&C³e&ceLees Hee<ìx³eb ef$eÀceerved ~
DeJemkeÀJeb J³eOJejb ef$eÀceerved Je®emee pecYe³eeceefme ~~ (A.V. - 2.31.4)
All the diseases causing organisms which exist in the intestines, head and ribs, and others which are created by the bad habits are removed by me using the medicine Vaca.
³es ef$eÀce³eë HeJe&les<eg Jeves<Je<eOeer<eg HeMeg<JeHmJevleë ~
³es DemceekebÀ levJeceeefJeefJeMegë meJe¥ le×eqvce peefvece ef$eÀceerCeeced ~~ (A.V. - 2.31.5)
All the diseases causing organisms which are found in hills, forest, plants, animals and water etc. and those who have entered our bodies are totally killed by me at birth.
Deeql$eJeod Jeë ef$eÀce³ees neqvce keÀCJeJeppeceoeqiveJeled ~
Deieml³em³e ye´ïeCee meb efHeve<c³enb ef$eÀceerved ~~ (A.V. - 2.32.3)
The knowledge and method given by Maharúi Atri. Jamadagni and Agastya are used to kill all disease causing organisms.
Crop Rotation
Crop Rotation was one of the main and important methods to improve the fertility of the land. The Taittiriya Samhita is the first treatise that mentions about the crop rotation system. The farmers had introduced a sequence of dual crop rotation system. Êuù& ºÉÆ´ÉiºÉ®úºªÉ ºÉºªÉÆ {ÉSªÉiÉä * - DviÅ SaÆvatsarasya SasyaÆ Pacyat® . (T.S. – 5.1.7.3) It is significant to state that even now in certain states of our country many crops are simultaneously sown. Sowing was generally done during the rainy season that is in the month of ár¡va¸a.
As per Taittiriya Samhita Barley should be sown in summer, herbal plants in rainy season, green fodder in Autumn and Urad and Til in winter season.
ªÉ´É OÉÒ¹¨ÉɪÉÉä¹ÉvÉÒ´ÉǹÉÉǦªÉÉä ¥ÉÒ½þÒ\¶É®únäù ¨ÉɹÉÊiɱÉÉè ½äþ¨ÉxiÉʶÉʶɮúɦªÉɨÉ *
Yava Gr¢Àm¡yoÀadh¢rvarÀ¡bhyo Br¢h¢µ¿arade M¡Àatilau Hemanta¿i¿ir¡bhy¡m . (T.S. – 7.2.10.2)
The Agnipur¡¸a describes the following six steps in Agricultural operations.
1. GoÀ¶hay¡tr¡ - Construction of sheds for farm Animals, arranging of fodder and other suitable food for them, Domestication of farm animals and care.
2. K¤Àikarm¡cara¸a – Digging, Leveling, preparing grounds for sowing of seeds, all other activities conne3cted with irrigation and drainage of land including proper manuring.
3. B¢j¡v¡pa – It involves selection of best seeds matching with the soil conditions, weather conditions, Preservation and pre-treatment of seeds before sowing, including sowing activities.
4. Dh¡ny¡cceda – Proper sprouting of seeds, growth of plants in the initial stages, care of crops with adequate water, sunlight and also preservation from attacks by insects, worms etc.
5. Dh¡nyaprave¿a – Proper formation of Dh¡nya (agro foods) in the sprouting of plants, and its due care.
6. Dh¡nyaniÀkrama¸a – Cutting and removal of Dh¡nya (agro foods) after its complete harvest. This step includes threshing, reaping and binding of crops as applicable transportation to godowns and further care.
A comparison with the Recent time Agriculture
Sr. No. | Ancient Times | Recent Times |
1 | Small and individual farm lands. | Large, mechanized co-operatives were developed, farmland with outputs of crops an d dairy products of very large volumes are being developed. |
2 | The crops were self-fertilizing. | Hybrid variety of crops for larger yield. |
3 | Seeds were automatically available to the farmers in the field. | Seeds are to be purchased from as the hybrid crops do not give seeds. |
4 | Rotation of crops was followed. | Rotation of crops was followed. |
5. | The vegetation grown was dependent on the type of soil. | More cash crops are grown. |
6 | Natural manures were used. | Chemical fertilizers are used as manures. These in turn destroy the soil. |
7 | Pre sowing treatment was followed. | Pre sowing treatment was followed. |
8 | Preservation for further use of seeds and stems was follows. | Preservation for further use of seeds and stems was follows. |
9 | Seeds were freely available. | Seeds are to be purchased. Quality seeds, if not available to farmers, may result in huge losses to them. |
10 | Farm animals were protected. Dairy products developed. | Farm animals are being killed for meeting the culinary requirements of non vegetarian population. This has resulted in sharp reduction of dairy products and other items like wool, leather, rubber etc. the cost of which have gone up. |
11 | Farmers were independent. | Farmers are dependent upon the support price from the Government. |
Although the Vedic Cultivation was essentially individualistic but at certain places we find references of state farms also. Generally it was the duty of the rulers to look the Agriculture of the country and to provide the peasants all kinds of facilities. The Mahabharata describes that the king should give loans in the form of cash, seeds and implements etc. to the farmers. It appears that during the last three or four thousand years there has not been much basic change has occurred in the field of Agriculture. After the Vedic Period, MaharÀi Par¡¿ara systematized the things. In his K¤Àipar¡¿ara he narrated the things in proper manner. The contents of K¤Àipar¡¿ara is as follows. It eulogizes agriculture as the source of strength and peace. Planetary influence on Agriculture and rainfall has been described. Clouds are stated to be of four kinds, Viz. Ëvarta, SaÆvarta, PuÀkara and Dro¸a. The work also contains an interesting method of forecasting the time and character of rainfall throughout the following year by observing the course of wind in the month of PauÀa. The omens of immediate rain and for the commencement of the harvest have also mentioned. The author holds that agriculture without supervision is fruitless. The owner must himself supervise the operation. No proxy in this matter is allowed. Rules are also made for the proper maintenance of the bulls which are regarded as indispensable for the purpose. Among the other rules, the important are to keep the cow-shed clean and its fumigation. The animals should be allowed to move about freely in the morning and evening. Keeping of washings of fish, carding of cotton, tying of goats are some practices which are strictly prohibited inside a cow-shed. The post-harvest operations are Mardana or the separation method of grains from its stalks, M¡pana or the weighing and Sth¡pana or storing the grains.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Rasashala, the Ancient Indian Pharmacy: A study on its construction
Dr. Dillip Kumar Kar
Ayurveda is an accepted system of treating diseases, in human as well as non-humans, prevalent in theory and practice for more than three millennia. From easily available natural resources such as minerals, flora and fauna the medicines were prepared to cure the disorders in man, animals and even trees. All the processes developed for extracting metals like gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc etc. from their ores, making alloys of these metals with specific properties, using finely powdered and treated metals and metallic preparations in medicine etc. are essentially chemical processes. Foundation of such practices can be traced back to the pre-historic period as an evidence of finding many metallic articles like axes, daggers, arrow-heads utensils etc. mainly made of copper, bronze, gold, silver and lead. The practical arts of pottery making and metallurgical practices like forging, casting smelting, were known to the people of that period.
In the Vedic period we can see positive progress in the field of metallurgical and chemical practices. The references of many metals can be seen in all the four Vedas. The Atharvaveda seems to be an important source of such knowledge, in which, many chemical practices are referred for both practical arts and medicinal purposes. Then this practice much developed in the later-vedic period which reflected in the works like Samhitas, Aranyakas, Brahmanas and Upaniads. The period between 600 BC to 800 AD can be identified as the golden period as Ayurveda flourished in the first half of this period and many great works like carakasamhita and sushrutasamhita were produced. In the later half, a firm foundation for rasshastra was laid. Gradually the texts like atrisamhita of maharsi atri; dhatusarvasvam of ashvinikumarau; rasahrdayatantra (one of the oldest texts on rasshastra which is written in early 8th Century AD) of govindabhagavatp¡da (who was said to be the preceptor of adishankaracharya); nagarjunatantra (early 8th Century AD), rasaratnakara, rasendramangala, rudrayamalatantra, arogyamanjari etc. of nagarjuna (who is famed as the father of rasshastra); raÀopanisad (1,000 AD) of somanatha; rasendrachudamani (1,200 AD) of somadeva; rasaprakashasudhakara (1,400 AD) of ya¿odhara; rasarantasamuccaya (1,400 AD) of vagbhatta; rasakaumudi (1,500 AD) of jnanacandra, rasasanketakalika (1,600 AD) of chamunda kayastha; rasakamadhenu (1,700 AD) of shri chudamani; rasachandamshu (1,700 AD) of dattarama vaidya and the other texts like loharnavam, rasajalanidhi, rasendrapurana, rasarnava, rasarnavakalpa, rasamitra etc. that deal with different chemical processes came to existence. It was adopted as a traditional practice for fulfillment of livelihood as well as a social service in ancient times but due to the revolutionary changes in the scientific field it forced to them to give up such traditional practices and to search some other new ways of earning.
Ayurveda forms a part of Atharvaveda and the Vedic section dealing with the science of medicine is largely lost. However, there are treatises (samhitas), written based on the traditional knowledge system that reflected in the Vedas and the school of Sankhya
Location of the rasashala
The rasaratnasamuccaya describes that the place, which is devoid of all type of fears and obstacles, dwelling of lord shiva and goddess parvati, where all the medicinal herbs are easily available, which is beneficial, beautiful to look at, consists of a well and a pond is suitable for constructing the pharmacy (rasashala). It should also be built surrounded by a beautiful garden with four beautiful gates toward the four directions along with windows, at the northern/north-eastern/eastern part of the site and should be well equipped by all kinds of equipments, apparatuses and chemicals[1]. The rasayanasara only describes the view with details[2].
Arrangement of the rasashala
The treatises like rasaratnasamuccaya, rasayanasara and rasendrapurana etc. describe much on the arrangement of a rasashala. As per rasaratnasamuccaya the figure of rasabhairava should be placed at the eastern (purva) side, the instruments relating to fire-work and the operations related to heating etc. at the south-astern (agneya) part, grinding works (with the help of mortar and pestle of various materials) at the southern (yamya) part, the process using sharp instruments at the south-western (nairrtya) part, the work relating cleaning, washing etc. at the western (varuna) region, the work of drying at the north-western (vayu) corner, the work related to cutting, beating, hitting etc. at the northern (uttara) region and the north-eastern (isha) part of the work-shop should be left for the storage of prepared medicines as well as raw minerals, herbs as well as herbal products and chemicals[3].
On the establishment of god rasabhairava the rasaratnasamuccaya says that it should be established at the eastern part (most probably at the entry point and back to which the entire pharmacy is situated) whereas the rasayanasara instructs it to establish at the centre of the pharmacy (most probably facing towards the east)[4]. In the case as instructed by rasaratnasamuccaya the first vision of a worker falls on the god at the get before entering into the pharmacy whereas in the case of rasayanasara the workers meets to the god just after entering into the pharmacy. However, in the both cases it is observed that the figure of the god rasabhairava is instructed to be established in such a place to which the vision of a worker will go automatically so that he can offer his prayer to the god to get blessings for better output before he starts his chemical operations inside the pharmacy.
In Indian mythology the rain god Indra is said to be the lord of the eastern direction (dikpala) as a result the eastern part of this sacred land yields good crop. The establishment of the god rasabhairava at the eastern part of the pharmacy (rasashala) is as a means of more productivity. Vahni, the fire god is the lord (dikpala) of south-eastern corner (agneyakona), which shows that the power of the fire god in this region is more effective. Similarly Yama is the lord (dikpala) of south direction (daksinadik). Here yama is the god of death and yamaloka (the land of yama) is the place where the jivatma gets punishment after his death. Therefore the work relating to rubbing (gharsanam) grinding (pesanam) by stones etc. is normal in this land and as a result it is believed that such stone related works will be more effective in this south direction. In the same way the lord (adhipati) of south-western corner (nairrtyakona) is nairrta, a demon. It is observed in all puranas that the demons are always inclined towards war and they try to have new and more powerful weapons, possibly, due to the reason to please him and get his better blessings in the form of a better output, this south-western direction is selected for the works relating to weapons i.e. cutting, holing, forging, quenching etc. The god of waters, varuna is the lord (adhipati) of western direction (pascimadik). The presence of varuna in the west shows the sufficiency of water in this direction and therefore it has been chosen to do the works related to water such as washing, cleaning etc. in this direction. Vayu is the lord (adhipati) of north-western direction vayavyakona) that shows the presence of vayu in this corner who helps to dry and in the winnowing work. The lord of north direction (uttaradik) is kubera. Bila[5] is one of the names of kubera which is related to the actions like cutting, holing, making into many pieces etc. and therefore most probably, to get blessings from him in the form of better output the works related to cutting, holing, making many pieces etc. (probably to the raw drugs) is instructed to do in the north region of the pharmacy (rasashala). isha is said as the god of north-eastern corner (aishanyakona). isha is mentioned as a universal god (vaishvadeva) who is very much fond of acquiring things. Possibly to please him, this direction is left for the storage of all type of raw herbs, chemicals and minerals as well as the prepared medicines.
Figure – 1
(Arrangement of rasashala per rasaratnasamuccaya)
On the scientific point of view if the above picture will be analyzed, all process those are mentioned to perform inside a pharmacy (rasashala) shall be found inter-linked in an anti-clockwise order. For example just after entering (entry from the east direction i.e. p£rva) into the room the right side (north-east - aishanya) region is specified for the storage of raw drugs and prepared medicines. The storekeeper supplies raw drugs from the store for preliminary processing i.e. for cutting and holing etc. (make into pieces) to the north (uttara) region, then the cutter (person who cuts) sends the materials to the north-west (vayavya) region after primary processing for drying and winnowing. Then for washing by water/cleaning it goes to the west (varuna/pascima) region then to make those more smaller by sharp weapons to south-west (nairrtya) region and after that he sends those to the south (yamya/daksia) direction to grind for making them fine powders or to mix all the herbs, minerals and chemicals proportionately. After this processing the chemist of the south-east (agneya) region receives them from the worker of the south (yamya/daksina) direction and finally prepares different medicines by using different stoves/furnaces. As soon as the preparation completed these are sent away to serve the patients through the east gate or to store in the storage at the north-east corner.
The north-western corner (vayavyakona) is situated just to the opposite of south-eastern corner (agneyakona) and air always blows from north-western (vayavyakona) towards the south-eastern (agneyakona) corner, as a result the inner part of the pharmacy (rasashala) always gets free from heat and smoke as well as the furnaces also burn with high flames which leads the workers to work more effectively without any disturbance. Similarly the air also helps the workers for drying and winnowing different things more effectively at the north-western (vayavyakona) corner.
(Arrangement of rasashala as per rasayanasara)
Appointment different employees in the rasashala and their required qualifications
For the proper functioning of this work-shop, it is instructed in all most all Ayurvedic texts to appoint different employees like Chemists, Physicians, Drug-collectors and Attendants etc. in it.
The persons who are truthful, free from temptations, devotees of devas and brahmanas, self-controlled and used to live upon proper diet and regimen, are to be engaged for performing chemical operations. Such herbalists who are not deceitful and are well-versed in the knowledge of the drugs and plants in different languages of many countries should be employed[6].
The physician who is to be appointed in the said pharmacy, should have studied the rasashastra well, should have proper access to meteria-medica (nighantushastra) and also he should be well versed in the languages of all the (near by) countries4. Hence, he should be pious, truthful, scholarly, devotee of lord shiva and visnu, kind-hearted and should have lotus sign on his palm[7].
The physician who is having in his palm, one or more signs such as flag, sacred vessel, lotus, fish and bow; or who is having lines up to base of the ring finger, is called amrta-hasta-purusa[8]. In Ayurveda such physicians are considered as the best ones.
Figure – 3
(Symbols of a good physician)
That physician, who has no country of his own, who is cruel and greedy in nature, without having education from a teacher and who has black coloured lines on the palm, is called dagdha-hasta-purusa[9]. In Ayurveda the appointment of such physicians in a pharmacy is strictly restricted.
The person, who has the knowledge of the advices (written in our sacred texts or told by our forefathers) which are known as mantras (as the root mantr mean to upadesha or advice) by which he can control or break the natural disasters (bhuta-nigraha-mantrajnah, bhuta – the five great elements i.e. Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Space, nigraha – to control, to break etc., mantrajnah – who knows the advices), should be appointed as the collector of different drugs[10].
The person who is industrious, having good conduct and be neat and clean, strong and courageous, should be appointed as the attendant in the said workshop[11].
A person, who has the knowledge of different names of medicinal herbs, possesses good conduct, who is without fraud and who has the knowledge of many things and different languages, can be appointed for the collection of raw drugs[12].
For some specific type of chemical operations the chemist requires the organics such as bloods, fleshes, bones, marrows etc. of some specific animals or birds and for which he needs a person who will kill such animals for him whenever he requires. The work of killing animals for the benefit of this earth is called sacrifice (balikarma). A person, who is strong, truthful, having red eyes and body with black complexion, and who has the knowledge to make fear among the other creatures (bhutatrasana, bhuta – creatures, trasana – to generate fear), should be appointed for this sacrificial work (balikarma)[13].
A person, who is rich, has sacrificing mentality, possesses all types of instruments and who follows the advice of teachers and preceptors is good to appoint for dhatuveda (metallurgy or alchemy)[14].
List of required apparatuses
The pharmacy (rasashala) should be well equipped by different basic apparatuses[15]. As per rasaratnasamuccaya the basic apparatuses are as follows:
1. kosthi (stove/furnace) i. sattvapatana ii. surakosthi iii. patalakosthi/bh£mikosthi iv. calatkosthi(portable furnace/stove) v. angarakosthiö vi. garakosthi vii. tiryakpatanakosthi/musakosthi 2. jaladroni (water containers of different sizes) 3. bhastrika (two leather bellows attached with bamboo and metal pipes) 4. kunda (vessels made of gold, iron, copper, bronze, leather and stone) 5. kandani (small pounder) 6. pesani (stone grinder) 7. droni (big caldron) 8. taptakhalva and mardaka (a pair of metal mortar and pestle which can be heated on fire) 9. chalani (sieve) 10. katatrani (utensils made of stone or 26. casaka (drinking glass) 27. surpa (winnowing baskets made up bamboo) 28. ksudrashipra (small pearl shells) 29. ksurapra (sickles) | metal) 11. shalaka (a type of knife) 12. kundali (circular disks to keep the vessels on) 13. musa (crucible) 14. mrttika (soil) 15. tusa (paddy husk) 16. karpasa (cotton), 17. vanopala (cow dung cakes) 18. pistaka (flour) 19. trividham bhesajam (three types of drugs) i. dhatujam (mineral products) ii. jivajam (animal products) iii. mulamayam (herbal products) 20. shikhitra (charcoal) 21. govaram (dried cow dung powder) 22. sharkara (cane-sugar/sugar) 23. sitopala (candy sugar) 24. kaca-varata, and mrdvarata (bottles made of glass and mud) 25. kupika (small pot) 30. palika 31. karnika 32. shakacchedanashastraka (knives to cut the herbs) |
All these equipments, starting from the cleaning of the pharmacy up to the rasapaka (final process regarding mercurial operations), should be made available and stored in the pharmacy. These too are worshipped; chanting by shri-rasankusha-mantra[16] failing which the god bhairava may destroy the power of these equipments. However, the instruction to worship the equipments is nothing but to create a feeling on the sacredness of these equipments in the minds of the workers and as result they will take intensive care of those instruments so that no harm will come on them and the chemical operations will run very smoothly. Hence, the same text also instructs to chant aghoramantra[17] till the completion of each chemical operation for getting good and effective medicines which indicates towards the creation of attentiveness in the minds of the workers towards their own duty.
In order to extract the metallic portions (sattva) from their ores as well as to purify them, furnaces/stoves (kosthi-yantras)[18] of different sizes and shapes are required. Such furnaces/stoves are described here after.
Sattvapatanakosti
The rasendrapurana says abut three types of sattvapatana-kosthi-yantras. Those are as follows:
Type – I
This furnace is shaped like a bucket. It is slanted downwards by 8 angulas in each side (astasankhyangulam tiryak) and made of iron or mud; placed upon a smooth-surfaced ground; plastered all over with mud; and furnished with two circular air passages - the lower one being just as to fit the end of the tube of a bellow. Fill it with sufficient quantities of charcoal and blow the fire by means of a tube, made of bone of an animal fixed with a bellow. It is used especially for extracting essences of mica[19].
Figure – 4
(sattvapatanakosthi, Type - I)
Type - II
Figure – 5
(sattvapatanakosthi, Type - II)
Prepare a khalva-shaped oven, upon which another khalva (a boat-shaped mortar having an egg-shaped pit in its middle portion, which is specially used to grind drugs) made up iron is to be placed. The oven is to be filled with charcoal, set on fire, which is to be blown by means of a bellow, provided at one side of it. Mercurial cake, rubbed with ksaras, amlas etc. gets quickly smelted in it. In case, the mercurial cakes are heated in a khalva (upper one) made up kantayasa[20] they become very effective.
Type - III
It is a kosthi, of 16 a´gula high and 12 a´gulas in length and width, which is generally used for the purpose of extracting essences of different metals. Fill the furnace with the charcoal prepared from the wood of bamboo (vamsha), khadira, madhuka and badari. Then fire the charcoal and blow air in to it through the internal passage by a bellow[21]. The atrisamhita[22] and rasaratnasamuccaya[23] are also view the same about this furnace.
Figure – 6
(sattvapatanakosthi, Type - III)
The rasaratnasamuccaya mentions about some more furnaces. Those are as follows:
I. Angarakosthi
Construct an earthen cabin on the earth measuring one rajahasta (about 30 angulas) in height, 1/2 rajahasta (about 15 angulas) in width and 1/2 rajahastas in width (about 15 angulas). By leaving 1 vitasti (12 angulas) space from the bottom of one of its walls, an opening is made measuring 1/2 vitasti (6 angulas) in length and width. Necessary arrangements should be done to blow air in to the furnace through this passage by means of a bellow. In the roof of the construction make another passage measuring one pradesha (the distance between the tips of the little finger and thumb finger when the palm is expanded i.e. about 7.5") in length and width to upwards and close remaining open space by mud/bricks and scale it properly by mud plaster.
Figure – 7 (a´g¡rakoÀ¶h¢)
The burning charcoal is put into the furnace (kosthi) from the top opening and bellowed air with the help of two bellows. Then the mineral drugs which are made into the spherical balls (for sattvap¡tana), also put inside and bellowed intensively. Generally such 5 balls are placed at a time. This is called angarakosthi, which is useful in the sattvapatana of harder minerals[24].
II. patalakosthi/bhumikosthi
A round pit measuring one vitasti (12") deep and equally wide is made inside the earth. Another small pit 4 angula in length and 4 angula in width is dug inside the above bigger pit in the centre. A twisted pipe is set so that the one goes inside the smaller central pit and one outside the bigger pit. This end opens at the surface of the earth and can be connected to the centre. Then, a round earthen disk or wheel (cakra) with five holes is placed upon the central pit and one the outer pit is filled with coal. (After placing the sattvapatana materials) the coal is ignited and air is pumped with the help of bellows. It is called patalakosthi and used for sattvapatana of softer minerals. It is described by the scholar Nandi and is convenient for extracting the sattva by very less blowing (heating) [25].
Figure – 8 (patalakosthi/bhumikosthi)
III. garakosthi
A cylindrical construction is made measuring 12 anulas height and one pradesha in wide. Then from the bottom of this construction, attaching to the inner wall another cylindrical construction is made measuring 4 anulas in height and wide. The top of the inner construction will appear like a ring. On this ring a disk (cakra) having several holes, made of metal or mud is placed. In the bottom of the construction a gate is also made to blow air. Charcoal is filled in the upper pit upon the wheel and (after placing the crucible (musa) filled by powdered metals and chemical, covered by charcoals) fire is given and bellowed with the help of vankanala. This garakosthi is used for separating the metallic to eradicate the blemishes from the metals[26].
Figure – 9 (garakosthi)
IV. tiryakpstanakosthi
A slanted cylindrical furnace is constructed measuring 12 angulas in high with same length of the diameter at top and with the length of 4 angulas of diameter at the bottom. A passage is left at its bottom with which a bent pipe is to be connected to blow air into it. This is called tiryakpatanakosthi (or musakosthi) and it is used for the purification of soft metals[27].
Figure – 10 (tiryakpatanakosthi)
In the first part of this paper, attempt has been made to simplify the technicalities of constructing an ancient Indian Pharmacy. Except the first two pictures of pharmacy (rasashala) (the first picture is taken from the book “Science and Technology in Ancient India through the Ages” which is based on my previous research work, published by the Academy of Sanskrit Research, Melkote and the second picture is scanned from the book “rasayanasara” written and published by pandita Shyamasundaracarya Vaishya (rasayanashastri), rasayanashala, kashi, 1915.) all the other line-drawings are drawn as per the measurements given in the referred ¿lokas. Hope, these will give some new directions to the modern scholars for its further study. I personally request for the comments on these designs so that the errors can be rectified properly. The measurements of which furnaces are found complete from all sides are lined out here and which are found incomplete are kept for further study. In the second part of this paper attempt will be taken to collect all the information on the instruments and apparatuses etc. those are required for an ancient Indian pharmacy.
Several Sanskrit treatises having such information are scattered all over the country which are the repository of scientific wisdom. Based on some of these texts the modern science developed. The rests are not yet came to light. The fragrance of this wisdom need to be spread far and wide including every household in our sacred land. With a view to dig out the hidden treatises as well as to restore this Indian wisdom, which is presently available in the form of manuscripts, the Govt. of India established the National Mission for Manuscripts in February 2003 and trying to document all such rare texts. It is observed that till date about 38,000 Ayurvedic manuscripts including vrksayurveda & mrgayurveda are already documented and out of which 1,200 (1,25,000 pages) siddha manuscripts are already digitized. It is expected by the Mission
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Referred Books
1. Satpute Ashok D., 2003, rasaratnasamuccaya, pub. by Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan, Delhi
2. Vaidyopadhyaya Ramaprasada (ed.), 2000, rasendrapurana, pub. by Khemaraja Shrikrishnadas, Khemaraja Shrikrishnadas marg, Mubmai, Maharastra.
3. Vaishya Shyamasundaracarya (rasayanashastri), 1915, rasayanasara, rasayanashala, kashi.
4. Maharsi Atri, atrisamhita
5. Deshmukh C. D. (tr.), 1981, amarakosha, Utpal pblishinh house, New Delhi
6. JoshI Venimadhavashastri (Ayurvedacarya) and JoshI Naraya¸ahari (Ayurveda visharada), 1968, ayurvediya-shabdakosha (Sanskrit–Marathi–Sanskrit), Joshi Laksmanashastri (tarkatirtha), Chairman, Maharastra rajya sahitya ani samskrti mandala, Mumbai, Maharastra.
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