2. • Dravyas in this classification are potent with metals.
• They are used for processing parada and for therapeutic purposes
• In Rasa Hridaya Tantra, maharasa is termed as the drugs having the
similar properties and action equivalent to parada
MAHARASA
3. • They are very important in Ashtadasha samskara and have a
distinguished place than the drugs of uparasa and sadharana rasa
• So this group is entitles ad maharasa
• They have more capacity to increase the potency of parada and
sadharana rasa
• These 8 drugs are superior in rasayana property
• They are having satva & obtained pure metal (+ve ion) by doing
satvapatana process.
11. Name of the synonyms described in various Rasa texts are broadly
divided into
1. According to Origin: Girija, Gouriteja, Girijavija etc.
2. Color & Shape: Ambara, Bahupatra, Subhra etc.
3. According to Action: Rasamula, Abhra etc.
12. Chemical formula : K(Mg,Fe)3 (Si3AlO11)(OH)2
Chemical Name : Ferro-magnesium silicate
Category : Phyllo – silicate
Nature : Platy
Colour : Most commonly in black & white also found in
greenish black colour
Crystal : Monoclinic
Diaphaneity : Translucent
MINERALOGICAL IDENTIFICATION
13. Fracture : Uneven
Tenacity : Flexible
Luster : Splendent
Streak : Uncoloured
Specific gravity : 2.6 to 3
Hardness : 2.5 to 3
14. S. No Chemical Present Percentage
1 Silica 20-30%
2 Alumina 33-37%
3 Ferric Oxide 30-35%
4 Calcium Oxide 10-15%
5 Potash 8 to 12%
COMPOSITION
16. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• Mica group of sheet – silica minerals will be fragile, smooth and lustrous to
look
• Out of many useful varieties, some will be considerably soft and flexible
• These sheets are insoluble in water and are bad conductors of heat and
electricity
• Depending on the different chemical compositions, the micas are found in
different colours (Abhraka in classical ref. is identified on the basis of colour)
17. MICA CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL
IDENTIFICATION
SANSKRIT
NAMES
BIOTITE (H,K)2(Mg,Fe)2,(Al,F
e)2 (SiO4)3
Black mica or
magnesium iron
mica
Krishna abhraka
LEPIDOLITE KLi[Al(OHF)2]Al(Si
O4)3
Lithium or ruby mica Peeta abhraka
MUSCOVITE H2KAl3(SiO4)3 White or potash mica Shweta ahraka
PHLOGOPITE HKMgF3Mg3Al(SiO4)
3
Magnesium or amber
mica
Rakta abhraka
PARAGONITE H2NaAl3(SiO4)3 White or sodium
mica
Shweta abhraka
18. OCCURENCE
Mica is found about 70% from chota Nagpur platue of North
Eastern peninsular belt.
The other mica belts are ajmer, Bhilwara and tonk (Rajasthan),
Kalichedu, thalpur, and Gudur (AP) & Koderma,giridih (Jharkhand)
,Tamilnadu, Karnatka and Kerala
Globally : Ontario Canada(Largest mine), Keralia (Russia)
19. देव्या रजो भवेद् गन्धो धातु: शुक्रं तथाऽभ्रकम् । (RRS 2/2)7
Gandhaka (Sulphur) is formed from menstrual fluid of goddess
Parvathi abhraka is semen of brahma (or sukhra dhatu of the god)
MYTHOLOGICAL ORIGIN
20. Ancient texts of ayurvedic pharmaceutics had mentioned mythological origin of many
metals and minerals used in the manufacturing of ayurvedic drugs.
Abhraka was supposed to have following origin
1. Abhraka is supposed to be the virya of ‘Girija’ (Parvati) which she used to discharge
when excited.
2. Abhraka is supposed to have originated from the fire produced from Vajra (a weapon
of Indra) while it was in operation during battle. It is said further that Abhraka was
supposed to be distributed in the hilly areas which came into contact with the fire
21. HISTORY
• The first reference for ‘Abhraka’ can ne traced from ‘Koutilya
Arthashastra’ belonging to 4th Cent BC.
• The name of ‘vajrabhraka’ is found in this book in the context
of ‘artificial gold preparation’.
• Its reference is also found in another book of 4th century BC
named ‘Nyaayadarshana’ written by ‘Acharya Goutama’
22. • In ‘Amarakosha’, which belongs to 6th Century, the drug has been
mentioned by the name ‘Girijamala’ & is specified for
‘Dhatuvada’ purpose
• The therapeutic utility (Dehavada), of abhraka is mentioned for the
first time in ‘Ashtanga Hridaya’.
• It is used as an ingredient in ‘Kasisadi Taila’ meant for external use
in ‘Arsha roga chikitsa’
23. अभ्रं वसतारुणश्यामपीत्तवणिववभेदेत: ।
चतुवविधं समाख्यातं कृष्णं तत्र गदापहम् ॥ (RT 10/3)
1. SHWETAABHRAKA
2. RAKTAABHRAKA (Arunaabhraka)
3. KRISHNAABHRA (Shyamaabhra)
4. PITABHRA
Out of all these KRISHNAABHRA is the one which is therapeutically
more efficient
TYPES
24. KRISHNAABHRAKA - 4 Varieties
वपनाकनागमण्डूकवज्राह्वयववभेदत: ।
चतुवविधन्तु कृष्णाभं मतं रसववशारदै: ॥ (R.T 10/4)
Acc. to heat response and percentage of water present in cleavage of
mica sheet, abhraka is divided into 4 types
They are :
Pinaka Naga Manduka Vajra
28. The mica which is superior in quality should have following
characteristics
Smooth, thick, laminae different colour composite ,Heavy, Easily
seperable layers, Neelanjana like bluish black colour , Shiny , soft
29. राजहस्तादधस्ताद् यत्समानीतं घनं खने: ।
भवेत् तदुक्तफलदं वन:सत्वं वनष्फलं परम् ॥ (RRS 2/3)
Abhraka having above properties if it is procured from a mine having a
depth of 1 rajahastha (22”) and above that appropriate satva is not
present in it
ABHRAKA – CONVENTIONAL EXTRACTION
METHOD
30. ABHRAKA QUALITY w.r.t ITS AVAILABILITY
अभ्रकं वहमशैलोत्थमुत्तमं पररकीवतितम् ।
मध्यमं पुविशैलोत्थं त्वधमं दवक्षणाविजम् ॥ (RT 10/14)
⁌ Abhraka obtained from the ores of ‘Himalayan range’ is considered
to have best therapeutic value
⁌ The one obtained from the mountains of eastern India is of medium
qualities
⁌ The one obtained from mountains of southern part is of low quality
35. Shudha abhraka (1 p) + Shaali (1/4th P) Keep in a jute bag pottali
Keep in kanji /water (for 3 night) rub pottali strongly till minute
particle of abhraka come out from pottali DHANYABHRAKA
36. ABHRAKA MAARANA – PUTA SANKHYA
ववंशत्यावद: शतान्तस्तु पुटौ रोगवनवृत्तये ।
शतावदस्तु सहस्रान्त: प्रशस्तश्च रसायने ॥ (R.T 10/29)
• To cure all roga – subjected to 10 to maximum 100 puta
• For rasayana – 100 to maximum 1000 puta
40. ⁌ Abhraka bhasma (1 P) rub with liquids of gangeruki,
bhadramusta, vatakshira and vatamoola swarasa/Haridra swarasa
and manjishta Kashaya trituration subjected to gajaputa for 2
or 3 times nischandra, mridu , raktotpala varna abhraka bhasma
41. ABHRAKA BHASMA AMRITEEKARANA
मृताभ्रसंवमतं गव्यमाज्जयं दत्वाभ्रकं पचेत् ।
अमृतीकृतमेवन्तु धनं कायेषु योजयेत् ॥ (RT 10/71)
Abhraka bhasma (1p) + Goghrita (1 P) mild heat in an iron vessel
till goghrita get evaporated abhraka amritikarana
42. SATVA - SIGNIFICANCE
योगेषूपरसादीनां योगे सत्वयोजनम् ।
गुणोत्तरं भवेध्यस्मात्तस्मात्सत्वं वववशष्यते ॥ (RT 10/103)
• Satva is always more efficacious than the remaining forms of the
drugs
• It is better to use the incinerated satva of rasa dravya