Abhraka is a type of mica that is classified as a maharasa in Ayurveda. It has several therapeutic properties and is used in processing mercury and in medicines. There are different types of Abhraka based on factors like color, texture, and heat response. High quality Abhraka is obtained from the Himalayan mountain regions and has the best therapeutic effects. Proper processing like heating and washing is required to remove impurities from Abhraka and ensure it is free from toxins.

1. ABHRAKA
Dr.Saranya Sasi MD(Ayu)
Assistant Professor
Dept.of RSBK SSRAMC & H
Inchal Belgaum

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.

4. अभ्रवैक्रान्तमाक्षीकववमलाविजसस्यकम् ।
चपलो रसकश्चेवत ज्ञात्वाऽष्टौ संग्रहेिसान् ॥ र.र.स 2/1

5. S.N Dravya Rasaratnasamuchaya
2/1
Rasahrudaya Tantra
9/4
Goraksha
Samhita
2/20
1 Abhraka + _ +
2 Vaikranta + + +
3 Makshika + + +
4 Vimala + + +
5 Shilajatu + + +
6 Sayaka + + +
7 Chapala + _ +
8 Rasaka + + +
9 Kantaloha _ + _

6. ABHRAKA
(BIOTITE MICA)

7. English – Mica
Sanskrit – Abhraka
Abhra,ambara
Bengali – Abhraka
Gujarati – Abhraka
Hindi - Abhrak, Abarak
Kannada – Abhraka
VERNACULAR NAME
Malayalam – Abhrakam
Marathi – Abhraka
Tamil – Abragam
Karuppu Appirakam (S.F.I.),
Telugu - Abbarakam

10. अभ्रकं गगनं भृङ्गमभ्रं खं व्योम्नामकम् ।
वज्रं घनञ्च वगररजं बहुपत्रमनन्तकम् ॥
आकाशामम्बरं शुभ्रं त्वमलं गरजध्वजम् ।
मेघाख्यमन्तरीक्षञ्च तदेव पररकीवतितम् ॥ (र त 10/1-2)
ABHRAKA SYNONYMS

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

15. 7 Titanium dioxide 2 to 2.5%
8 Sodium oxide NLT 0.5%
9 Phosphate NLT 0.5%
10 Sulphur NLT 0.5%

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

25. पीनाकं पावकोत्तप्तं ववमुञ्चवत दलोच्ययम् ।
तत्सेववतं मलं बंद्ध्वा मारयत्येव मानवम् ॥
नागाभ्रं नागवत्कुयािद् ध्ववनं पावकसंवस्थतम् ।
तद्भुक्तं कुरुते कुष्ठं मण्डलाख्यं न संशय: ॥
उत््लुत्योत््लुत्य मण्डूकं ध्मातं पतवत चाभ्रकम् ।
तत्कुयािदश्मरीरोगमसाध्यं शास्त्रतोऽन्यथा ॥
वज्राभं वविसन्तप्तं वनमुिक्ताशेषवैकृतम् ।
देहलोहकरं तच्च सविरोगहरं परम् ॥ (RRS 2/5 – 8)

26. Types of
Abhraka
Reaction on heat Effect
Pinaka विमुञ्चति दलोञ्चयमम मलं बद्धा मारयत्येव मानवम्
Naga नागिि क
ु यमााद् ध्ितन मण्डल कुष्ठ
Manduka उत्प्लुत्पयमोत्प्लुत्पयम​ असाध्य अश्मरीरोग
Vajra तनमुाक्िाशोषिैकृ िम देहलोहकरं व सविरोगहरं

27. वस्नग्धं पृथुदलं वणिसंयुक्तं भारतोऽवधकम् ।
सुखवनमोच्यपत्रं च तदभ्रं शस्तमीररतम् ॥ (RRS 2/11)
नीलाञ्जजनोपमं वस्नग्धं भारपूणं महोज्जज्जवलम् ।
वनमोच्यपत्रं मृदुलं त्वभ्रं श्रेष्ठवमहोच्यते ॥ (R.T 10/13)
GRAAHYATA - SHRESHTAABHRAKA
PROPERTIES

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

31. अशुद्ध अभ्रक दोष
बाधां ववदध्याविववधां शरीरे ह्रत्पार्श्िपीडां तनुते वनतान्तम् ।
शोफं क्षयं पाण्डुगन्दञ्च कुष्ठं त्वशोवधताभ्रं खलु माररतं यत् ॥
धान्याभ्रकरणे चैव मारणे सत्वपातने ।
रसतन्त्रववशेषज्ञ: शुद्धमभ्रं वनयोजयेत् ॥ (RT 10/16-17)

32. प्रतप्तं सप्तवारावण वनवक्षप्तं कावञ्जके अभ्रकम् ।
वनदोषं जायते नूनं प्रवक्षप्तं वाऽवप गोजले ॥
वत्रफलाक्ववथते चावप गवां दुग्धे ववशेषत: । (RRS 2/16 -17)
अभ्रक शोधन
Grahya Krishna abhraka  held with sandamsha yantra  Nirvapa
[Heated red hot  dipped in liquid media (Kanji/Gomutra/Godugdha/
triphala Kashaya)] × 7 times

34. पादांशशावलसंयुक्तमभ्रकं कम्बलोदरे।
वत्ररात्रं स्थापयेन्नीरे तत् वक्लन्नं मददयेद् दृढम् ॥
कम्बलाद्गावलतं श्लक्ष्णं बालुकारवहतञ्च यत् ।
तद्धान्याभ्रवमवत प्रोक्तमभ्रमारणवसद्धये ॥ (R.Sa.San. 1/154)
धान्याभ्रक

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

37. ABHRAKA MAARANA
गन्धविपत्रतोयेन गुडेन सह भाववतम् ।
ऊध्वािधो वटपत्रावण वनश्चन्िं वत्रपुटै: खगम् ॥ (RRS 2/43)
Shuddha abhraka  bhavana with eranda patra swarasa & guda 
chakrika  vata patra  Puta × 3 times  nishchandra  abhraka
bhasma

38. ABHRAKA BHASMA– CHARACTERISTIC
(MRITABHRA LAKSHANA)
वनश्चन्िञ्चरुणं स्वच्छं सुसूक्ष्मं स्पशिकोमलम् ।
अभ्रं मृतं ववजानीयािसतन्त्रववचक्षण: ॥ (RT 10/55)
Nishchandra, Swachcha, susukshma, komala, aruna varna

39. ABHRAKA BHASMA - LOHITEEKARANA
गाङ्गेरुकी भिमुस्ता वटक्षीरन्तथैव च ।
वटमूलजलं वावप हररिाया िवस्तथा ॥
समङ्गाक्ववथतञ्चैव घनमेवभ: सुपेषयेत् ।
पुटियं त्रयं वावप ववतरेवद्भषजां वर: ॥
वनश्चवन्िकञ्च मृदुलं रक्तोत्पलसमप्रभम् ।
गगनस्य भवेद्भस्म तत: कयेषु योजयेत् ॥ (RT 10/65 -67)

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

43. ABHRAKA SATVAPATANA
पादांशटङ्कणोपेतं मुसलीरसमवदितम् ।
रुन्ध्यात्कोष्ठ्यां दृढं ध्मातं सत्वरुपं भवेत् घनम् ॥ (RRS 2/28)
Shuddha abhraka (1p) + shudha tankana (1p)  mardana with musali swarasa
 make bolus  theevragni in koshti  abhraka satvam

44. वमत्रपञ्चकसंयुक्तं खसत्वं चूणिसवन्नभम् ।
मूषायां वववनधायाथ प्रधमेत्कोवकलानले ॥
इत्थं तीक्ष्णतरं ध्मातमेकतां यावत काांस्यवत् ।
वपण्डीभूतं तत: सत्वं शोधनाथं प्रयोजयेत् ॥ (RT 10/101-102)
Abhraka satva + Mitra panchaka  crucible (Musha)  Heat 
bhasma will accumulates at one place like that of kamsya  Abhraka
satva pindikarana
ABHRAKA SATVA – PINDIKARANA

45. ABHRAKA SATVA SHODHANA
वत्रफलासवलले वावप वटमूलकषायत: ।
अम्लेन कावञ्जकै वािवप खसत्वं शोधयेवद्भषक् ॥ (RT 10/103)
Abhraka satva  nirvapa in triphala/Vatamoola Kashaya/Kanji 
Abhraka satva

46. ABHRAKA SATVA MAARANA/SATVA BHASMA
ववशोवधतं व्योमसत्वं तदधं सूतगन्धकम् ।
वनवक्ष्य मदियेत्खल्वे काचकूपीगतं तत: ॥
पचेतु बालुकायन्त्रे ववधानज्ञो वभषग्वर: ।
इत्थं नावतवचरादेव खसत्वं यावत पञ्चताम् ॥ (RT 10/108 - 109)
Abhraka satva (1P) + Samagandha kajjali ( ½ P)  Triturated in khalva
yantra  Kaachakupi  Valuka yantra  Intense heat  abhraka
satva bhasma

47. PANCHAVIDHA SAMSKARAS OF ABHRAKA
संस्कार: पञ्चधा प्रोक्तो घनस्य परमेर्श्रर ।
धान्याभ्रकरणं सत्वपातनं वनमिलवक्रया ॥
सुमृतीकरणं चैव त्वमृतीकरणं तथा ।
मारणे घनसत्वस्य घनपत्रस्य मारणे ॥ (AKK V.1/145-146)

48. SATVA BHASMA - PROPERTIES
अभ्रसत्वं सुवशवशरं मधुरं रुवचरं परम् ।
सुवस्नग्धं के श्यमायुष्यं वत्रदोषघ्नं रसायनम् ॥ (RT 10/112)

49. Rasa : Madhura
Guna : Snigdha
Virya : Sheeta
Karma : Rasayana, Keshya, Varnya, Ruchikarana, Deepana,
Atibalya, Netrya,Medhajanana, Pachana,
Stanyavriddhikara
Dose :1 Valla (2 ratti = 250mg) RRS 2/51
1 to 2 Ratti (125 to 250mg) 2 times a day (RTS &SPS)
Anupana : Madhu, Dugdha Ghrita

50.  Madhumeha
 Shwasa
 Kushta
 Kshaya
 Shotha
 Mandagni
 Hridaya roga
THERAPEUTIC USES

51. ASHUDHAABHRAKA SEVANAJANYA DOSHA
 Paranahara
 Prameha
 Mandagni
 Mrityu

52. DOSHA SHANTI
उमाफलं जले वपष्ट्वा सेवते यो वदनत्र्यम् ।
अशुध्धाभ्रकदोषेण ववमुक्त: सुखमेधते ॥
(RJN Vol 2. Chapter 1 Pg31)
Umaphala (Atasi) + Rubbed with water  3 days

53. APATHYA
क्षाराम्लं विदलञ्चैव ककि टीकारवेल्लकम् ।
वृन्ताकञ्च करीरञ्च तैलं चाभ्रे वववजियेत् ॥
(RJN Vol 2. Chapter 1 Pg30)
Kshara ,Amla ,Dwidala (dicotyledon – Pulses), Karkati, Karavellaka,
Vrintaka, Kareera and taila

54. IMPORTANT FORMULATION
 Arogyavardhini vati
 Panchamrita parpati
 Gagana parpati
 Rasaraja Rasa
 Laxmivilasa rasa
 Yogaraja guggulu
 Ekangaveera rasa
 Arshakuthara rasa
 Prabhakara vati
 Vasantakusumukara rasa
 Chandrakala rasa

55. ABHRAKA DRUTI
अगस्त्यपत्रवनयािसै: धान्याभ्रं मवदित तथा ।
शरणोदरमध्ये तु वनवक्षप्तं लेवपतं मृदा ॥
गोष्ठभूवमं खवनत्वा तु हस्तमात्रमध्य: वक्षपेत् ।
मासान्तयुद्धतं तत्तु जायते पारदोपमम् ॥
(RJN Vol 2. Chapter 1 Pg30)