1. The document discusses two minerals - mica and tourmaline. It details their Sanskrit names, physical properties, varieties, purification processes, and incineration processes to produce bhasmas or ashes for medicinal use. 2. Mica is further described in terms of its occurrence in India, appearance as flexible sheets, varieties based on color and response to heating. Its uses include treating diabetes, tuberculosis and asthma. 3. Tourmaline is also described in terms of synonyms, occurrence locations, properties like hardness, and purification through steaming in a herbal decoction. Its bhasma benefits memory and rejuvenation.

2. CONCEPT OF MAHARASA
PRESENTED BY- Dr.NITIKA RATTAN.

3. ABHRAKA (MICA)
1. SYNONYMS – It has numerous Synonyms in
Sanskrit-
Gagan, Bhringa ,Abhra ,Kha ,Vyom, Vajra ,Ghana
,Girija , Bahupatra ,Anantaka, Ambara, Girija
beeja ,Gouriteja.
2. ENGLISH NAME – Mica

4. 3. OCCURRENCE – India is the leading producer of Sheet
Mica ,followed by Brazil, and Madagascar. In India ,the
chief sources are Nellore (Andhrapradesh), Bihar
,Rajasthan and Karnataka.
4. APPEARANCE – Mica is a group of minerals that
contain atoms of aluminium ,oxygen and Silicon
bound together into flat sheets. Mica has perfect
Cleavage ie. It splits cleanly into thin sheets . Mica
may be colourless ,black ,brown, green or violet.

5. 5. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES – Mica is Soft and
Fragile but few varieties are flexible.It is
insoluble in Water and the bad conductor of
heat and electricity.
6. VARIETIES –
ABHRAM SITAARUNSHYAMPITAVARNAVIBHEDTA
CHATURVIDHAM SMAKHYATAM KRISHNAM GADAPAHAM (R.T
10/3)

6. ABHRAKA
According to Response to Heating, it is four
types-
1. PINAKA
2. NAGA
3. MANDUKA
4. VAJRA

7. According to its Colour ,it is also of Four Types-
1.PITA
2.SHWETA
3.RAKTA
4.KRISHNA

8. PINAKAMNAAGMANDUKVAJRAVIBHEDTA
CHATURVIDANTU KRISHANABHRAM RASAVISHARDEE (R.T 10/4)
1.PINAKA ABHRAKA- On Heating ,the pieces of Mica starts getting
separated and creates a sound that resembles the sound of an ARROW .
Rasaendra Sara Sangraha has described it as a CHITCHIT sound.
2.NAGA – This Variety of Mica when Heated ,creates a sound that resembles
to HISSING OF ENRAGED SNAKES.
3.MANDUKA –The Sheets of Mica on Heating get thrown out which resembles
the JUMPING OF FROGS.It is mentioned in Rasendra Sarasangraha that it
creates the sound that of a CROAKING FROG.
4.VAJRA – In this variety of Mica ,neither sound is created at all and nor any
visual effect is seen. It remains as it is and no obvious changes are there.
VAJRA ABHRAKA is the best ABHRAKA according to its respond on heating.
sarvashreshtham tu vajraabhram mahavyadhiharam
param
dehsiddhikarashchapi jaraveroopya nashnam (R.T. 10/12)

9. ACCORDING to MODERN SCIENCE MICA is classified into two main types..
• 1. CHEMICL CLASSIFICATION.
• 2. GEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION.
CHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION –
• FeromagnesiumMica.
• Alkaline Mica.
GEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
• Biotite
• Lepidolite
• Phlogopite
• Mucovite
• Pargonite

10. PURIFICATION OF ABHRAKA-
PRATAPTAM SAPTAVARANI NIKSHIPTAM KANJIKOABHRAKAM
NIRDOSHAM JAYTE NOONAM PRIKSHIPTAM VAAPI GOJALE
TRIPHLA KWATHITE CHAPI GWA DIGDHE VISHESHTA ( R.R.S.2/16-
17)
The pieces of Mica are heated till they become
red and dipped in the decoction of Triphla or
sour gruel or cows milk. This procedure is
repeated for Seven times .Mica gets purified.

11. DHANYABHRAKA-
Churnaabhram shalisanyuktam vastrbadham hii kanjikee
Niryatam mardanadwastrad dhanyaabhramiti
kathyate.(R.R.S.2/21)
Purified Mica is powdered and ¼ part of covering
paddy added ,is put in a blanket rag and tied
firmly. Then it is kept in a sour gruel for a day and
thereafter ,it is rubbed with hand so that mica
entirely gets out into the sour gruel. This is taken
out and washed and Dried in the sun .It is
Dhanyabhraka which is used incinerating the
Mica.

12. INCINERATION OF MICA-
• DHANYABHRAKA is processed with the juice of
KASAMARDA and is subjected to GAJAPUTA. After
repeating this procedure for Ten times incineration of
mica gets ready.
• MICA is subjected to heating from twenty to hundred
times for CURATIVE purpose,while for promotive uses
it is heated uptoi thousand times.SHATAPUTI ABHRAKA
BHASMA is commonly used in practice.

13. AMRITIKARAN OF BHASMA-
• During the procedure of Incineration ,Mica is
proceesed with various substances which makes
mica sharp(tikshna).To reduce this sharp attribute
of mica AMRITIKARANA process is done.
According to R.R.S.-
• The Incinerated Mica 1/10 part is mixed with
Triphla kwath 16 part and cow ghee 8 part are
heated till it become dry.Mica after this
procedure excels in properties like a Nectar.

14. USAGE- Incinerated Mica is used in Diseases like Diabetes
, tuberculosis,Asthma,Anaemia, and Hysteria.
DOSAGE-
• DASHPUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA 120-240mg
• SHATAPUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA 60-120mg
• SAHASTRA PUTI ABHRAKA BHASMA 15-60mg
FORMULATIONS –Chandrakala Rasa ,Panchamrit
Parpati, Arogyavardhini vati ,Mahayograja gugglu,
Ekangveer Rasa.

15. VAIKRANTA (TOURMALINE)
• SYNONYMS – Vaikrant has various Synonyms in Sanskrit
like Vakrant , Kuvajraka, Jirnavajraka ,Churnavajraka .
• ENGLISH NAME- Fluorspite or Fluorspar or Tourmaline.
• OCCURRENCE- Canada ,South Africa ,Peru , Thailand . In
India it occurs in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• CHARACTERISTICS – It occurs in wide range of colours
including yellow , blue, pink ,purple and green . It is
fragile and octahedral.

16. PROPERTIES OF MICA –
1. It is heavy and has cubic structure.
2. Hardness is 4 as per Mohs scale.
3. Its specific Gravity is 3.18.
4. Refractive Index of Fluorite is 1.43.
5. Chemical Composition is CaF. In Ancient times it
was used as a substitute for Diamond.
6 .On Heating , it shunes but with further heating it
gets melted.
7. It is insoluble in water.

17. VARIETIES OF VAIKRANT-
• Rasaratnasamuchya have mentioned Eight
varieties of Vaikranta according to its colour –
• White ,red ,yellow, blue, grey, black and
multicoloured.
• Only Black Vaikrant is used .

18. PURIFICATION OF VAIKRANT –
Kulthekwathsanswino vaikrant prishudhyti (R.R.S.2/66)
• Vaikrant is purified by steaming it in the decoction of
kulthakwatha for nine hours in dolayantra.
INCINERATION PROCESS-
• Purified Vikrant is mixed with equal quantities of pure
sulphur and then mixture is processed with the lemon
juice and subjected for 8 Gajaputas.

19. PROPERTIES and USAGE –
AYUPRADESH BALAVARNAKAROATIVRISHYA
PRAGYAPRADA SAKALDOSHGAPRAHARI DAPAHARI (R.R.S
2/57)
Vaikrant bhasma is cold in potency , has sweet post
digestive effect and it alleviates all the doshas. It
promotes the body strength ,improves complexion,
increases memory and it has rejuvinating property.
DOSE – 5 to 10 mg.