1) The document discusses the concept of samskara in Ayurveda, which refers to qualitative alterations done to substances like herbs to improve or modify their properties. 2) It provides examples of different types of samskaras like agni samskara (processing with heat), toyasamskara (processing with water), and their effects on changing qualities like taste, potency, and toxicity. 3) The document emphasizes that samskaras are an important aspect of drug formulation in Ayurveda, as they can influence the pharmacological, chemical and biological properties of substances.

1. By:
Dr.Lavanya.S.A
3rd
Year PG Scholar
Dr.M.S.Doddamani
Professor
Dept of RS & BK
TGAMC, Bellary
Dr. Shankara Gowda
Professor & HOD
Dept of RS & BK
TGAMC, Bellary
Under the guidance of:

2. Samskara is considered as rituals or religious
customs. In hindu dharma grantha there are shodasha
samskaras starting from garbhadana to antyeshtu
samskara.Samskara is a specific word used in Ayurvedic
texts. The concept of this samskara can be taken as a
Pratitantra Siddhanta of Ayurveda, because other
systems also have their own concepts related with the
same word Samskara.
In rasa sampradaya, the use of word Samskara,
is observed to be attached specifically with parada
samskara.

3. Derivation:
Samskara = Sam + Kara
Samyak + Kriya
nirukti:
Samyak Karana samskaranam
Word samskara has innumerable meanings such
as –Making perfect, preparation, refining
impression, influence, effect of work, purification
etc.

4. Definition
To change the qualities of a substance is
known as Samskara i.e. Qualitative alteration done
for improvement, enhancement, modification,
lowering bad effect or any such procedure,
pharmaceutical treatment etc. have been denoted
by a single term samskara.

5. According to Acharya Charaka, Samskara
is the process that may bring out some radical
changes in the substance by replacing their
natural properties totally or partially into a new
one or by intensifying or moderating their
qualities.

7. Toya samskara
• With the help of water kathina, khara qualities
can be altered into mrudu, masrina etc.
• Ex: Ashuddha Shilajatu contains various
physical impurities. After dissolving it in water
as a pre-shodhana procedure the impurities
are filtered out.

8. agni samskara
• With the help of heating the qualities like sheeta,
mrudu, drava, masrina can be converted into
Kathina, sandra, khara etc.
• Ex: Tankana shodhana:
Na2B4O710H2O after shodhana Na2B4O75H2O

9. Toyagni sannikarsha
• This includes the combination of both water and
heat which is applies at the same time.
• Ex:
-
(..)

10. shoucha samskara
• To clean or to remove impurities by water is
known as shoucha.
• With the help of this samskara qualitative
changes is carried out in a substance for
instance washing of poisonous substances like
copper etc decreases its poisonous effect.

11. manThana samskara
• Means to churn or stir.
• Ex:

12. Desha
• The desha stands for site, place. According to the
place where the drug is cultivated or from where the
drug is collected, there may be variations in the
qualities.
• Ex:
(../)

13. Kaala
• This kala plays an important role in each
aspect of treatment. Here in samskara, kaala
factor stands for time of collection of dravyas,
its storage, shelf life and also the aushadha
sevana kala.
Ex: ,
(../)

14. Vasana samsKara
• It refers to flavoring of drugs.
-
Ex: In the preparation of Rasala, karpura is added
which is considered as vasana dravya in order
to give a pleasant feeling and also to increase
the palatability.

15. BhaVana samsKara
• The changes which are obtained by bhavana
samskara are to make the drug easy for
assimilation, to make the drug capable for
further procedure and to increase the potency
etc..
• Ex:-

16. Kala PraKarsha
• It means duration of length of time. It is useful
in deciding the time required for drug
preparation procedures. Time makes alteration
in the drug properties mainly in its potency.
Ex:

17. Bhajana samsKara
• It means container, pot, the material of receptacle
etc.
• Whatever procedure is carried out during drug
collection, preparation, storage and administration,
each and everything influence or impression on the
drug, can be included under samskara.
Ex:

18. • In Rasashastra the word samskara points out towards
the parada samskara (ashta and ashtadasha samskara)
• The uses of these ashta samskara can be listed as
follows where the change in quality of parada takes
place.
SAMSKARAS EFFECT
Swedana Dosha Shaithilyakari
Mardana Bahirmala Vinashana
Moorchana Kanchuka nashana
Utthapana Murcha vyapatthi nashana
Patana Vangahi samparkaja kanchuka nashana
Rodana Jadatwa nashana
Niyamana Chapalya nivritti
Deepana Increase the Graasa property

19. Article Supporting
Visha Dravya Changes After shodhana
Kupilu (Strychnine &
Brucine)
Alkaloids converted into less toxic derivatives like
isostrychnine, isobrucine, Strychnine N-Oxide, Brucine N-
Oxide. Due to N-Oxidation
Dhattura
(Hyosciamine &
scopalamine)
Reduction in total alkaloid content & increase in total
protein. Complete removal of Scopolamine & partial
removal of Hyosiamine.
Bhallataka (Anacardic
acid and cardol)
Due to decarboxylation of the oil, anacardic acid converts
into less toxic anadardol.
1. Poisonous plants as medicine after shodhana: A Review
Dikshit Manisha
Associate professor, Dept of Agada tantra, Uttarkhand Ayurveda
University, Haridwar

20. Visha dravya After effect of shodhana
Langali ( Colchicine and gloriosine) Alkaloids reduce significantly after
shodhana
Karaveera (toxic cardiac
glycosides the cardinolides
particularly oliandrin and nerilin)
After shodhana oliandrin
decreases which act as cardio-
tonic
Conclusion:
It is good to adopt shodhana processes as described in
ancient texts with modern technology to assess its safety and
efficacy. Shodhana can also influence the pharmacological,
phytochemical and toxicological profile of the drug plant. Specific
media used for bhavana also has an important role in making a
drug without complications

21. • Modern pharmaceutics also mentioned
qualitative alteration. The qualities of a drug
may be any of the below:
- Physical – Form, Particle size etc
- Chemical – Interaction with other drugs etc
- Physico-chemical – Changes in pH/
Viscosity/ stability etc.
- Biological – Absorption/ assimilation etc

22. CONCLUSION
•Thus it is clear that each and every procedure is
capable to produce some type of impact on drug by
altering the qualities of raw drug.
•Qualities altered or inherited by these samskaras,
ultimately will give rise to various formulations and
thus can produce different effects.

23. • So the basic important factor among drug
formulation principles is the samskaras.
• So as rightly told by Acharya Charaka, by
samyoga (combination), vislesha (elimination),
kaala (Proper time), Samskara one can
increase the potency of a drug and can reduce
toxicity of a drug.