This document provides information about Mandura (iron oxide) including its chemical properties, uses in Ayurveda, methods of purification, dosages, and compound formulations. Specifically, it notes that Mandura has been used in Ayurvedic treatments since ancient times to treat anemia and skin diseases. It describes two methods for purifying Mandura involving heating it and dipping it in cow urine over 7 days. Properly prepared Mandura bhasma is described as an aphrodisiac and useful for mitigating pitta dosha and improving hemoglobin. The recommended dosage is 1/4 to 2 rattis. Finally, it lists some compound formulations containing Mandura bhasma.

1. ACHARYA DESHABHUSHAN AYURVEDIC MEDICAL
COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF RASA SHASTRA AND BHAISHAJYA KALPANA
MANDURA
Guided By – Dr. Vyashali H.P ( HOD)
Dr. Amol Dhulgade (LECTURER)

2. Introduction:
Mandura is the ‘rust of the iron’ (Latin: Rubrum) with
chemical formula Fe2O3.
Rust is the general term used for ‘red oxides’, formed by the
reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air
moisture.

3. MANDURA - IRON OXIDE

4. Mandura
• वर्ग - धातू वर्ग
• Sanskrit Name- Mandura
• English Name: Iron Oxide
• Chemical Name - Fe2O3
• latin Name - Rubrum

5. Raw form of Iron oxide

7. History
• Mandur Bhasma:
•
• Mandur has been used in ayurvedic treatments since the Samhita
period. Mandur and its medicinal properties were first referenced in
the 15th century B.C. in the Charaka Samhita.
• Mandur is used to cure Panduroga, according to Acharya Charaka
(Anemia). Mandur is described in Panduroga and Kushtharoga
adhyaya by Acharya Vagbhata in Ashtanga Hridayam.

8. Mandura- synonyms:
मण्डरं तु समाख्यातं कि लोहभवं तथा
लोहकिटं सोहमलं लौहोच्छिष्टव्व तन्मतम्
॥ (R.T. 20/124)
Kitta, lohabhava, lohakita are the
synonyms for the mandura in
classics.

10. Geographical Distribution:
They are mainly found in Sweden, Africa Morroco,
Brazil, Judia, China etc. Major Iron are deposits in
India are Jharkhand, Karnataka, Goa, Chattisgarh.

12. • Mandura bhasma- properties:
• मण्ड
ू रं सुमृतं वृष्यं किकिरं रुकिरं परम् । दीपनं कपत्तिमनं
रक्तवृच्छििरं परम् ॥ पाण्डुप्रमत्तमातङ्गमदमदगनि
े िरी ।
िामलाि
ु ड्यि
ु कलिं मण्डरं तु कविेषतः ।। िोषप्रिमनञ्चैव
तथा िोफप्रणािनम्। हलीमि
ं ि प्लीहानं मण्ड
ू रं हन्त्यिेषतः
।।(R. T. 20/132-34)
• Properly prepared ‘mandura bhasma’ is ‘vpya’
(aphrodisiac). It possesses ‘Sita’ guna. It is ‘rucikāraka’
and ‘agnidipaka’. It mitigates pitta dosa and improves
the haemoglobin percentage in the body. It is
indicated in ‘pandu roga’, ‘kamala roga’, ‘śosa roga’,
‘Sotha roga’, ‘halimaka roga’ and ‘pliha vrddhi’.

17. •Mandura-swarupa:
•प्रताकपत्तस्य लोहस्य घनाघातच्युतं मलम् । िालेन
कपण्डतां याकत कितौ, मण्डुरमुच्यते ।।(R. T. 20/123)
•When iron is heated red hot and hit with heavy
hammers in factories and in blacksmith’s
workshop, the ‘rust’ at the surface of the iron
falls off to the ground. After few years, this rust
is obtained as solidified iron-rust, which is
identified as ‘loha mala’ or ‘mandūra’.

18. • Mandura sodhana- 1” method:
• (R. T. 20/127)
• कवभीतिाङ्गारर्ोमूत्रे पररषेकितम्। सप्तवार लोहमलं िुच्छिमायानुतनुत्तमाम् ॥
• Mandura is heated red-hot over the intense fire produced by dry
branches of “bibhitaki tree or heated over the glowing charcoal of
same plant. Later it is dipped in the vessel containing enough quantity
of ‘cow’s urine’.
• This process of heating red-hot and dipping in enough quantity of
‘cow’s urine is repeated for 7 times to obtain the ‘mandura’ purified.
•
• Note: Fresh ‘cow’s urine’ should be considered for each dipping.

19. • Mandura sodhana- 2nd method:
• प्रखरदहनतप्तं लोहकिट्टं पुराणं कवपुलसुरकभमूत्रे सप्तवारं कनकषक्तम् ।
• कनर्कदतकवकधयोर्ान्मारणायानुरूषां िलयकत खलु िुच्छिं सत्वरं कनकवगिेषाम् ।।
• (R. T. 20/128)
• Mandura is heated red-hot over the glowing charcoal and
dipped in the vessel containing enough quantity of ‘cow’s
urine’. This process of heating red-hot and dipping in
enough quantity of ‘cow’s urine’ is repeated for 7 times to
obtain the ‘mandūra’ purified.
•
• Note: Fresh ‘cow’s urine’ should be taken for each dipping.

22. •Mandura bhasma- dosage:
•
• आरभ्य र्ुञ्जापादांिाल्लोहमात्राकवधानकवत् । र्ुञ्जाकितयपयगन्तं
मण्डुरं कवकनयोजयेत् ।।(R. T. 20/135)
•
• Quarter ratti (31 mgs) to two ratti (250 mgs) is the
general dosage of ‘loha bhasma.
• However the dosage has to finalized after thorough
consideration of all the factors.

26. •Mandūra bhasma- compound formulations:
•
•1. Punarnava maṇḍūra
•2. Triphala maṇḍūra
•3. Satavari mandūra
•4. Mandūra vataka

29. Source of Information
Textbook of Rasha Shashtra Bhaishajya Kalpana –
. By- Dr Ravindra Angadi
Internet www.nve.org

30. •THANK YOU