Rasa Prakasha Sudhakar of Yashodhara Bhatta

Description

Rasa Prakasha Sudhakar of Yashodhara Bhatta Rasashastra (Indian alchemy) was popular by 8th centuary A.D which forms the basic unit of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. Abundant literatures are available in form of Sanskrit texts, containing the matter pertaining to preparation of drugs from metal and mineral origin. There are many literatures which give knowledge about Rasashastra in detail. Rasaprakasha Sudhakara is one among them. Yashodhara Bhatta, the author of “Rasaprakasha Sudhakara” has explained the concepts of rasashstra in this book with the help of 13 chapters. This book is useful for both pharmaceutical and Therapeutic purpose.

Parada is base of Rasashastra. Thus the author has given more importance to it by explaining paradothpathi, parada shodhana and ashtadasha samskaras in detail. Though, It is difficult to control the movement of liquid metal i.e. parada, book has details of it (with the help of 4 bandhas). For the first time, process of incinerating parada with a special procedure in kacha kupi and valuka yantra along with its indication has been explained.

Shodhana (purification), marana (incineration) and gunas (properties) of dhathus, 8 maharasas and 8 uparasas are also explained in detail. Nava Ratna (precious stones) names and their guna, dosha, shodhana, marana and drutikarana has been explained. A detailed compilation of ingredients and indication of 100 rasayogas which are useful in different diseases has been explained. Apart from these, names of some special medications like divya oushadhies, rasa oushadhies, maha oushadhies and siddha oushadhies are mentioned. To conduct all these procedures the basic unit is instrument. Hence author has specified about yantras, mushas, koshti and putas.