Rasa Shastra - The Art of Indian Alchemy

Indian Alchemy or Rasa Shastra is divided into nine different categories, the first and most important of these is Parada (mercury or quicksilver). Parada is considered to be the master metal, it sits at the head of all other Rasa base materials. Any Rasa medicine containing mercury is said to have its strength increased tenfold. Parada is only administered after purification and having being united with Gandhaka (sulphur). In Vedic mythology the union between these two elements is attributed to the natural attraction between Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati (Shiva represents mercury and Parvati represents sulphur.

The following eight categories of Rasa Shastra are as follows: Maha Rasa (or Great Rasa) containing eight materials including mica and iron pyrite. Uparasa (or Secondary Rasa) containing eight elements including orpiment and realgar. Sadharana Rasa (or Middle Rasa) containing eight elements including mercuric oxide and white arsenic. Dhatu (or Metals) containing nine elements including copper and iron. Ratna (or Precious Gems) containing nine gemstones including red coral and diamond. Uparatna (or Semi Precious Gemstones) containing eight gemstones including tourmaline and amber.

The eighth category of Rasa Shastra is called Visha (or Poison) and contains both aconite and cobra venom. The ninth and final category is called Upavisha (or Secondary Poisons) containing plants such as thorn apple and quaker buttons. The image shown below is a Damaru Yantra, this apparatus is commonly used to extract Parada (mercury) from the mineral Hingula (cinnabar). A secondary lid is fixed to the base shown and heated steadily for about three hours. A wet cloth is carefully placed over the top of the Damaru Yantra, allowing vapor from the mercury mineral inside to collect and condense on the upper surface of the lid.