Overview of Parada (पारद)

In Rasa Shastra, Parada (mercury) is considered the most important substance. It is believed to be the essence of Lord Shiva and holds the potential to bestow immortality (dehavada) and liberation (muktivada) when properly processed. The entire science revolves around purifying, stabilizing, and potentiating mercury through various intricate processes known as Sanskara.

1. पर्याय (Synonyms of Mercury)

Various names for Mercury in Sanskrit texts, such as:

· Rasa (essence)
· Suta (son of Shiva)
· Maha rasa
· Chaparala
· Ila
· Svaranabh

2. पारदोत्पत्ति (Origin of Mercury)

Mythological and geological descriptions of how mercury originated. It is often described as the semen of Shiva and is said to be found in various types of ores.

3. पारदखनिज (Mercury Ores)

Types of minerals and ores from which mercury is extracted. The primary ore is Cinnabar (Hingula – HgS). Others include:

· Rasakarpura
· Talak
· Shilajatu (in some contexts)

4. पारदप्राप्तिस्थान (Sources of Mercury)

Geographical locations where mercury ores are found, both in India (e.g., Himalayas, Vindhya ranges) and abroad.

5. पारद के भेद (Types/Varieties of Mercury)

Classical texts describe different types of mercury based on origin, color, and properties:

· Rasa (best quality)
· Suta
· Putaka
· Mrita (inert)
· etc.

6. पारद का भौतिक गुण (Physical Properties of Mercury)

Its characteristic physical properties: liquid at room temperature, silvery-white color, high density, surface tension, etc.

7. पारद के दोष (Impurities/Defects of Mercury)

The eight primary impurities that make mercury unfit for therapeutic use:

1. नागदोष (Lead impurity)
2. वङ्गदोष (Tin impurity)
3. वह्निदोष (Iron impurity)
4. विषदोष (Poisonous impurity)
5. गिरिदोष (Earthly/Gravel impurity)
6. मलदोष (Waste impurity)
7. चापल्यदोष (Volatility/Unstableness)
8. असह्याग्निदोष (Impurity making it intolerant to heat)
9. दोषविमर्श (Discussion/Analysis of Defects)

A detailed explanation of how these defects affect the body and why their removal is crucial.

9. सप्तकञ्चुकाऐं (The Seven Layers/Sheaths)

A philosophical and alchemical concept where mercury is said to be covered by seven sheaths (like an onion) that must be removed through processing to reveal its pure, divine form.

10. संस्कार (Processing/Purification Procedures)

The core practices of Rasa Shastra. The number of Sanskara varies, but the most critical are Eight or Eighteen.

शोधन की सामान्य परिभाषा (General Definition of Purification)

The process of removing physical and chemical impurities (Doshas).

· सामान्य शोधनविधि (General Purification Method): Often involves triturating with specific plant juices, oils, or salts.
· विशेष शोधनविधि (Special Purification Methods): Specific methods for specific end-uses.

स्वेदनसंस्कार (Swedana – Fomentation/Steaming)

Heating mercury with specific substances in a steam bath to loosen impurities.

मर्दनसंस्कार (Mardana – Trituration/Grinding)

Grinding mercury in a stone mortar with prescribed herbal juices, salts, or other metals to break down particles and begin chemical reactions.

मूर्च्छनसंस्कार (Moorchana – Incapacitation/Stunning)

The process of making mercury lose its natural流动性 (fluidity) and become a powder (often by forming an amalgam with metals and grinding with sulfur). This is a crucial step before subjecting it to heat.

उत्थापनसंस्कार (Utthapana – Resurrection/Sublimation)

The process of reviving the “swooned” mercury, often involving its extraction from the compound formed during Moorchana.

पातन (Patan – Sublimation/Distillation)

The process of purifying mercury by heating it and collecting the vapors.

· ऊर्ध्वपातन विधि (Urdhva Patan – Upward Sublimation)
· अधःपातन विधि (Adhah Patan – Downward Distillation)
· तिर्यक्पातनविधि (Tiryak Patan – Lateral Distillation)

रोधन या बोधन संस्कार (Rodhana/Bodhana – Impregnation)

Soaking the processed mercury in herbal decoctions or other liquids to imbue it with therapeutic properties.

नियामनसंस्कार (Niyamana – Regulation/Restraining)

Controlling the volatile nature of mercury, making it stable for further processing.

दीपनसंस्कार (Deepana – Ignition/Activation)

Enhancing the potency of mercury.

11. दोषनिवारण विधि (Methods for Removing Specific Defects)

Specific purification procedures for each of the eight defects:

· नागदोषनिवारण विधि
· वङ्गदोषनिवारण विधि
· वह्निदोषनिवारण विधि
· विषदोषनिवारण विधि
· गिरिदोषनिवारण विधि
· मलदोषनिवारण विधि
· चापल्यदोषनिवारण विधि
· असह्याग्निदोषनिवारण विधि

12. जारणा (Jarana – Amalgamation and Assimilation)

A critical process where mercury is made to “digest” (assimilate) fine powders of metals (e.g., Gold, Silver) or minerals (e.g., Sulfur). This is done through controlled heating to form stable compounds.

· जारणा भेद (Types of Jarana): Based on the substance being assimilated (e.g., Swarna Jarana – gold assimilation).
· जारणा क्रम (Sequence of Jarana): The order in which metals are assimilated.
· जारणा तालिका (Jarana Table): A chart detailing ratios, durations, and indicators of completion.
· गन्धक जारणा (Sulfur Assimilation): One of the most important processes, leading to the formation of Kajjali (black sulfide of mercury).

13. मूर्छना (Moorchana – Swooning)

This is both a Sanskara and a general term. It refers to the process of making mercury lose its metallic form and become a fine powder.

· मूर्छना के भेद (Types of Moorchana): Different methods using different agents (e.g., with metals, with sulfur, with herbs).
· मूच्छित पारद की विधि (Method for Preparing Swooned Mercury): Practical steps.
· मूच्छित पारद फल (Benefits/Result of Swooned Mercury): It becomes fit for internal use and further processing like Jarana.
· मूच्र्छना और जारणा में भेद (Difference between Moorchana and Jarana): Moorchana is about changing form (to powder), Jarana is about chemical assimilation.
· मूर्छना और मूच्र्छन में भेद (Difference between Moorchana and Murchana Sanskara): Often used interchangeably, but Murchana Sanskara is the specific name of the procedure.

14. काञ्जी निर्माण (Preparation of Kanji)

Kanji is a fermented liquid, often acidic (like sour rice gruel), used extensively in various purification and processing steps of Mercury and other metals.

15. पारदसम्पर्कजन्यरोग (Diseases caused by contact with raw Mercury)

Health hazards of handling unprocessed mercury, such as neurological disorders, kidney damage, etc., as described in ancient texts.

16. शुद्धपारद का स्वरूप (Form of Purified Mercury)

The characteristics of properly purified mercury: it should be bright, lustrous, devoid of flow, beadless, and light.

17. शुद्धपारद प्राप्ति का आधार या स्रोत (Basis or Source for Obtaining Pure Mercury)

The conclusion that pure mercury is not found in nature but must be obtained through the elaborate Samskaras described above.

18. विशिष्ट उत्पाद (Specific Preparations)

· हिंगुलोत्थपारद (Mercury extracted from Cinnabar/Hingula): A specific method of obtaining Hg from HgS.
· नादयन्त्रविधि द्वारा पारद निष्कासन (Extraction of Mercury using Nadayantra): A specific apparatus used for distillation.
· पारद की मूच्छित औषधों का वर्गीकरण (Classification of Medicines made from Swooned Mercury): E.g., Kajjali, Sindura, etc.
· हिङ्गुलीय रसायन (Hinguliya Rasayana): Medicines prepared from Hingula.
· खरलीय रसायन (Kharaliya Rasayana): Medicines prepared by trituration in a mortar (Khalva Yantra).
· पोटली रसायन परिचय (Introduction to Pottali Rasayana): A class of medicines where the ingredients are sealed in a pouch and heated.

This structure provides a logical flow from the origin and impurities of mercury through its complex purification and potentiation processes, culminating in its final medicinal forms.