Rasa Shastra

The first comprehensive analysis of Asian Medical Alchemy, this book describes the use of herbo-mineral-metal based medicines as used in some of the world’s oldest healing traditions. It offers a detailed exploration of Âyurvedic medicinal purification practices that seek to enhance the therapeutic potential of materials, metals and gemstones, as well as offering a concise overview of traditional and modern equipment and methods used in the manufacture of these medicines.
The author’s unique and fascinating account of the hidden alchemical arts also explains some of the historical background behind the on-going quest amongst Asian alchemists for immortality.

Contents:
Introduction. Sri Lanka.
1. Introduction.
2. Return to Sri Lanka.
3. Practical.
4. Journey to the Factory.
5. Setting-up Shop.
6. Contents.
7. Final Result. 8. Return.
Part 1. What is Rasa Shâstra? 1. Ancient Technology. 2. Origins. 3. Rasa Shastra. 4. Health and Longevity in Ayurveda. 5. Sadkiryakalas. 6. Ojas and Sapta Dhatu. 7. Actions of Taste. 8. Sadupakarmas. 9. Pancakarma. 10. Patients Unsuited for Samsodhana. 11. Metallurgy and Healing. 12. Loha (Metal). 13. Ariloha and Dhalana. 14. Metallic Immune Booster. 15. Churning of the Milky Ocean Sagar Manthan. 16. Visha (Toxins). 17. Visha as Antidote. 18. Signs of Visha. 19. Visha as Medicine. 20. Caste of Visha. 21. Smake Venom.
Part 2. Workshop, Equipment, Method and Apparatus. 1. Rasashala (Pharmacy/Alchemical Workshop). 2. Sighting of the Workshop. 3. Sarpa Snakes. 4. Modern Interpretations. 5. Celestial Considerations. 6. Final Note. 7. Alchemist and Apprentice. 8. Samudrik Shastra. 9. Hast Rekha Shastra. 10. Shodhana Purification. 11. Testing of Alchemical Preparations. 12. Mercury (A Special Case). 13. Khalwa Yantra (Pestle and Mortar). 14. Automation (Man vs. Machine). 15. Mediums used for Bhavana. 16. Marana Calcination. 17. Puta Paka (Temperature). 18. Pisti (Anagnitapta Bhasma). 19. Anupana – Vehicle of Delivery.
Part 3. Materials, Formula and Processing. 1. Catalogue of Materials and their Use. 2. Mercury. 3. Origins of Mercury and its Impurities. 4. Transmutation of Base Metals. 5. Extraction of Mercury from Cinnabar. 6. Ancient Sources of Mercury. 7. Common Purification of Mercury. 8. Kajjali Black Sulphide of Mercury. 9. Rasa Parpati. 10. Makara Dwaja Mercuric Sulphide. 11. XRD – Makara Dwaja. 12. Mercury – Planet and Metal. 13. Hingula Cinnabar. 14. Purification of Cinnabar. 15. Hingula Cinnabar – XRD. 16. Preparation of Kushta Sangraf. 17. Summing Up and Dangers of Mercury. 18. Minerals. 19. Sulphur. 20. Bitumen. 21. Arsenic Trisulphide. 22. Rasa Maanikya. 23. Metals. 24. Copper. 25. Tin. 26. Zinc. 27. Gemstones. 28. Diamond. 29. Red Agate. 30. Blue Sapphire. 31. Animal Products. 32. Deer Horn. 33. Pearl. 34. Peacock Feather. 35. Visha – Plants. 36. Datura. 37. Aconite. 38. Bhallataka Bhilawan Nut. 39. Rasa Formulae. 40. Rasa Shastra in Therapy. 41. Research into Rasa. 42. JAMA (The Journal of American Medicine).
Part 4. Celestial Connections. 1. Visit to a Sri Lankan Shaman. 2. Jyotish – The Science of Light. 3. Applying Jyotish. 4. Ayanamsa – 00.00 Aries. 5. Applying Ayanamsa. 6. Story of the Kalapurusha Medical Astrology. 7. Health in the Zodiac. 8. Planet Sign Rulership. 9. Element, Dosha and Karma. 10. Orientation, Strength and Disposition of Signs. 11. Introduction to the Graha Planets. 12. Surya Sun. 13. Chandra Moon. 14. Buddha Mercury. 15. Kuja Mars. 16. Shukra Venus. 17. Guru Jupiter. 18. Shani Saturn. 19. Rahu & Ketu. 20. Mandi (Upagraha). 21. Friendships, Enmity and Neutrality of Planets. 22. Propitiation – Pacifying the Graha. 23. Planetary Gemstones. 24. Nava Ratna. 25. Yagyas, Yantra and Astrological Talisman. 26. Houses and Signs. 27. The Signs. 28. The Houses. 29. Special Houses. 30. The 27 Nakshatra. 31. Soma, Moon and Nakshatra. 32. Medical Nakshatra. 33. Directing Outcomes – The Demon King of Lanka. 34. Jyotish and Rasa Shastra. 35. Summing Up.
Appendix 1. Classification of Materials in Rasa Shastra.
Appendix 2. Types of Iron.
Appendix 3. Quick Reference for Rasa Materials.
Appendix 4. Nyu Mountain.
Appendix 5. The Moon Transits through Rohini Nakshatra.
Appendix 6. Western Alchemical Tradition.
Appendix 7. Sir Isaac Newton – Scientist or Heretic.
About the Author. Bibliography. Index.