The document discusses yantras, which are appliances or mechanical devices used in ancient Ayurvedic science. It defines yantras as apparatus used to purify raw minerals and metals during processes like incineration. The document then describes several types of yantras that have different purposes, such as svedani yantras for heating substances, dola yantras for purification, and khalwa yantras for processes like powdering and bhavana. It provides details on the design and use of specific yantras like vartula khalwa yantras, dronirupa khalwa yantras, and patana yantras used for sublimation.
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1. M.G.A.C.H.&R.C. Salod (H), Wardha.
Knowledge of yantras
used in ancient ayurvedic
science
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
2. Contents
2
Introduction
Yantra definition
Yantras according to different acharyas
Types of yantra
Types of khalwa yantra
References
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
3. Introduction
3
The production of herbo-mineral or mineral medicines
needs immense power that cannot be generated by
hitherto techniques.
Therefore, the ayurvedic physicians have devised
special yantras that generate immense heat to treat the
minerals at high temperatures.
Yantra is an appliance or mechanical contrivance that
helps ‘purify’ raw minerals and formulate medicines of
bio-mineral substances.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
4. 4
Tens of varieties of yantra were described in medieval
ayurvedic texts.
These yantras are made out of simple earthen ware,but
subjected to intense heat during few days.
The mercury and other alchemical products that are
bound within yantras undergo metamorphosis under
duress and yield final product in very fine form.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
5. Definition
5
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Yantras are the apparatus brought into use for
safeguading the mercury, minerals and other metals
during incineration etc.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
6. In order to perform the swedana etc. processes on mercury
& also to control it during the process, whatever specific
apparatus are designed by experts, those are called
yantras.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
8. Yantras are named
Basing on their shaped
e.g- Damru yanta, Kacchapa yantra, Ghata yantra, Palika
yantra.
Basing on functions carried out in them
e.g- Swedani yantra, Jarana yantra, Patana yantra.
Basing on material used in designing them
e.g- Valuka yantra, Lavana yantra, Bhasma yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
9. Swedani Yantra
9
Use:-
For Softening of
substances
For Swarasa extraction
For Parada sanskar
For Rasa Dravya Shodhan
Swedana in sanskrit means sweat.The material after heating
process looks covered by water as if it had sweated, this is
called swedani yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
10. Dola Yantra
10
Use:-
For Rasa dravya
Shodhan
For Parada Shodhan
For Pottali
preparation
The material for purification is kept swinging in the
liquid in a pot, this is named as Dola yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
11. Sthali Yantra
11
Use:-
For Heating of
various Rasadravya
For Somanathi Tamra
Bhasma preparation
In any earthen or metallic vessel, the metallic and mineral
drugs are filled with specified ‘amla dravya’. The mouth of
the vessel is closed and sealed with a suitable lid. The vessel
is placed over fire and the contents are cooked up to the
stipulated time. This type of yantra is called as “Sthali
yantra”.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
12. Ulukhala Yantra
12
Use:
For powdering purpose
A deep vessel shaped wooden, stone
or iron mortar, which has height of 16
angula, width of 10 angula and depth
of 13 angula is identified as
‘ulukhala’.
It should be very soft,shiny and
strong. Its pestle used here should be
of wood, stone or iron with enough
thikness and 20 angula length.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
13. Khalwa Yantra
13
Use:
For Bhavana
Preparation of Khalviya
formulations
For Parada Sanskar
For Powdering
For Bhasma preparation
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
14. Types of Khalwa yantra
14
There are two types of khalwa yantra that are used for
all the pharmaceutical procedures:
1) Vartulakara (Circular) khalwa yantra
2) Dronirupa (Elliptical) khalwa yantra
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
15. Vartula khalwa yantra
15
The circular shaped iron or stone mortar with width of 12
angula, depth of 9 angula and height of 11 angula is
identified as Vartula khalwa.
Use:
This khalwa yantra is used
for ptriturating different
types of herbal and mineral
drugs during
pharmaceutical procedures.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
16. Dronirupa khalwa yantra
16
The elliptical shaped iron or stone mortar with height
of 7 angula, length of 16 angula and width of 12
angula is identified as dronarupa khalwa.
Use:
This khalwa yantra is used for pounding or triturating
different types of herbal and mineral drugs during
pharmaceutical procedures
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
18. Tapta khalwa yantra
18
A khalwa yantra prepared by iron, measuring 9 angula
length, 6 angula in width and depth.The pestle is also
made of iron and it should be of 8 angula length.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
19. Kachchhapa Yantra
19
A wide circular vessel measuring 15 to 20 angula
width is selected. Half of the vessel is filled with
water.
Now the crucible filled with the medicine is placed in
the middle of the smaller vessel and it is covered
inverted with a strong earthen lid ,the edge of the lid is
properly sealed with wet mud.above by lid on all sides
in the small vessel, the charcoal are filled and ignited.
By doing so the gandhak jarana takes place. This
yantra is called as Kacchapa yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
20. 20
Use:-
For Bid Jarana in Parada
For Gandhak Jarana
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
21. Urdhwa Patan Yantra
21
Use:-
For extraction of Parada
from Hingul
For Hartal, Manashila
Satva Patan
For other sublimation
purpose
The word patana means distillation and hence the apparatus in
which distillation is carried out is called patana yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
22. Adhah Patan Yantra
22
Use:-
For Adhapatan Sanskar
of Parada
For Gandhaka
Shodhana
Since mercury falls down from the upper pot in
this apparatus,this is called adhapatana yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
23. Jarnarth Tula Yantra
23
Use:-
For Gandhaka Jarana in
Parada
For Dwandamelapan of
Dhatu
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
24. Patana Yantra- Damaru Yantra
24
Use:-
For extraction of
Parada from Hingul
For Hartal, Manashila
Satva Patan
For other sublimation
purpose
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
26. Tiryak Patana Yantra
26
Use:-
For
Distillation
of Parada
For
extraction of
herbal
volatile oils
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
27. Palika Yantra
27
Use:-
For Parpati preparation
During preparation of
various formulations
For stirring purpose
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
29. Puta Yantra
29
Use:-
For Bhasma
preparation
For Jarana
For Bhasma testing
For Satva Patana
For Amritikarana
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
31. Lavana Yantra
31
Lavana yantra is the same ‘valuka yantra’ explained
above.
The only change here in ‘lavana yantra’ is, instead of
‘valuka’ (sand), lavana (salt)is filled around the bottle
in the cylindrical iron vessel.
All the procedure of heat application is also same this
is used for preparation.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
32. Bhudhara Yantra
32
A wide and circular earthen vessel of cylindrical
bucket like structure is selected.At its base,two angula
sand is spread.
Above that, the tightly enclosed and sealed crucible
containing medicine is firmly placed.
Above and on all sides of the crucible, two-angula
thick sand is filled. Above this sand the specified
number of dry cow dung cakes are placed and ignited.
This is called ‘Bhudhara yantra’.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
34. Ghata yantra
34
A pot with capacity of ‘four prastha’ of water and
which has neck of 4 angula circumference is called
as ghata yantra or apyayanaka yantra.
Dr.Sanket Shelke PG Scholar Dept.of RSBK
