This method of Gandhaka shodhana is done by puta method. slide describes the process and benefit of this process over other processes of gandhaka shodhana. Hope so it will be useful for ayurveda scholars.

1. SHODHANA OF GANDHAKA BY
PUTA METHOD AND ITS BENEFITS
OVER OTHER PROCESSES.
PRESENTED BY-
Dr. SOMIL DUBEY
PG SCHOLAR, SV AYURVEDA
COLLEGE
TIRUPATI

2. CONCEPT OF SHODHANA
 Minerals basically are impure i.e., not fit for internal
administration in crude form. They contain many impurities,
toxins which may cause many untoward side effects in the
body.
• In order to neutralize these toxins, the minerals are subjected
to many purification measures in which physical & chemical
impurities are removed and the drug is made safe for further
processing to make it therapeutically fit.

3. TYPES OF SHODHANA
 SAMANYA SHODHAN- the process is common for group of drugs,
like shodhana of all shadharana rasa by trituration with zambiri swarasa
or aadraka swarasa for three days.
VISHESHA SHODHANA - method is specific for a drug, like
purification of vanga by Dhalana in churnodaka.

4. VARIOUS METHODS INCORPORATED IN
SHODHANA
 Bhavana
Nirvapa
Swedana
Dhanlana
Prakshalana
Mardana
Pruthakkarana
Nimajjana
Galana
Vilayana
nirjalikarana

5. OBJECTIVES OF SHODHANA
Removal of impurities
Facilitates for further processes
Sukshmikarana of drug
Augments the potency of the drug
Used therapeutically after shodhana

6. CONT...
Shodhana is a prerequisite for all Rasa dravyas. It is not
only to remove the Physical or chemical impurities but also
to imbibe the properties of herbal drugs used in the process
thereby increasing the potency of the drug and by the
process of trituration, the drug turns finer thus helping in
the absorption and assimilation in the body. It also helps in
the further processing of the drug i.e., marana.

7. INTRODUCTION TO GANDHAKA
Gandhaka is included in uparasas varga in rasa text. Stands
next to Mercury in importance and its importance is revealed
in various procedures like jarana etc.
In nature native Sulphur is available in very small quanttity. It
is generally found in mineral form compounded with Iron,
Copper, Lead, Mercury, Silver and other metals. It is also
found in following animal and vegetable products.
A) Eggs, Blood, Milk, Bile etc
B) mustard, carrot, garlic

8. PHYSICO- CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF
GANDHAKA
Latin name- Sulphidum
Symbol- S
Atomic number-16
Atomic weight-32
Hardness-1.5-2.5
Melting point-119°C
Boiling point-444.8°C
Specific gravity-1.9-2.1

9. VARIETIES OF GANDHAKA
According to Rasendrachudamani
1- Rakta- sukatunda (parrot’s beak)- used for Alchemy
2- Pita- sukapicha- (parrot’s tail) – used for Rasayana purpose
3- Sweta- khatika- used for lauh marana
4- Krishna- black – alleviates old age and death
Other classification ( called by these names in market)
Amalasara gandhaka- crystal sulphur
Nenua gandhaka- roll sulphur

10. GRAHAYA LAKSHANAS OF GANDHAKA
Gandhaka which is yellow coloured like of Parrot’s tail (green
yellow), lusturous as butter, smooth, hard and oily, is considered
best for processing into medicines.

12. IMPURITES OF SULPHUR
Two types of impurities are seen in Gandhaka-
1) Stones (due to contact with earth)
2) Poison (due to contact with other metals and minerals
present in nature).
Hence the purification of gandhaka is must before
being administered into the body.

13. CONSEQUENCES OF USING IMPURE GANDHAKA
 If impure gandhaka is taken it causes skin ailments,
burning sensation, giddiness and pitta diseases.
 It also harms the appearance, strength and potency of
body. Therefore it is purified before being used for
therapeutic purpose.

14. PURIFICATION OF GANDHAKA
 Various methods of gandhaka purification are
mentioned in classics.
 Present presentation concentrates on method
mentioned in major text of rasashastra like
Rasaratnasamuchaya, Rasatarangani,
Rasendrasarasangraha.

16. MATERIALS AND METHODS
 250 gm of Impure Gandhaka
 4 litres of cow milk
 One earthen vessel
 One sarava
 Cotton cloth
 Multani mitti for sandhibandhana
 Uplas

17. A small pit is dig first according to the size of the pot

18.  Earthen pot is taken and filled with milk. Amount of
milk taken should be upto the neck of the pot.
 A vessel having more height is more suitable because it
facilitates enough time for melted gandhaka to travel
down the pot and get cooled down.
 Approx 4 litre of cow milk was taken for this method.

21. A double layered cotton cloth is tied at the mouth of pot
 and is fastened at neck.

22.  Gandhaka is powdered in Siktaakruti and is spread
over the cloth.
 Gandhaka must be spread in heap like form around
the mid portion of cloth. Otherwise if spread around
the periphery melted gandhaka may ooze out through
the corners leading to wastage.

24.  A sarava is kept carefully over the pot.
 Joint of sarava and pot is sealed with Mud- smeared
cloth and kept for drying.
 Thick mud smearing is good as it gets dried up quickly.

27.  Whole apparatus is transferred to the pit in
such a way that the sarava is exposed.

29. DECIDING THE NO. OF UPLAS
 In this practical 250 gm. of gandhaka was taken.
 In Rasaratnasamuchaya specific no. of count for uplas
are not mentioned.
 In Rasendra sara sangraha laghu puta is mentioned for
this process.
 The process was subjected to 5 times to estimate the
actual count of uplas required.
 By number of repetitions it was concluded that 8 no. of
uplas are sufficient for this particular practical.

30.  Uplas were broken in small fragments and arranged
properly over the sarava.
 Uplas were burned completely and than subjected to self-
cooling.
 After self cooling ash collected over the sarava is cleaned.

33.  Appratus is taken out from pit carefully
 Sandhi bandhana is removed, carefully remove the cloth
tied over the mouth of the vessel.
 Milk is removed and gandhaka from the bottom of the
vessel is collected.
 It is cleaned with hot water until it gets completely free
from milk.

36. PRECAUTIONS DURING THE PRCOCESS
 Main factor in this method is time duration, if lot of time
is taken in this process their is every possible chance of
milk getting converted into curd.
 Appropriate calculation of no. of uplas is must because
practically it was seen that excess of uplas led to burning
of gandhaka, and lesser amount leads to incomplete
melting of gandhaka.

37.  Utmost care must be taken to remove apparatus and
milk from pot to avoid any damage to body by
heat.
 Proper cleaning of gandhaka is to be done to make
it free from milk else it may lead to fungus growth.

38. ADVANTAGE OF THE PROCESS OVER
OTHER PROCESSES.
 Large amount of gandhaka can be purified by this
method one at a time.
 Once process is started it can continue by self, their is
no need of any other manoeuvre as in other process
involving manual melting and pouring of gandhaka in
vessel.
 Gandhaka is purified in one time no need to repeat this
process no. of times as mentioned in other process.

39. MODIFICATION OF PROCESS
 Although classics have mentioned to perform this
method by digging a pit, it can also be performed by
taking a large iron vessel (kadai) filled with sand and
keeping the pot carefully in centre of iron vessel and
rest of the process is performed as mentioned.