L. N. Gupta and Neeraj Kumar

Department of Rasa Shastra, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005 India.

Abstract

Therapeutic importance of bhasmas of metals and minerals are time tasted. It is very important to look over the history, to make available the evidences for the use of metals and minerals in therapeutics and to provide the knowledge of processing techniques in ancient India. Rasa Shastra, the branch of Ayurvedic science that deals with the pharmaceutical processing of metals and minerals. Vanga is one of the most important metals described in various ancient Ayurvedic literatures. The literatures reveals regarding different features, geological distributions and various processing techniques i.e. shodhana, jarana and marana. The efforts have been made to collect and compile all the related material in relation to Vanga from all possible ancient literary resources.

Keywords

Vanga; Shodhana; Jaran; Marana; Bhasma

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Introduction

Since Vedic period till current time Vanga has been used in different way to fulfil the need of general life as well as ailing being. Initially Vanga was used for preparation of different house hold utensils in ancient past. Later on it is incorporated in medical use in the form of Bhasma. Ancient texts are much enriched with the description of therapeutic use with processing techniques of metals and minerals. In Samhita period very scant description of Vanga was found dispersed in the literatures.  The manufacturing techniques are mainly developed in the medieval period and since then the novel dosage form of metals/minerals i.e. Bhasma are used frequently for the betterment of ailing society both in short term and long term conditions.  History has its importance to exploring the information’s of past and to facilitate the way running in future.

Chronological Appraisal of Vanga

Vanga in Vedic Period

In Yajurveda and Atharvaveda the reference of Trapu is available for Vanga mentioned along with Suvarna, Rajat, Tamra, Loha and Naga. The word Trapu is originated from the dhatu “Trap” means to be ashamed.

Vanga in Samhita Period

Caraka Samhita

Caraka while describing Bhoumadravyas, included Vanga in PanchaLoha Group with Suvarna, Rajat, Tamra, Loha and Naga. Vanga is also a useful metal for the preparation of JihvaNirlekhanYantra ,VastiNetra along with Suvarna, Rajat, Tamra etc. In Chikitsasthana Trapuchurna is advised for Mandal Kustha.

Sushruta Samhita

Insutra sthana Acharya Sushruta has mentioned Vanga in Trapwadigana and described its pharmacological properties viz. lavan rasa, katuvipak, krimighna and lekhan karma. In chikitsasthana he also indicated the external application of tin plate while bandaging the Kaphaj Arbuda.

Table 1: Drugs used for Shodhana

S. No.	Drugs	Process/times	Textual reference
1	AmlaTakra	Dhalana          3	R.T.- 18/13,
2	AmlaTakra , Punarnava&Vatsanabha	#NAME?	R.Chu.- 14/136, R.J.N.-Vol-
				3.pp-104,
3	ArkaDugda	#NAME?	A.P.-3/53,R.H.T.-6/14, R.S.S.-
				1/289, R.T.-18/10, R.J.N.-Vol-
				3, pp-105.
4	BrahmavrikshaKwatha	#NAME?	R.K.D.-3/293
5	BhringarajaSwarasa	#NAME?	R.T.-18/14
6	Churnodaka	#NAME?	R.T.-18/8
7	Churnodaka	Swedana        3hrs	R.S.S.-1/290
8	GhritkumariSwarasa	#NAME?	R.T.-18/14,
9	Gomutra	#NAME?	R.K.D.-3/151, A.P.-3/48
10	Kadalimula Rasa	#NAME?	A.P.-3/54
11	Kanji	#NAME?	A.P.-3/52
12	KatphalaKwatha	#NAME?	R.R.S.-5/157
13	Ksharambu	#NAME?	R.R.S.-5/70
14	KulatthaKwatha	#NAME?	A.P.-3/48
15	MahishiAsthiChurna&Mutra	Sechana		Rasarnava.-7/112
16	Mutravarga	Nirvapa          7	R.Pu.-274
17	NimbuSwarasa	#NAME?	R.S.S.-326/1-2
18	NirgundiSwarasa	#NAME?	R.Chu.-6/13
19	NirgundiSwarasa&HaridraChurna	#NAME?	R.R.S.-5/158,R.T.-18/11,
				R.Chu.-14/135, R.J.N.-Vol-
				3.pp-103,
20	Tailavarga	#NAME?	RSS -326/1-2,
21	SnuhiKshira	#NAME?	R.KD.-464, RSS- 326/1-
				2,R.P.-14/6

 

Astanga Samgraha 

In Astanga Samgraha Vanga is mentioned in Bhoumadravyas along with pharmacological properties and indicated in different diseases like pandu, krimi and vaman.

Vanga in Mediaeval period / Rasa Literatures

In Rasa Hridaya Tantra, Vanga has been mentioned under Puti Lohas along with Tamra, Abhrak, Loha etc. and also described its Shodhana, Marana, Naga-Vanga yoga with Abhrakasatva for inducing Mukha in Parada.

Table 2: Drugs Used for Jarana/Marana of Vanga

a) A-Herbal Drugs
S.No.	Herbal Drugs	Textual Reference
1	ApamargaPanchanga	R.J.N.-Vol.3.pp-104, R.P.-14/14, R.T.-18/20, A.P.-3/156, R.S.S.-1/298
2	ArkaDugdha	R.R.S.-5/159, R.J.N.-Vol-3.pp-104, R.P.-14/17, A.P.-3/170, R.T.-18 27
3	AshwathTwak	R.R.S.-5/159, R.J.N.-Vol-3.pp.104, R.P.-14/11, A.P.-3/177, R.T.-18/
		29,R.S.S.-1/297
4	BabbulTwak	R.P.-14/32
5	Bhallatak	R.J.N.-Vol-3.
6	ChinchaKashya	R.R.S.-5/159, R.J.N.-Vol-3, R.P.-14/11, A.P.-3/174,
7	Haridra	R.J.N.-Vol-3,A.P.-3/171
8	Jiraka	R.J.N.-Vol-3,R.P.-14/24, A.P.-3/171
9	Palasha	R.J.N.-Vol-3,R.P.-14/32,
10	Pippali	R.R.S.-5/159,A.P.-3/167
11	Tila	A.P.-3/176

 

First time in Rasarnava, Shweta and Krishna verities of Vanga are mentioned

In Rasendra Chudamani, Khurak and Mishraka verities of Vanga are mentioned with the Mehagna and Rasayana properties, which claim to cure 20 types of Pramehas and also described the pharmacological properties and procedures of Shodhana and Marana.

Table 2(b): Mineral drugs

S.No.	Mineral Drugs	Textual Reference
1	Haratala	R.H.T.-17/6,R.Chu.-14/130,R.R.S.-5/159,
		R.KD.-466,R.P.-14/11-13, A.P.-3/162,R.T.-18/26
2	Makshika	R.J.N.-Vol-.3
3	Parad	R.R.S.-5/160,R.T.-18/16
4	Saindhava	R.J.N.-Vol-3
5	Shilajatu	R.KD.-483,A.P.-3/160

 

In Rasa Kamdhenu first time described the VangaDoshas along with pharmaco-therapeutical properties of metal such as Dhatuprada, Balakara, & Chaksushya.

In Ayurveda Prakash, synonyms, verities, pharmaceutical procedures, pharmacotherapeutic indications, characteristics of Khuraka Vanga are described.

Table 2(c): Animal Origin Drugs

S.No.	Animal Origin Drugs	Textual Reference
1	Kukkutandatwak	R.Mt.-3/92
2	MuktaShukti	R.J.N.-Vol-3, R.Mt.-3/92
3	Shankha	RJ.N.-Vol- 3
4	Varatika	R.J.N.-Vol- 3

 

In Rasa Tarangini, the author has emphasised the importance of Vanga Shodhana and advised Prakshalana with water after Jarana to remove the Kshara of Jarit Vanga.

 Varieties 

First time among Ayurvedic Rasa text the author of Rasarnava classified the Vanga on the basis of its colour, Sweta and Krishna. In RasendraChudamani, on the basis of appearance two types of Vanga, Khuraka and Mishraka are mentioned. KhurakaVanga having the properties like silvery white, mridu, snigdha, guru, melts easily and nishbdam while MishrakaVanga full of impurities, dirty white in colour, hard with bad smell and not melts easily.

Table 3: Anupana of VangaBhasma for different diseases

S.No.	Disease	Anupana/sahapan
1	Prameha	Shilajit, Gudichisatva, Tulasiswarasa
2	Pandu	Goghrit
3	Gulma	Tankanachurna
4	Napunsaka	Apamargchurna
5	Agnimandya	Pippalichurna
6	Swetapradar	Lohabhasma, Suktibhasma&Ralachurna
7	Sukravardhaka	Musalichurna, Haridrachurna
8	Sukrastambhaka	Kasturi, Jatiphala
9	Kustha	Khadirakwatha
10	Jalodar	Goat milk.

 

GrahyaLakshana

Khuraka Vanga is accepted for therapeutic purposes. This is having the properties like silvery white, mridu, snigdha, guru and nishbdam .

AsuddhaVangadosha

When apakvaVangaBhasma or asuddhaVangaBhasma is administered then following diseases may occur like kustha, gulma, pandu, prameha, vatarakta etc.

Table 4: Formulations Containing Vanga Bhasma

S.No.	Formulations	Ingredients	Bhavana Drugs	Indications
1	MuktaPanchamrita	Muktabhasma, Pravalbhasma, Vanga	Ikshu rasa,	Jirnajwar
	Rasa (B.R.-14/219-	bhasma, Shankhabhasma, Shuktibhasma	Godugdha,
	221)	etc.	Ghritkumarai , swarasa
2	Laxmivilas Rasa (B.R.-	Swarnabhasma, Rajatabhasma, Abhraka	Madhu, Chitraka	Kshaya,Tridosha
	14/222-225)	bhasma, Vangabhasma, Tamrabhasma,	kwatha	jaPandu,
		Lauhabhasma, Naga bhasma, Mukta		Kamla, Arsha,
		bhasma, Paradabhasma, Suddha		Swasa, Kasa,
		Vatsanabha etc.		Kushtha
3	Mahakaleshwara Rasa	Lauhabhasma, Vangabhasma, Tamra	Bhangaswarasa	Kshaya, Swasa,
	(B.R.-15/74-79)	bhasma, AbhrakabhasmaSwarnamakshika		Kasa,
		bhasma, SuddhaParada,Suddha		Rajyakshma
		Gandhaka, SuddhaVatsanabha, Lavanga,
		ChotiEla, Dalchini etc.
4	VasantTilaka Rasa	Swarnabhasma, Abhrakabhasma, Vanga	Gokshurakwatha,	Kshaya, Pandu,
	(B.R.-15/154-155)	bhasma, Lauhabhasma, Muktabhasma,	Vasapatraswarasa	Swasa, Kasa,
		Paradabhasma etc.		Prameha, Jwar
5	UnmadabhanjanRasa	Rajatabhasma, Abhrakabhasma, Vanga	–	Unmada,
	(B.R.-24/41-45)	bhasma, Lauhabhasma, Pravalbhasma,		Apasmara,
		Trikatu, Triphala, Kutaki, Trivrita etc.		Raktapitta
6	Nageshwara Rasa	SuddhaParada,SuddhaGandhaka, Vanga	Arkadugddha,	Pleehavriddhi,
	(B.R.-32/88-90)	bhasma,  Naga bhasma,Suddha	Chitrakakwatha	Pandu, Shotha
		Manahshila, Lauhabhasma, Tamrabhasma,
		Abhrakabhasma Tankan, Yavakshara etc.
7	Tarkeshwara Rasa	SuddhaParada,SuddhaGandhaka,	Gokshurakwatha,	Mutrakriccha
	(B.R.-34/35-39)	Abhrakabhasma, Vangabhasma,  Lauha	Panchtrinakwatha
		bhasma, Yavakshar, Gokshura etc.
8	Vasantkusumakara	Swarnabhasma, Rajatabhasma, Abhraka	Ikshu rasa,	Prameha,
	Rasa(B.R.-37/121-126)	bhasma, Vangabhasma,  Lauhabhasma,	Godugdha,	Kshayakasa,
		Naga bhasma, Muktabhasma, Pravala	Laksharasa etc.	Swasa
		bhasma etc.
9	Vangeshwara Rasa	Vangabhasma, KantaLauhabhasma,	Ghritkumarai	Prameha,
	(B.R.-37/164-165)	Abhrakabhasma etc.	swarasa	Mutrakriccha, Pandu
10	Apoorvamalinivasanta	Vaikrantabhasma, Abhrakabhasma,	Shatavarikwatha,	Jirnajwar,
	Rasa (B.R.-37/184-	Tamrabhasma, Swarnamakshikabhasma,	Haridrakwatha	Prameha,
	186)	Rajatabhasma, Vangabhasma, Pravala		Mutrakriccha
		bhasma, Rasa sindoor, Tankan etc.
11	Chudamani Rasa	Rasa sindoor, Swarnabhasma, Rajata	–	Jwar, Kasa,
	(R.S.S.- 2/2/352-357)	bhasma, Abhrakabhasma, Vangabhasma,		Swasa, Grahani,
		Tamrabhasma, Lauhabhasma,  Mukta		Kamala,
		bhasma, Pravalabhasma etc.		Mutrakriccha,
12	Sarvanga Sunder Rasa	Swarnabhasma, Rajatabhasma, Abhraka	Shunti, Vijaya,	Vataroga,
	(R.S.S.- 2/29/42-46)	bhasma, Vangabhasma, Tamrabhasma,	Dhattura, Jayanti	Kapharoga.
		Lauhabhasma, SuddhaParada,Suddha
		Gandhaka, SuddhaManahshila etc.

Shodhana of Vanga

Generally Shodhana of Vanga is done by dhalana method in “PitharYantra” with the use of various liquid media and methodologies applied for Shodhana procedure described in different texts are given in table-1.

Jarana/Marana of Vanga

Jarana is the intermediary process between shodhana and marana, whereas marana is the final process of Vanga for its intended use. These processes are described in different texts with use of different associated materials of plant, animal and mineral origin. Drugs used and methodologies applied for jarana/marana procedures described in table-2.A to C.

Pharmacological action

The pharmacological properties of Vanga as described in SushrutSamhita having Katu and Lavana rasa, Lekhan karma and Krimighna. In Rasa Tarangini, Vanga has tikta and kasayarasa,laghugunasitavirya, vataharprabhav.

Dose

1-2 Ratti

Anupana

Anupana of VangaBhasma for different diseases are illustrated in table- 3.

Therapeutic use

The therapeutic uses of VangaBhasma are indicated in Prameha, Swapnameha, Swasa, Pandu, Krimi etc.

Some important formulations of VangaBhasma along with therapeutic indications are mentioned in table- 4.

Conclusion

The geographical distribution Vanga has indicated several features.

On the basis of features, place of origin, appearance, utility and therapeutic uses, Vanga have different synonyms.

Shodhana, jarana and marana indicate the enriched ancient technology of metal processing by applying different types of procedure of different associated drugs.

The therapeutic importance of Vanga is shown by the use of it in different diseases.

Aberrations

R.S.S.- RasendraSarSangraha, R.T.- Rasa Tarangani, R.R.S.- Rasa RatnaSammucchaya, R.Chu.- RasendraChudamani, R.H.T.-Rasa hridayaTantra, R.P.- RasendraPuran, R.KD.- Rasa Kamdhenu, R.J.N.-Rasa JalNidhi, A.P.- Ayurveda Prakash, R.Mt. – Rasamritam, B.R.- BhaishajyaRatnavali,

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