Changes

In Samudra manthan the menstruate of Goddess Parvati came out then its strong smell hypnotized all demons, so named as Gandhaka.<ref>Sharma Dharmanand (1999) ''Rasa Ratna Samuchhaya'' New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas Publications (pp.39-41).</ref> According to Āyurveda Prakāśa when Devī Pārvatī was playing near Kṣīrābdhi,<ref name=":6">Shankarlal Harishankar, (2019) ed. ''[https://archive.org/details/rasa-ratna-samucchaya-of-vagbhatacharya-shankar-lal-hari-shankar/page/n79/mode/2up Rasaratna Sammuchhaya by Acharya Vagbhata]'' Bombay: Khemraj Srikrishnadas Prakashan</ref> she menstruated. The Raja was very fragrant and beautiful. The cloth which was wet with Raja was then washed in the ocean. That Raja when mixed with the water converted into Gandhaka. When Deva and Dānava started churning of ocean at that time Gandhaka came out along with nector and that Gandhaka having characteristic smell pleased Deva and Dānava. Hence Deva’s gave the name Gandhaka to it.<ref name=":4" />

In Samudra manthan the menstruate of Goddess Parvati came out then its strong smell hypnotized all demons, so named as Gandhaka.<ref>Sharma Dharmanand (1999) ''Rasa Ratna Samuchhaya'' New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas Publications (pp.39-41).</ref> According to Āyurveda Prakāśa when Devī Pārvatī was playing near Kṣīrābdhi,<ref name=":6">Shankarlal Harishankar, (2019) ed. ''[https://archive.org/details/rasa-ratna-samucchaya-of-vagbhatacharya-shankar-lal-hari-shankar/page/n79/mode/2up Rasaratna Sammuchhaya by Acharya Vagbhata]'' Bombay: Khemraj Srikrishnadas Prakashan</ref> she menstruated. The Raja was very fragrant and beautiful. The cloth which was wet with Raja was then washed in the ocean. That Raja when mixed with the water converted into Gandhaka. When Deva and Dānava started churning of ocean at that time Gandhaka came out along with nector and that Gandhaka having characteristic smell pleased Deva and Dānava. Hence Deva’s gave the name Gandhaka to it.<ref name=":4" />

In other version, during Samudra manthana, on every pulling by Vasuki-naga exhaled poisonous and inflammable air, which caused the melting of demon King Bali’s vasa or fat. The fat was having peculiar smell, called as Gandhaka and hence called Bali Vasa. Due to the poisonous flames coming out of Vasuki serpent, Gandhaka became poisonous.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">Sekhar Reddy, P. A textbook of Rasashastra. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia (pp.219)</ref>

In other version, during Samudra manthana, on every pulling by Vasuki-naga exhaled poisonous and inflammable air, which caused the melting of demon King Bali’s vasa or fat. The fat was having peculiar smell, called as Gandhaka and hence called Bali Vasa. Due to the poisonous flames coming out of Vasuki serpent, Gandhaka became poisonous.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">Sekhar Reddy, P. A textbook of Rasashastra. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia (pp.219-228)</ref>

Mercury is considered an element of Shiva, whereas sulphur, an element of Parvati and the product that was created from their union in asafoetida was called ras sindur, which was considered the essence for longevity.<ref>Soni, Suresh. India's Glorious Scientific Tradition. </ref>

Mercury is considered an element of Shiva, whereas sulphur, an element of Parvati and the product that was created from their union in asafoetida was called ras sindur, which was considered the essence for longevity.<ref>Soni, Suresh. India's Glorious Scientific Tradition. </ref>

== गन्धकखनिजानि ॥ Sulphur Minerals ==

== गन्धकखनिजानि ॥ Sulphur Minerals ==

Naturally Sulphur is available in the form of various minerals of sulphur. Gandhaka or Sulphur is extracted from these minerals. Some of the suphur minerals are listed below,<ref name=":1" />

Naturally Sulphur is available in the form of various minerals of sulphur. Gandhaka or Sulphur is extracted from these minerals. Some of the suphur minerals are listed below,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" />

* Sulphide - in Sulphide form

* Sulphide - in Sulphide form

# Iron Pyrite Iron Pyrite (Fe S2)

# Iron Pyrite (Fe₂S₃)

# Copper Pyrite Copper Pyrite (Cu,S Fe, S)

# Copper Pyrite or Chalco Pyrite (Cu₂S Fe₂S₃)

# Galena (PbS)

# Galena (PbS)

# Cinnabar (Hg S)

# Cinnabar (HgS)

# Hydrogen Sulfide Hydrogen Sulfide (H, S)

# Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S)

# Zinc blend (ZnS)

* Sulphate - In the form of Sulphate.  

* Sulphate - In the form of Sulphate.  

# Gypsum or calcium sulfate (Ca SO 2H, O)

# Gypsum or calcium sulfate (Ca₂SO 2H₂O)

# Heavy spar (Ba SO )  

# Heavy spar (BaSO₄)

# Ferrous Sulphate (FeSO, 7H, O)

# Ferrous Sulphate or Green Vitriol (FeSO₄ 7H₂O)

# Copper Sulphate (Cu SO, SHO)  

# Copper Sulphate or Blue Vitriol (CuSO₄, 5H₂O)

== गन्धकस्य नैसर्गिकस्त्रोताः ॥ Natural sources of Sulphur ==

== गन्धकस्य नैसर्गिकस्त्रोताः ॥ Natural sources of Sulphur ==