Changes

The rasa (taste), Virya (potency) and Vipaka (taste at the end of digestion) of Mercury has been quoted as similar to ambrosia in Rasarnavam. Mercury possesses all the qualities of Animadi astaguna (eight qualities) which are required for the accomplishments of human life. There is no other thing in the earth than Mercury to attain salvation. It imparts glory to human body by eradicating old age according to the text Rasendra mangalam by Kaviraja H. S. Sharma.<ref name=":0" /> Mercury is regarded as a heavy metal that contains a variety of impurities and has poisonous and harmful effects on the body if it is not well purified.<ref>Dadu, Vaibhav. (2016) Philosophical Tenets of Vaiseshika and the fundamentals of Ayurveda World Journal of Pharmaceutical </ref>

The rasa (taste), Virya (potency) and Vipaka (taste at the end of digestion) of Mercury has been quoted as similar to ambrosia in Rasarnavam. Mercury possesses all the qualities of Animadi astaguna (eight qualities) which are required for the accomplishments of human life. There is no other thing in the earth than Mercury to attain salvation. It imparts glory to human body by eradicating old age according to the text Rasendra mangalam by Kaviraja H. S. Sharma.<ref name=":0" /> Mercury is regarded as a heavy metal that contains a variety of impurities and has poisonous and harmful effects on the body if it is not well purified.<ref>Dadu, Vaibhav. (2016) Philosophical Tenets of Vaiseshika and the fundamentals of Ayurveda World Journal of Pharmaceutical </ref>

== पर्यायाः ॥ Synonyms of Parada used in Ayurveda ==

== पर्यायाः ॥ Synonyms of Parada used in Ayurveda ==

According to Rasatarangini<ref name=":1">Kashinath Shastri (1986 reprint) ed., ''Ras Tarangini Of Sadananda Sharma With Prasadani Explanation Of Haridatt Shastri And Ras Vigyan Hindi Tika Of Dharmanand Shastri''. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas (pp. 72- )</ref>, the alternative names used for Pārada are <blockquote>रसो रसेन्द्रः सूतश्च रसेशश्च रसेश्वरः । चपलो रसराजश्च पारदश्च शिवाह्वयः ॥ १ ॥

According to Rasatarangini<ref name=":1">Kashinath Shastri (1986 reprint) ed., ''Ras Tarangini Of Sadananda Sharma With Prasadani Explanation Of Haridatt Shastri And Ras Vigyan Hindi Tika Of Dharmanand Shastri''. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas (pp. 71- )</ref>, the alternative names used for Pārada are <blockquote>रसो रसेन्द्रः सूतश्च रसेशश्च रसेश्वरः । चपलो रसराजश्च पारदश्च शिवाह्वयः ॥ १ ॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.1)

rasō rasēndraḥ sūtaśca rasēśaśca rasēśvaraḥ | capalō rasarājaśca pāradaśca śivāhvayaḥ || 1 ||</blockquote>The synonyms for mercury include rasa (रसः) rasēndraḥ (रसेन्द्रः) sūta (सूतः) rasēśa (रसेशः) rasēśvaraḥ (रसेश्वरः) capalā (चपलः) rasarāja (रसराजः) pārada (पारदः) śivāhvayaḥ (शिवाह्वयः - used in the sense of all the words meaning Shiva). The names given also explain the characteristics of the metal mercury.<ref name=":1" />

rasō rasēndraḥ sūtaśca rasēśaśca rasēśvaraḥ | capalō rasarājaśca pāradaśca śivāhvayaḥ || 1 ||</blockquote>The synonyms for mercury include rasa (रसः) rasēndraḥ (रसेन्द्रः) sūta (सूतः) rasēśa (रसेशः) rasēśvaraḥ (रसेश्वरः) capalā (चपलः) rasarāja (रसराजः) pārada (पारदः) śivāhvayaḥ (शिवाह्वयः - used in the sense of all the words meaning Shiva). The names given also explain the characteristics of the metal mercury.<ref name=":1" />

In Rasatarangini, we find the explanation of what each term means in its usage. <blockquote>रसनादभ्रकादीनां धातूनां कीर्तितो रसः । अभ्रकाद्यधिराजत्वाद्रसेन्द्र इति कथ्यते ॥२॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.2)

In Rasatarangini, we find the explanation of what each term means in its usage. <blockquote>रसनादभ्रकादीनां धातूनां कीर्तितो रसः । अभ्रकाद्यधिराजत्वाद्रसेन्द्र इति कथ्यते ॥२॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.2) rasanādabhrakādīnāṁ dhātūnāṁ kīrtitō rasaḥ | abhrakādyadhirājatvādrasēndra iti kathyatē ||2||</blockquote>Because mercury dissolves ('eats' or'engulfs') the maharasas such as Abhrakadi (mica) rasas etc, gold etc dhatus, it is called Rasa.<ref name=":2" /> As it is superior among Abhraka etc, it is called Rasendra.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>देहलोहभयीं सिद्धिं सूतेऽतः सूत उच्यते । स्वभावाच्चपलो यस्मात् ततोऽसौ चपलः स्मृतः ॥३॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.3) dēhalōhabhayīṁ siddhiṁ sūtē’taḥ sūta ucyatē | svabhāvāccapalō yasmāt tatō’sau capalaḥ smr̥taḥ ||3|| </blockquote>As it brings about wellbeing in the body and is used in the preparation of gold etc dhatus, it is called Suta. By nature, it is mobile/moving hence called Chapala.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>आतङ्कपङ्कमग्नानां पारदानाच्च पारदः। अभ्रादिरसराजत्वाद्रसराजः स्मृतो बुधैः ॥४॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.4) ātaṅkapaṅkamagnānāṁ pāradānācca pāradaḥ| abhrādirasarājatvādrasarājaḥ smr̥tō budhaiḥ ||4|| </blockquote>That which uplifts beings enmeshed in the dirt called roga/illness it is called Pārada. As a king (superior by qualities) among Ambhraka etc great aushadhis it is called Rasaraja.<ref name=":1" />

rasanādabhrakādīnāṁ dhātūnāṁ kīrtitō rasaḥ | abhrakādyadhirājatvādrasēndra iti kathyatē ||2||</blockquote>Because mercury dissolves ('eats' or'engulfs') the maharasas such as Abhrakadi (mica) rasas etc, gold etc dhatus, it is called Rasa.<ref name=":2" /> As it is superior among Abhraka etc, it is called Rasendra.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>देहलोहभयीं सिद्धिं सूतेऽतः सूत उच्यते । स्वभावाच्चपलो यस्मात् ततोऽसौ चपलः स्मृतः ॥३॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.3)

Parada has been referred to as having divine origin, associated with the deity Shiva or Hara in ancient literature (Rasa Ratna Samucchaya 1.61-68).<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> On the mountains of Himalayas, Shiva and his consort Parvati, engaged in intense sensual activities with a desire to win over the other. Devatas desired that Shiva and Parvati produce a son who could kill Tarakasura, but those activities caused a great disturbance upsetting the three worlds. However, seeing the brilliance of the raja and virya (of Parvati and Shiva) that was very powerful, sent Agni to cause a disturbance in the divine sensual activity. Agni went into the caves in the form of a pigeon and seeing him Shiva with great shyness realized that it was not a bird but was Agni and stopped the activity. By then the semen ejaculated which Shiva flung upon Agni. Unable to bear the tejas of the virya, Agni entered the waters of the Ganga. Soon Ganga was unable to bear the divine tejas which heated up the waters, so she washed ashore both Agni and the virya of Shiva. Due to the blemishes of the virya, metals of various kinds materialized on the banks of Ganga. At five places, where the virya dropped from Agni's mouth, there sprung five deep wells each having one of the five kinds of Parada. <blockquote>रासो रसेन्द्रः सूतश्च पारदो मिश्रकस्तथा ।  rāsō rasēndraḥ sūtaśca pāradō miśrakastathā | (Rasa. Ratn. Samu. 1.68)<ref name=":6" /></blockquote>They are Rasa, Rasendra, Suta, Parada and Mishraka.

dēhalōhabhayīṁ siddhiṁ sūtē’taḥ sūta ucyatē | svabhāvāccapalō yasmāt tatō’sau capalaḥ smr̥taḥ ||3|| </blockquote>As it brings about wellbeing in the body and is used in the preparation of gold etc dhatus, it is called Suta. By nature, it is mobile/moving hence called Chapala.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>आतङ्कपङ्कमग्नानां पारदानाच्च पारदः। अभ्रादिरसराजत्वाद्रसराजः स्मृतो बुधैः ॥४॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.4)

The metal mercury was known to the Indians since ancient times. The Chinese and Egyptians considered it as a magic substance. Prof. J.A. Brown was the scientist who grouped this fluid metal among metals. The English name of this metal is based on the planet Mercury which is named after a swift messenger in Greek mythology.  

ātaṅkapaṅkamagnānāṁ pāradānācca pāradaḥ| abhrādirasarājatvādrasarājaḥ smr̥tō budhaiḥ ||4|| </blockquote>That which uplifts beings enmeshed in the dirt called roga/illness it is called Pārada. As a king (superior by qualities) among Ambhraka etc great aushadhis it is called Rasaraja.<ref name=":1" />  

Mercury is available in native and ore forms. Mercury is the only elemental metal that is liquid at room temperature. Mercury is silvery white, slowly tarnishes in moist air, and freezes into a soft solid like tin or lead at −38.83 °C (−37.89 °F). It boils at 356.62 °C (673.91 °F).  It is a rather poor conductor of heat but a fair conductor of electricity. It alloys with copper, tin, and zinc to form amalgams, or liquid alloys. An amalgam with silver is used as a filling in dentistry. Mercury does not wet glass or cling to it, and this property, coupled with its rapid and uniform volume expansion throughout its liquid range, made it useful in thermometers.<ref name=":3" />

== ऊत्पत्ति इतिहासश्च  ॥ Origin and History  ==

According to Ayurveda texts<blockquote>अन्तसुनीलो बहिरुज्ज्वलो यो मध्यान्हसूर्यप्रतिमप्रकाशः । शस्तोऽध धूम्रः परिपाण्डुराश्च चित्रो न योज्यो रसकर्मासिद्धौ ॥ (Rasendramangala and Rasendrasara sangraha 1.9)

Parada has been referred to as having divine origin, associated with the deity Shiva or Hara in ancient literature (Rasa Ratna Samucchaya 1.61-68).<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> On the mountains of Himalayas, Shiva and his consort Parvati, engaged in intense sensual activities with a desire to win over the other. Devatas desired that Shiva and Parvati produce a son who could kill Tarakasura, but those activities caused a great disturbance upsetting the three worlds. However, seeing the brilliance of the raja and virya (of Parvati and Shiva) that was very powerful, sent Agni to cause a disturbance in the divine sensual activity. Agni went into the caves in the form of a pigeon and seeing him Shiva with great shyness realized that it was not a bird but was Agni and stopped the activity. By then the semen ejaculated which Shiva flung upon Agni. Unable to bear the tejas of the virya, Agni entered the waters of the Ganga. Soon Ganga was unable to bear the divine tejas which heated up the waters, so she washed ashore both Agni and the virya of Shiva. Due to the blemishes of the virya, metals of various kinds materialized on the banks of Ganga. At five places, where the virya dropped from Agni's mouth, there sprung five deep wells each having one of the five kinds of Parada. <blockquote>रासो रसेन्द्रः सूतश्च पारदो मिश्रकस्तथा ।  rāsō rasēndraḥ sūtaśca pāradō miśrakastathā | (Rasa. Ratn. Samu. 1.68)<ref name=":6" /></blockquote>They are Rasa, Rasendra, Suta, Parada and Mishraka.

 

antasunīlō bahirujjvalō yō madhyānhasūryapratimaprakāśaḥ | śastō’dha dhūmraḥ paripāṇḍurāśca citrō na yōjyō rasakarmāsiddhau || (Rasendramangala and Rasendrasara sangraha 1.9)

 

शुद्धः सूतो यतस्त्वन्तः सूनीलो बहिरुञ्ञ्बलः । सूयप्रभश्चाविशुद्धो धुम्रो वा परिपाण्डुरः ।।५॥ (Rasa. Tara. 5.5)

 

śuddhaḥ sūtō yatastvantaḥ sūnīlō bahiruññbalaḥ | sūyaprabhaścāviśuddhō dhumrō vā paripāṇḍuraḥ ||5|| (Rasa. Tara. 5.5)</blockquote>Parada which is outwardly shinning like the mid-day sun and having the hues of blue color internally is to be used and that Parada having dhumra varna (smoky hue), panduvarna (slight yellow hue) or chitra varna should not be used for preparation of aushadhis.  

 

Mercury occurs in Earth’s crust on the average of about 0.08 gram (0.003 ounce) per ton of rock. As mercury is in the liquid state at room temperature, it is termed as Galadrupyanibham (liquid silver) or Quick Silver.

 

Extremely rare natural alloys of mercury have also been found: moschellandsbergite (with silver), potarite (with palladium), and gold amalgam. Over 90 percent of the world’s supply of mercury comes from China; it is often a by-product of gold mining. China, Kyrgyzstan, and Chile are the leading producers of Mercury in the world.<ref name=":3" />

 

Native mercury occurs in isolated drops and occasionally in larger fluid masses, usually with cinnabar, near volcanoes or hot springs. It is available generally in small globule form, situated in the deep holes in earth crust. Native mercury is available in USA in California, Almaden (Spain), Peru, Italy, New Zealand, Ukraine, Turkey, Brazil, Columbia, Equador apart from a few other places.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />

The metal mercury was known to the Indians since ancient times. The Chinese and Egyptians considered it as a magic substance. Prof. J.A. Brown was the scientist who grouped this fluid metal among metals. The English name of this metal is based on the planet Mercury which is named after a swift messenger in Greek mythology.  

Cinnabar, mercury sulfide (HgS), is the chief ore mineral of mercury. It is commonly encountered with pyrite, marcasite, and stibnite in veins near recent volcanic rocks and in hot-springs deposits. The most important deposit is at Almadén, Spain, where it has been mined for 2,000 years.<ref name=":3" />

== Five Types of Parada ==

== रासभेदाः ॥ Types of Parada ==

In Rasaratna samucchaya,<ref name=":6" /> we find the following synonymous terms Rasa, Rasendra, Suta, Parada and Mishraka described as the five kinds of Parada.<blockquote>रासो रसेन्द्रः सूतश्च पारदो मिश्रकस्तथा । इति पञ्चविधो जातः क्षेत्रभेदेन शम्भुजः॥  (Rasa. Ratn. Samu. 1.68)<ref name=":6" /> rāsō rasēndraḥ sūtaśca pāradō miśrakastathā | iti pañcavidhō jātaḥ kṣētrabhēdēna śambhujaḥ|| </blockquote>Their qualities are also well described in the above text  (Rasa. Ratn. Samu. 1.69-75)<ref name=":6" />

In Rasaratna samucchaya,<ref name=":6" /> we find the following synonymous terms Rasa, Rasendra, Suta, Parada and Mishraka described as the five kinds of Parada.<blockquote>रासो रसेन्द्रः सूतश्च पारदो मिश्रकस्तथा । इति पञ्चविधो जातः क्षेत्रभेदेन शम्भुजः॥  (Rasa. Ratn. Samu. 1.68)<ref name=":6" /> rāsō rasēndraḥ sūtaśca pāradō miśrakastathā | iti pañcavidhō jātaḥ kṣētrabhēdēna śambhujaḥ|| </blockquote>Their qualities are also well described in the above text  (Rasa. Ratn. Samu. 1.69-75)<ref name=":6" />

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

# '''Daivatva''' include Trinetra, Harabeejam, Shiva, Shivaveerya, Skanda, Harateja, Rudraja, Deva etc.

# '''Daivatva''' include Trinetra, Harabeejam, Shiva, Shivaveerya, Skanda, Harateja, Rudraja, Deva etc.

== स्वरूपम् ॥ Characteristics ==

== Properties and Uses of Parada ==

Mercury is available in native and ore forms. Mercury is the only elemental metal that is liquid at room temperature. Mercury is silvery white, slowly tarnishes in moist air, and freezes into a soft solid like tin or lead at −38.83 °C (−37.89 °F). It boils at 356.62 °C (673.91 °F). It alloys with copper, tin, and zinc to form amalgams, or liquid alloys. An amalgam with silver is used as a filling in dentistry. Mercury does not wet glass or cling to it, and this property, coupled with its rapid and uniform volume expansion throughout its liquid range, made it useful in thermometers.<ref name=":3" />

 

=== Physical Properties ===

Mercury (Hg) has a unique combination of physical properties. Its low melting point and boiling point, high specific gravity (13.5 grams per cubic centimetre), uniform volume expansion over the entire range of temperatures in its liquid state, and high surface tension (so that it does not wet glass) make it useful for the measurement of temperature in thermometers and of pressure in barometers and manometers. In addition, the high electrical conductivity of liquid mercury has led to its use in sealed electric switches and relays, industrial power rectifiers, fluorescent and mercury-vapour lamps, mercury cell batteries, and as moving cathodes in the large-scale production of chlorine and caustic soda.

!State at 20 °C

|−38.829°C, (−37.892°F)  

|356.619°C, (673.914°F)

 

Most of Rasa formulations have mercury as an important ingredient. Unpurified mercury has many toxic effects such as severe gastrointestinal irritations, peripheral circulatory collapse, metallic taste in mouth, excessive salivation, inflammation of gums, etc. Almost all classical texts related to Rasa Shastra (Ayurveda pharmaceutics for metalo-mineral preparations) have emphasized Parada Shodhana (purifying process of mercury) but with a variety of methods. These methods need to be revalidated with comprehensive methodology to develop its standard operative procedure (SOP), because standardization of the drugs is very crucial to ensure quality, efficacy, and reproducibility. Hence, Shodhana (purifying process), Mardana (trituration), Marana (incineration), Jarana (polling), Murchchna (process to put in disease curing capacity), etc., with herbomineral drugs are to be carried out as appropriate to receive the therapeutic benefits of Parada.<ref>Bhinde SS, Patgiri BJ. ''Quantification of mercury after Samanya Shodhana (purifying process): A preliminary analysis.'' J Drug Res Ayurvedic Sci 2022;6:65-71.</ref>

 

Although mercury compounds are regarded as poisonous, cinnabar (mercuric sulphide) is subjected to eighteen complex processes called ''samskāras'', including rubbing with various medicinally efficacious plant juices and extracts, incorporation of sulphur, mica, certain alkaline substances, etc. The resulting mercury compound was then declared fit for consumption and believed to lead to the body’s rejuvenation.

 

Based on the utility of drugs in processing of Parada, they are classified in to Maharasa, Uparasa  and  Sadharana  rasa.  Maharasas have  wide  therapeutic  utility  and  they  are used / prescribed  along with  parada. They are  also  utilized  in  various  samskaras  of parada.  Mercurial preparations are used in Pandu (anemia), Shwasa (dysapoea), Kasa (cough), Kamala (jaundice), Jwara (fever), Shula (spasmodic pain), Mutrakriccha (nephritis), Vamana (vomiting), Udara Pida (acute abdominal pain), Krimi Dosha (worm infestation), Atisara (diarrhea), etc.<ref>Sarkar, P.K., Das, Sanjita, Prajapati, P. K. (2010) ''Ancient concept of metal pharmacology based on Ayurvedic Literature'' Ancient Science of Life, Vol. 29, 4; pp1-6</ref>

 

 

 

 

गिरेः स्फोटोऽथ मोहश्च ह्यसह्याग्नेः प्रजायते । एतैर्दोषैर्विहीनञ्च रसेन्द्रमिह योजयेत् ॥ ९॥ girēḥ sphōṭō’tha mōhaśca hyasahyāgnēḥ prajāyatē | ētairdōṣairvihīnañca rasēndramiha yōjayēt || 9|| (Rasa. Tara. 5.7-9)<ref name=":1" />

 

== Mercury Poisoning ==

== Mercury Poisoning ==