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The well-known rasashastra texts like the Rasahrdaya, the Rasarnava, the Rasaratnasamuccaya and the Rasaprakasasudhakara have classified the chemical substances into<ref>Bose, D. M., Sen, S. N., & Subbarayappa, B. V. (1971). A concise history of science in India. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. pp. 322-326</ref>

The well-known rasashastra texts like the Rasahrdaya, the Rasarnava, the Rasaratnasamuccaya and the Rasaprakasasudhakara have classified the chemical substances into<ref>Bose, D. M., Sen, S. N., & Subbarayappa, B. V. (1971). A concise history of science in India. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. pp. 322-326</ref>

# '''Maharasas''': They are a group of minerals which have been recognized as most useful for the potentiation of [[Mercury or Parada (पारद)|Mercury or Parada]].<ref name=":9">Bhagwat, V. S. R., Kurkute, B. R., Shinde, B. T., & Tapare, S. K. (2017). CLASSIFICATION OF RASADRAVYAS IN RASASHASTRA. ''World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research'', ''6''(4), 792–802. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20174-8226</nowiki></ref> They are eight in number, abhraka (mica), vaikranta (a precious stone having eight surfaces and six angles, probably tourmaline), maksika (copper pyrites), vimala (iron pyrites), silajatu (bitumen), sasyaka (copper sulphate), capala (a compound of bismuth or selinium) and rasaka.

# '''Maharasas''': They are a group of minerals which have been recognized as most useful for the potentiation of the rasa namely [[Mercury or Parada (पारद)|Mercury or Parada]].<ref name=":9">Bhagwat, V. S. R., Kurkute, B. R., Shinde, B. T., & Tapare, S. K. (2017). CLASSIFICATION OF RASADRAVYAS IN RASASHASTRA. ''World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research'', ''6''(4), 792–802. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr20174-8226</nowiki></ref> They are eight in number, Abhraka (Mica; Double silicate of aluminium and Potassium or sodium), Vaikranta (Tourmaline; K₂OAl₂O₃6SiO₂), Makshika (Chalcopyrite/Copper pyrite; Cu₂S, Fe₂S₃), Vimala (Iron pyrite; Fe₂S₃), Shilajatu (Black bitumen or mineral pitch), Sasyaka (Copper sulphate/blue vitriol; CuSO₄ 7H₂O), Rasaka (Zinc ore; ZnO, ZnS, ZnCO₃), Chapala (Bismuth/selenium).

# '''Uparasa''': The eight uparasas are: gandhaka (sulphur), gairika (red ochre), kasisa (iron sulphate), tuvari (alum), talaka (orpiment), manah-sila (realgar), anjana (collyrium; compounds of antimony) and kankustha (probably tinstone or cassiterite).

# '''Uparasa''': These drugs are not equivalent to Parada, but properties of this group of drugs possess less gunas than Parada and indicate usefulness in different procedures of parada or its action towards parada. The eight uparasas are:Gandhaka (Sulphur; S), Gairika (Ochre; Fe₂O₃), Kasisa (Ferrous sulphate/ green vitriol; FeSO₄7H₂O), Kankshi (Potash alum; K₂SO₄ Al₂(SO)₃24H₂O), Haratala (Orpiment, yellow arsenic; As₂S₃), Manahshila (Realgar; As₂S₂), Anjana (Collyrium), Kankushta (Gambose tree extract).

# '''Dhatu''': Here usually seven metals are named: svarna (gold), rajata or tara (silver), tamra (copper), loha (iron), naga (lead), vanga (tin) and yasada (zinc). But, the three alloys (misraloha), viz. brass (pittala), bell-metal (kamsya) and a mixture of five metals (vartaka), also come under the category of dhatu. There are textual differences of which metals comprise metals. Rasarnava mentions six metals including copper but Rasaratnasamuccaya not according a place to copper among the dhatus.

# '''Dhatu''': Dhatus are the drugs which are been extracted (removed forcely) from their ore, (by melting or process of distillation)similarly the diseases are removed forcely from the body by them so they are called as Loha.<ref name=":9" /> Here usually seven metals are named: svarna (gold), rajata or tara (silver), tamra (copper), loha (iron), naga (lead), vanga (tin) and yasada (zinc). But, the three alloys (misraloha), viz. brass (pittala), bell-metal (kamsya) and a mixture of five metals (vartaka), also come under the category of dhatu. There are textual differences of which metals comprise metals. Rasarnava mentions six metals including copper but Rasaratnasamuccaya not according a place to copper among the dhatus.

# '''Ratna''': The ratnas generally are precious gems. The principal gems used by the rasavadins are: vaikranta (also classed under maharasa), suryakanta (sun-stone; aventurine feldspar mainly containing silicate of sodium and potassium with disseminated particles of red iron oxide which cause fire-like flashes of colour), candrakanta (moon-stone; a type of feldspar containing silicates of aluminium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, etc., which possesses a bluish pearly opalescence), hiraka (diamond), mauktika (pearl), garudodgara (emerald), rajavarta (lapis lazuli), marakata (topaz), nila (sapphire) and padmaraga (ruby).

# '''Ratna''': The ratnas generally are precious gems. They are of mineral & animal origin which are found in rocks and are formed during the crust formation of the earth. They are durable, colorful & rare and the most valuable entity. These are classified on the basis of; Structure, Relation to the planets, Opacity & Transparency, Beauty and scarcity. The principal gems used by the rasavadins are: vaikranta (also classed under maharasa), suryakanta (sun-stone; aventurine feldspar mainly containing silicate of sodium and potassium with disseminated particles of red iron oxide which cause fire-like flashes of colour), candrakanta (moon-stone; a type of feldspar containing silicates of aluminium, sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, etc., which possesses a bluish pearly opalescence), hiraka (diamond), mauktika (pearl), garudodgara (emerald), rajavarta (lapis lazuli), marakata (topaz), nila (sapphire) and padmaraga (ruby).

# '''Visha'''

# '''Visha:''' Rasarnava appears to be the first text to mention about Visha and Upavisa classification. They are useful in rasakarma and rasabandhana. Rasamanjari, Rasendrachintamani, Rasa jala nidhi have explained 18 kanda visha. They are- Kalakuta, Saktuka, Vatsanabha, Shringika, Mustaka, Halahala, Haridra, Mayura, Binduka, Sunama, Shankhanabha, Sumangala, Pushkara, Bhramara, Karkotaka, Shuklakanda, Raktashringi, Visha or Chakra.

# '''Sadharana rasas''': It is explained only by Rasaratnasamuchaya.<ref name=":9" /> They are Kampillaka (Mallotus philippinesis Muell-arg), Gouripashana (Arsenious oxide; As2O3), Navasadara (Ammonium chloride; NH2Cl), Kapardika (Cowries), Agnijara (Amber), Girisindura (Red oxide of mercury; HgO), Hingula (Cinnabar; HgS), Mruddarashringa (Litharge; PbO).

# '''Sadharana rasas''': It is explained only by Rasaratnasamuchaya.<ref name=":9" /> They are Kampillaka (Mallotus philippinesis Muell-arg), Gouripashana (Arsenious oxide; As₂O₃), Navasadara (Ammonium chloride; NH₂Cl), Kapardika (Cowries), Agnijara (Amber), Girisindura (Red oxide of mercury; HgO), Hingula (Cinnabar; HgS), Mruddarashringa (Litharge; PbO).

According to tradition, the maharasas and the uparasas are classified in the order in which they find their usefulness with reference to mercury (rasendra). There is also a view that mercury alone has the appellation of rasa, and all the others are called uparasas. Some of the texts differ from one another in the number of maha- and uparasas as well as the substances comprising them. While the Rasaratnasamuccaya gives the above classification, the Rasaprakasasudhakara, considers rajavarta (lapis lazuli) as a maharasa in the place of capala.  

According to tradition, the maharasas and the uparasas are classified in the order in which they find their usefulness with reference to mercury (rasendra). There is also a view that mercury alone has the appellation of rasa, and all the others are called uparasas. Some of the texts differ from one another in the number of maha- and uparasas as well as the substances comprising them. While the Rasaratnasamuccaya gives the above classification, the Rasaprakasasudhakara, considers rajavarta (lapis lazuli) as a maharasa in the place of capala.