Rasashala (chemical laboratory) in ancient India

Performing Ayurveda Experiment In Rasashala

"Rasashala" is a Sanskit word which means a alchemical/chemical laboratory or, Ayurveda laboratory. Actually Rasashala was a place in ancient India where all chemical and alchemical practices were done as well as all ayurvedic experiments were also performed. So, it was called "The ancient Indian pharmacy". In alchemical practices ancient Indians were also trying to make gold from iron.

Ancient Indians achieved great progress in chemistry. Earliest distillation of alcohol can be traced back to the archaeological finds at Taxila. Ancient chemistry in India grew out of the early efforts to develop an elixir and to turn base metals into gold. Mercury and its elixirs were used in transmutation of the base metals into noble ones, as well as for purifying the body, rejuvenating it and taking it to an imperishable and immortal state.

Out of the numerous chemical texts, written between the ninth and the fourteenth century CE, some give chemical ideas, while others are devoted to alchemy.

Yantras (instruments) used in Chemical Practices in Rasashala

Chemical treatises of ancient India refer to various types of Yantras for different applications. Some of these Yantras and their applications are given below :

=> Triyaka Patana Yantram : Used for purification of Mercury
=> Swedani Yantram : Used for continuous slow heating of ingredients
=> Dola Yantram : Used for purification of crude drugs
=> Damaru Yantram : Used for purification and distillation of Mercury
=> Baka Yantram : Used as retort for distillation
=> Vidyadhara Yantram : Used for purification of Mercury
=> Tapta Khalla Yantram : Used for slow heating of Mercury
=> Baluka Yantram : Used for purification of Medicines
=> Bhudhan Yantram : Used for extraction of Mercury

Ayurvedacharya

All source of info : Information Centre of Science City, Kolkata, India

[To Be Continued...]

Episode #01, Episode #02, Episode #03, Episode #04, Episode #05, Episode #06, Episode #07, Episode #08

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