BASIC AYURVEDIC LITERATURE ON PARADA (MERCURY)

Rasashastra  dravyas includes minerals and metals which are mainly Bhumij in origin (obtained from earth),mercury is also one among    them.In Rasashastra, the extra ordinary importance of mercury is easily seen as the whole branch is named after Parada (synonym-rasa).It is believed to be of divine origin and as per the mythology it is considered to be shiv-veerya.

According to references available in rasa classical texts, initially Parada was used for lohavada (a process of converting lower metals in to higher one) but as time passed its use for dehavada(treating disease) was brought into picture and was successfully seen.Thus evolved its use in treatment.

The form of mercury used indicates its toxicity and utility. In Rasashastra maximum times parada is used along with sulphur. Thus forms mercury sulphide which is safest.

But still in whichever form mercury is used it should be handled carefully as its misuse may lead to toxicity.

According to recent autopsy study, it was found that individuals with more than 12 amalgam fillings have more than 10-times higher mercury levels in several tissues including the brain, compared to individuals with only 0-3 amalgam fillings .hence, amalgam filling leads to more accumulation of parada in body tissues.

1) Synonyms  and vernacular names of Parada -

Sanskrit – Parada

Hindi– Para

Marathi– Para

English– Mercury

Latin – Hydrargium( Hg)

Sr. No.	Criteria for Naming	Nomenclature as per that criteria
1.	swaroopatmaka	Galad, raupyanibham(liquid silver),mahavhahni, mahateja,suvarna,chamar.
2.	gatiyatmaka	Khechara, Chapala,chala,dhurtaka
3.	dehavadatmaka	Amrut,jaiv,dehad,paramamrut,parat,parad,mrityunashan,rasayana
4.	dhatuvadatmaka	Divyarasa,maharasa,rasa,rasendra,rasesh, rasottam,rasadhatu,rasaraj,rasanath,rasaleha, suta, sutak,sutraat,mishrak,siddhdhatu.
5.	Vishist gunatmaka	Ananta, amar,kalikantaka,sukshma,saubhagya
6.	Darshanik-aadhyatmik	Jiva,jaiva,divya,achintya
7.	Dharmik-devatmaka	Trinetra,trilochana,deva,dehaj,prabhu,rudraj, lokesh,shivveerya,harareta,shivbeeja etc.

ShuddhaParadaSwaroopa –

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        The Parada having blue tinge inside and bright outside, and having lusture of sun as seen in noon, is said to be best. Whereas, the Parada which has smoky greyish or dull white colour or strange mixed colours should not be used in different Rasa-Karmas.

        In modern chemistry a similar explanation regarding mercury states that  Mercury is a silvery white liquid metal, with  slight bluish tinge.In thin films, it emits violet light.

Types of Parada –

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        According to the origin of parada it is classified into 5 types.viz Rasa, rasendra, suta, parada and mishraka.

Parada  gati :

Parada has 5 types of gati which is considered to be the main cause of loss of parada while manufacturing parada containing kalpas or while doing parade shodhan.They are-

1.jala gati

2.hansa gati 

3.mala gati

4.dhooma gati

5.jeeva gati or adrushya gati                               

Doshas of Parada

 There are mainly 3 Doshas in Parada:

                                     Parad Doshas

Naisargika                               Yogika                             Aupadhik

Visha  Vahni  Mala          Naga       Vanga 

             Bhumij     Girij    Varij       Nagaj Vangaj

 Parpati    Patina Bhedi   andhkaridhwankshi 

dravimalakari

      

 Ayurvedic Pharmacological and therapeutic properties of parada –

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Rasa – shadarasa

Guna –snigdha,sara,guru

Virya - Ushna

Vipaka - Madhura

Prabhava - Yogavahi       

Doshagnata – Tridoshahara

Karma - Yogavahi, Rasayana, Balya, Vrisya etc.

If parada is free from all doshas, it is capable of eradicating death and senelity.

VyadhiPrabhava-Kushtahar,Rasayana,Amruta,Sarvarogahara,vataroga

In Bhavaprakash(B.P. 5)important properties of mercury are described as

- Mercury has 6 tastes

- It has a soothing effect upon the human system (Snigdha)

- It corrects the imbalance of three Doshas (Tridoshaghna)

- It is efficacious in preventing diseases and arrival of premature old

   age (Rasayana)

- It serves to heighten the medicinal properties of any thing with which

   it is compounded (Yogavahi)

- It is best aphrodisiac (Mahavrishya)

- It always increases the strength of the eyes (Sadadrishtibala Prada)

- It cures all sorts of diseases especially skin diseases.

In Rasendra Sara Sangraha it has been mentioned that –

- Mercury increases Buddhi (intelligence), Smriti (memory power),Prabha, Kanti (Lusture), Bala (strength of the body). These properties of Rasa are only obtained when it is used in processed form.

Uses in Ayurveda : Preparation of Kajjali, Rasa Parpati, Rasa Sindur and    many other kalpaslike aarogyavardhini , chandraprabhavati, makardhwaj etc.