Yantras in Rasashastra.

1. Dev Raj Kshetri
PG 2nd year
RSBK Dept.
NIA,Jaipur
Review on Yantras and its relevance

2. yantra
रसोपरसलोहाध्या मारणाध्यार्थससद्धये ।
यंत्रयेत अनेन यस्मातु तस्माध्यन्त्त्रम प्रकीर्तथतम ् ।। (र.तं. 4 /1)
• Yantras are the apparatus brought into use for
safeguarding the mercury, minerals and other
metals during incineration etc. procedures.

3. Ra.Ra.Sa.(9/2)

4. Number of Yantras
Classical Texts No. of Yantras
 Anandakanda  41/44
 Rasa Prakasha Sudhakar  40
 Rasa Jala nidhi  37
 Rasa ratna samuchaya  32
 Rasendra chudamani  30
 Rasa kamadhenu  26
 Parada samhita  45
 Rasa tarangini  20
 Rasendra Bhaskara  15

5. NOMENCLATURE
• Based on shape- Damaru yantra, Kachapa-
yantra.
• Based on function- Svedana yantra, Jarana-
yantra, Patana Yantra.
• Based on material- valuka yantra, Lavana-
yantra, Bhasma yantra
• Based on the designer of Yantra – Vidyadhara
Yantra by saint Vidyadhara.

6. Dola Yantra
Specification:
A pot of required size is half filled with
water/drava dravyas.
Neck of the pot is pierced so that 2 holes are
produced exactly opposite to each other.
A firm rod is passed through holes, to the
middle of which pottali is hung with strong
thread.

8. Caution:
 Poultice should neither touch the bottom nor
remain above the liquid level of pot.
 Pot should not be covered with a lid
 Provide mild heat, liquid inside the pot may be
replenished.

9. Relevance and Importance
• Used especially for swedana of many
medicinal drugs like Sankha,Sukti ,Ratna,etc.
Note :
If Parada is to be subjected for swedana its
pottali has to be tied with a layer of
bhojpatra(Betula utilis) and thick cloth.
For better swedana of the drug, some people
close the mouth of the pot during the process.

10. Khalwa yantra
Qualities of stone for preparing khalwa yantra:
Khalwa yogya shila neela syama snigdha drida guru
Dimension-24x9x16 fingers
Pestle-12 fingers
3 types

11. • 1.Semilunar
Dimensions-16x10x10 angula
7 finger deep,2 feet thick
In this mortar around 200g of Hg can be triturated for purification
 2. Circular
12 finger diameter
4 Finger depth
 3.Taptha khalwa
Iron mortar 9 finger length,6 feet depth. Fire place prepared with
ignited coal

13. Mortar and pestle
• The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard
wood, ceramic or stone.
• The pestle is a heavy club-shaped object, the end
of which is used for crushing and grinding. The
substance to be ground is placed in the mortar
and ground, crushed or mixed with the pestle.
Sometimes referred to as an "Apothecary
Grinder" by individuals unfamiliar with its use,
the proper historical name is "mortar and pestle.

14. Relevance and Importance
• Khalwa Yantra is used for :
1) Mardana Samskara. Eg:- Kajjali, Vati
preparation
2) Bhavana Samskara. Eg:- Adraka svaras
bhavana to Manahsila.
3) Murcchana Samskara Eg:- Parada Murcchana
4) Kharaleeya Rasayana Preparation.
Eg:-Tribhuvana kirti rasa, Hinguleswara rasa etc.

15. Patana yantra
• As per our classics there are 3 types of Patana
Yantras which are :
1) Urdhwapatana Yantra
2) Adhahpatana Yantra and
3) Tiryakpatana Yantra

16. Urdhwapatana yantra
 For the construction of Urdhwapatana yantra a
toyadhara measuring 10x8x4 angulas should be
constructed over the bottom of an earthen pot of
16ang. diameter, kept upside down.
 Material for distillation is taken in another
pot,whose mouth should fit snugly in to 1st pot.
 Joint should be sealed with mixture of buffalo-
milk,slaked lime,powder of mandura and phanita

17. Adha patana yantra
 If the same set up is used for conducting a
down ward distillation ,the apparatus is called
adha patana yantra.
 External surface of bottom of upper pot is
heated using cowdung cakes so as to supply
heat to substances pasted inside. Water has to
be taken in the lower pot.

19. Tiryak patana yantra
 Parada triturated with specified medicinal drugs
is taken in an earthen pot which is connected to a
long tube at its neck.
 Direction of this tube should be diagonally
downwards.
 This tube is inserted into long neck of another pot
and the both joints are sealed with mud.
 Pot containing Parada is strongly heated from
below ,while other pot contain cold water.

21. Relevance and Importance
• Patana Samskara (Urdhwa, Adhah and
Tiryakpatana) of Parada to remove its
Naga(Pb) and Vanga(Sn) dosha.

22. Distillation Apparatus
 Process used to separate the substances
composing a mixture.
 It involves a change of state, as of liquid to
gas, and subsequent condensation process.

23. Kachapa yantra
 In a large pan water is filled.
 A slight smaller pan which can float is kept in
water
 In this inner pan a crucible containing medicine
(parada,gandhaka etc.) is kept which is covered
with a strong dome shaped earthen lid.
 The edge of the lid is properly sealed with wet
mud.
 Heat is to be applied to the lid from all sides using
coal prepared from khadira ,kola,etc.

25. Relevance and Importance
• This yantra is prominently used for Gandhaka
jarana.

26. Damaru yantra
• Apparatus in which one pot is kept inverted
over the other and the joint sealed,is termed
as damaru yantra.
• The lower vessel is filled with medicinal drugs.
• Vessel is placed over fire for desired period.

28. Relevance and Importance
• It is used for Urdhwapatana of Parada,
Goauripasana etc.

29. Sublimation apparatus
• Sublimation apparatus is a piece of laboratory
glassware used in the technique of sublimation
usually used by chemists to purify compounds.
• Typically a solid is placed in a vessel which is then
heated under vacuum. Under this reduced
pressure the solid volatilizes and condenses as a
purified compound on a cooled surface, leaving
the non-volatile residue impurities behind.

30. Palika yantra
 A round iron container with long vertical
handle bend at the end is called palika yantra
 Used for taking out oil, jarana of gandhaka etc.

31. Darvika Yantra
• A bigger spoon like structure with deeper
head and long handle is Darvika Yantra.

32. Valuka yantra
• Narrow mouthed and long neck glass bottle is
taken and is enwrapped with mud smeared
cloth 7 times.
• The bottle is 2/3rd filled with drug and is
placed at the center of strong iron bucket and
filled from all sides with sand upto the neck.
• Vessel is placed over Bhatti and required heat
is given.

34. Relevance and Importance
• Used for preparation of majority of Kupipakwa
rasayana.

35. Sand Bath
• Common piece of laboratory equipment made
from a container filled with heated sand.
• A sand bath is most commonly used in
conjunction with a hot plate or heating mantle. A
beaker is filled with sand or metal pellets (called
shot) and is placed on the plate or mantle. The
reaction vessel is then partially covered by sand
or pellets. The sand or shot then conducts the
heat from the plate to all sides of the reaction
vessel.

36. Lavana yantra
 If Lavana (salt) is used in place of sand in
Valuka yantra then the apparatus is called
Lavana yantra.

37. Bhudhara yantra
• Medicine enclosed in a sealed crucible is
buried in a pit which is filled with two-angula
thick sand from all sides.
• It is heated with specific number of dry cow
dung cakes from above . This is called
Bhudhara Yantra.

39. Sthali yantra
• A pot containing metal or mineral drug is
closed and sealed with a suitable lid.
• The pot is placed over the fire , such yantra is
sthali yantra.

41. vidyadhara yantra
• Material to be heated is taken in a pot.
• A second pot filled with water is kept upright
over the first and the joints are sealed.
• Lower pot is heated from below.
• Used for the extraction of pure mercury from
cinnabar.

43. Patala Yantra
• A wider cylindrical pit is made (about 18 inches depth).
• Walls of pit is cemented,so that mud does not sip in.
• A porous metallic vessel with drugs is placed over an
open vessel.
• An inverted mud pot is placed over the metallic vessel.
• The base of pot is properly sealed with edges of pit.
• Required number of cow dungs are ignited over the
base of pot .
• This is Patala yantra.

45. Relevance and Importance
• It is used to extract oil from herbal drugs.
Eg:- Bhallataka Tail patana, Karanja Taila
Patana etc.

46. Swedani Yantra
• A wide mouthed pot is filled with water .and
placed over fire.
• The mouth of vessel is tied with clean cotton
cloth. Over the cloth drug is placed and
covered with sarava.
• The pot is placed over fire and drug is exposed
to hot water vapour.

48. Relevance and Importance
• Used for Swedana of drug material with hot
water vapours.

49. Tula Yantra
• Two even sized brinjal shaped vrintak mushas
are connected and sealed their neck.
• Suddha parada and gandhak are put one in
each musha and closed with lids.
• Entire apparatus is kept over Valuka yantra
and heated.
• This yantra is called Tula yantra as it looks like
physical balance.

51. Relevance and Importance
• Used for Gandhaka jarana in Parada.

52. Ghata /Apyayanaka Yantra
• A pot with capacity of 4 prastha (3 litr.) and
which has neck of 4 angula circumference, is
called as Ghata Yantra.

54. Other Yantras mentioned in
Classical Texts

55. Rasarnava
1) Dola Yantra
2) Jaran Yantra
3) Somaanal Yantra
4) Garva Yantra
5) Gupta Yantra ??
6) Hamsapaka Yantra

56. Jarana yantra
• Two metallic crucibles (12 ang in d)are taken.
• One of them is pierced at the bottom to form
a small hole,in which sulphur is kept
• It is entered to another crucible containing Hg.
• Before sealing the joint, filtered garlic juice is
to be added into both crucibles
• Arrangement should be made in such a way
that lower crucible is half immersed in water

57. • Whole apparatus is covered with a lid and the
joints should be sealed.
• Heat should be applied from above using
kapota puta and below strong heat should be
given with pellets of excreta of goat.
• Heat should be provided for 3 days and then
the apparatus kept for self cooling.
• Used for Jarana of gandhak.

59. Garbha yantra
• Crucible 4” depth and 2” diameter is made.
• A paste of guggulu 1part,10 part clay,20 part
common salt is repeatedly applied and dried
till the crucible becomes strong.
• Parad pisti and other drugs are kept inside and
sealed. Crucible is given Kapota puta on the
ground for 3 nights.

60. Relevance and Importance
• Used for Bhasmikarana of Parada.

61. Hamsapaka yantra
• An earthen pot is filled with sand and a small
Kharpara is kept over it.
• Vati made from triturating Pancha lavana, asta
mutra, pancha kshara and Vida dravya are
taken in Kharpara and heated over low grade
fire .
• Used for Graspurvak Jarana of Gandhak aadi
dravya.

62. Somaanal Yantra
• Material to be heated is taken in a Musha.
• Musha is placed in a second pot filled with
water and the joints are sealed.
• The pot is heated from above.
• This is Somaanal Yantra.

63. Relevance and Importance
• Used for jarana of Abhrak aadi in Parada.

64. Rasahridaya Tantra
1) Dola Yantra
2) Damaru Yantra
3) Paatan Yantra
4) Deepika Yantra
5) Kachhap Yantra
6) Valuka Yantra
7) Stan Yantra
8) Tulaa Yantra

65. Deepika Yantra
 In a large pan water is filled.
 A slight smaller pan which can float is kept in
water
 In this inner pan a crucible containing medicine
(parada,gandhaka etc.) is kept inverted like a
dome.
 The edge of the crucible is properly sealed with
wet mud.
 Heat is to be applied to the crucible from all sides
using coal prepared from khadira ,kola,etc.

67. Relevance and Importance
• Used for Adhapatana of Parada.

68. Stan Yantra
• When two metallic bowls are joined together
from their round circumference , Stan yantra
is made.
• It is used for jarana of Parada Pisti.

70. Rasa Ratnakar
1) Dhoop Yantra
2) Kosthika Yantra

71. Dhoop Yantra
• In this yantra two iron pots are used.
• The lower pot is filled with drugs like gandhak,hartaal
etc.
• Iron net (Jaali)is kept 2 Angool below the neck of lower
pot.
• Swarna Patra is kept above the iron net.
• Second iron pot is inverted over the first and the joint
is sealed.
• Vessel is placed over intense fire for desired period.

72. Relevance
• Dhoop Yantra is used for siddhi of Dravya
useful for Jarana.

73. Kosthika Yantra
• Rectangular fire place which is 16 fingers wide
and one hand in length and which is used for
extraction of minerals(Sattvapatan) and ore is
called as kostiyantra.

75. Valabhi yantra
 It is a sort of water bath like apparatus ,to
supply steady and indirect heat.
 A large iron tub attached with two rings is
taken and filled with kanji.
 A similar but smaller tub is taken which is
filled with murchita parada
 2nd tube is inserted in to the 1st one and using
the rings is fixed in suspended position.

77. Relevance and Importance
• Used for utthapana of parada and helps
parada to acquire good qualities.

80. Ra.Ra. Bhav

82. Deki yantra
• A hole is created at the neck of an eartern pot, in
which a bamboo tube is inserted.
• Other end of the tube is attached to 2 bronze
pots containing water, put over the other & fixed.
Mercury treated with other medicines is to be
kept in earthen pot & after covering and sealing
the mouth of eartern pot, heat is applied to it.
• This is nothing but a Tiryak patan Yantra.Similar
apparatus has been described in R.Sara., which
has been named as Dega Yantra. Dega or Degi is
most probably meant for a big eartern pot.

83. Nalikayantra
 An Iron tube is used to hold mercury and
other materials which is then sealed and
heated in a pot filled with salt
 No specifications about the length ,diameter
of the tube is mentioned.

84. Puta yantra
 Mercury placed in a box prepared from two
earthen saucers put one over the other is
heated with cow dung cakes over a fire place
for 6 hours.
 Relevance and Importance:
 Used for Marana of metals and minerals.

85. Ishtika yantra
• In a round pit a wide shallow earthen vessel is
kept
• A brick having a hole in the centre is placed
• Around this central hole an earthen wall like
structure about ¾” is created
• Parad is placed in the hole and covered with a
cloth and Sulphur is kept over the cloth
• Whole apparatus is totally covered with another
wide and shallow vessel ,joints are sealed with
mud and kapota puta is given

87. Relevance and Importance
• Used for Jarana of Gandhak in Parada.

88. Nabhi yantra
• At the bottom of wide vessel, a pit is prepared.
• Around this one finger high earthen wall is
created.
• Hollow thus prepared is filled with Hg and S and
is covered with an inverted Gosthani musha.
• Joint is sealed with toyamrittika.
• After drying, vessel is filled with water.
• The yantra is kept above the fire.

89. Relevance and Importance
• Used for nirdhoom jarana of gandhaka in
parada.

90. Grasta yantra
 A crucible having same diameter from top to
bottom and flat base is inserted in to another
crucible.
 Used for solidifying the mercury.

91. Kanduka yantra
• Similar to svedani yantra
• Wide mouthed semicircular pot is taken with
water
• Opening is tightly covered with cloth.
• Substances to be steam heated is kept over
the cloth and another semicircular pot is kept
over it in an inverted position as a lid.

93. Musha Yantra
1 feet
water
Parada
12 Angool
Gandhaka Lohaa Musha
Heat
• Used for Jarana of six times Gandhaka in
Parada.

94. CRUCIBLE
• A crucible is a cup-shaped piece of laboratory
equipment used to contain chemical
compounds when heated to extremely high
temperature.
• Crucibles are available in several sizes and
typically come with a correspondingly-sized
crucible cover (lid).

95. Relevance of Yantras
Conclusion
• Yantras can be correlated as Instruments or
Apparatus.
• Although Classical texts indicates special use
of Yantras for Parada Karmas, they are used
for Swedana, Mardana, Sodhana, Marana etc.
of different rasa dravyas (rasa, uparasa, dhatu
etc.) as well.

96. Thank You !