Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Volume 2 Number 4, October -December 2009 Utility of in pharmaceutics w.s.r to Sandhana Kalpana Sanjay Gupta* Shuchi Mitra** P.K. *** ABSTRACT

Asavas and Arishtas, the main products of Sandhana Kalpana is quite popular in the community of Ayurvedic physicians due to their action at the level of deeper dhatus, the liquid dose form easier for ingestion to all age group and moreover with long self life.This Kalpana is utilizing multitude of Samskara. Key words: Asava , Arista , Sandhana, Samskara.

INTRODUCTION Samsiddhika guna - forever stable Naimittika guna - can be altered by Samskara is one of the important concepts of samskara. . The importance of samskara can be The variation with Samskara as the root cause ascertained form the fact that, routinely used can be rationally deducted with the help of Gurvadi gunas can be modified with the help of Pancamahabhuta Siddhanta. Samskara. For this matter, its Significance has been Usually Guna- of any depends identified even with the routine food as one of the on Conjugation and configuration of Mahabhutas factor of Astau ahara-vidhi-visesa-ayatanas. The present in it. This Pharmacology can be modified concept of Samskara according to Acharya with Samskara due to alteration in pancabhautika Charaka is - composition. A clear cut understanding of the Samskaro hi Gunantradhana uchyata— Samskara with the exposition of Pacamahabhuta (Ca.Vi. 1/21) will give the Physician, an advantage to The Samskara performed in this way confidently employ the Samskara. Here in this superimpose various guans due to paper an attempt has been made to understand metamorphosis in the nature of a dravya which is basic concept of samskara and its utility in the field explained by the term gunanatradhana. This of pharmaceutics. metamorphosis is manifested in terms of change in guans. Thus samskara are meant for physical as WHAT IS SAMSKARA ? well as chemical changes. These guans are the manifestation of pancabhautika composition. Nirukti of Samskara can be given as Samyak Karoti anena iti Samskarah Author’s Affiliations: *Lecturer, Department of Sanskriyate anena iti sanskarah Panchkarma, Sai Ayurvedic Medical College, Aligarh, Uttarpradesh. ** Lecturer, Rasa & Bhaisajaya kalpana The process or tool by which Dravya is State Ayurvedic P.GC ollege, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. modified as required is termed as Samskara. ***Professor, H.O.D, & Bhaisajaya Kalpana, IPGT & RA , G.A.U, Jamnagar, Gujarat. DEFINITION : The definitions of Samskara given Reprint Requests: Sanjay Gupta, Lecturer Department of by Various Ayurvedic scholars are as follows:- Panchkarma, Sai Ayurvedic Medical College, Aligarh, Uttar Samskaro hi Gunantradhana uchyata(Ca.Vi. 1/21) Pradesh, India, E-mail: [email protected], Tel.: 9411754007.

© Red Flower Publication Pvt. Ltd. 230 Sanjay Gupta, Shuchi Mitra, P.K. Prajapati

Acarya Caraka defines Samskara as i.e. in Sthana 7th Chapter (221 to 231verse). transformation of the inherent attributes of a substance. Various commentators have tried to DARSANA define Samskara as follows: Cakrapani quotes it as - Samskaro hi Gunantradhana uchyata In Vaisesika Darsana 3 types of Samskara (Ca. Vi. 1/21) arementioned, which are as follows:- i.e. imbibing different Gunas on the original 1. Vegakhya Samskara Gunas of a Dravya. 2. Sthapaka Samskara 3. Bhavnakhya Samskara Gunadhanam doshapariharo va Sanskarah A.D. 5/1/36-44) ROLE OF IN i.e. increasing useful gunas and removing TRANSFORMATION OF GUNA harmful dosa. According to Cakrapani, This above said gunantaradhana (change in gunas) by Samskara is possible only in case of naimittika Every dravya is having it’s specific gunas, not in the case of samsiddhika gunas. pancabhautika composition. The alteration in pancabhautika composition is taking place at every moment, due to Agni Mahabhuta present in it. But LITERARY REVIEW OF SAMSKARA rate of transformation or alteration is too slow to VEDIKA KALA identify. After specific period only, these alterations are identified in the form of decrease of In vedic kala references are found showing potency etc. For e.g. Drugs which are potent different Samskara involved in method of becomes less potent after some period. Potency of preparation. 'Soma Nirmana. Vidhi’ is one of the Curnas of any dravya remains for specific period of well known example in which various Samskaras 6 months Moreover, the factors outside like desa, like Kuttan, Pesana, Nispidana are there, though kala etc, are also affecting the pancamahabhutas not mentioned separately as a Samskara. present in a dravya. So, after thinking minutely, it becomes clear that after change in dravya (in the KALA form of alteration in pancabhautika composition) Change in guans takes place, which is called as gunantaradhana. In Brhat-trayi, directly types of Samskara are At the level of Pancamahabhutas, Prthvi is not mentionedIn Samhita kala also, at majority of adhara for all the process and Akasa is providing the places Samskara word is used for different space for that. Remaining three Mahabhutas, processes such as , Mardana, Bhavana, namely Jala, Agni and are responsible for Manthana etc. transformations or changes taking place in a In Caraka Samhita, the oldest treatise of substance.So, in any Pancabhautika substance also, Ayurveda, after quoting definition of Samskara, a continuous changes or transformations are taking list of various processes useful for making place due to presence of Agni Mahabhuta in it. But Gunantaradhana are given. the rate of transformation may differ according to Though Susruta Samhita and Astanga Hrdaya quantity of Agni Mahabhuta present in it and other had not contributed much about the types and helpful conditions. By providing Agni from concept of Samskara, Astanga Samgraha had outside, one can increase the rate of given good contribution by mentioning various transformation, Followed by Vayu and Jala (22) examples of Samskara collected at one place Mahabhutas respectively.

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That’s why in all the process mentioned as a available, Scope of the concept of Samskara lies in Samskara, Toya Sannikarsa and/or Agni the broader use of dravya’s i.e. with minimum cost Sannikarsa are Mandatory. The proportion and maximum effects obtained. As with the help of amount may differ in different processes. Samskara, one can alter Pancabhautika Here, it is also important to note that, during composition, thereby forming various new dravya process of transformation either heat is formed i.e. from a single dravya as per requirement, a broad liberated, known as exothermic reaction or heat is field is obtained for the use of single drug in required for the process of transformation, known treatment of different diseases as well as different as endothermic reaction. The difference between stages of the same disease. transformation and Samskara is that By use of this concept only, one is able to use transformation can takes place in any manner toxic substances as medicines and if Samskara is forming any dravya. But Samskara is making not done properly, the medicine can act as a toxic transformation in a proper way, by providing substance. required conditions, to get the expected resultant. Thus process which is creatively done in proper YOGATA API VISHAM way is termed as Samskara. TIKSHNAM UTTAMAM BHESAJAM So, in a broad sense, Samskara as a process can be BHAVET (CA.SU. 1/126) classified under following 3 headings 1. Toya Sannikarsa Samskara as a Guna is a causative factor 2. Agni Sannikarsa responsible for new ability introduced in a dravya. 3. Toyagni Sannikarsa As karma, Samskara is a process or method of Samskara introducing new ability in a dravya. The drug can be made effective according to different diseases or different stages of the same Toyasannikarsa Agni sannikarsa Toyagnisannikarsa disease, (i.e. Yogyatva) & potency can be increased by giving bhavana of same drug (i.e.Sampat). In Sauca Desa Manthana short, to increase qualities of bhesaja, Samskara is Dhavana Kala Bhavana Nimajjana Kalaprakarsa Nirvapana the only important tool which is in the hands of Sincana Paka Pesana physician. Vasana etc. Daha Svedana etc. Acharya Charaka had mentioned samskara in Avapana Mardana Sosana etc paradi guans, which are called as Cikitsopayogi guans. This indicates importance of Samskara in UTILITY OF SAMSKARA IN the treatment modality. PHARMACEUTICS Samskara is also one of the important factor of Astau-AharaVidhivisesa ayatanas, indicating it's importance in dietetic field. In this era of modernization and civilization, the people are becoming more aware about the Any Samskara could not be employed to any usefulness of Ayurvedic drugs and formulations. dravya. for e.g. The having apa So, everyday new Ayurvedic Pharmacies are mahabhuta dominance will be more effective in getting established. Demand for Ayurvedic drugs cold infusion i.e. Hima kalpana. Dravyas having is increasing day by day. In current era, many of agni mahabhuta dominance will be more effective the valuable drugs mentioned in Ayurvedic in hot infusion i.e. phanta kalpana. But this is again classics are unavailable or rarely available due to depends on the patient, type of disease, stage of these reasons. If this process will go on continuing, disease, status of dosas etc. in which dravya is to be the time will come that very less drugs will be used. So, it cannot be the firm rule that such type of

Volume 2 Number 4, October - December 2009 232 Sanjay Gupta, Shuchi Mitra, P.K. Prajapati samskara should be employed to such type of community of Ayurvedic physicians due to their mahabhuta dominant action at the level of deeper dhatus, the liquid dose Acharya caraka says that- form easier for ingestion to all age group and moreover with long self life. This Kalpana is Changes as per requirement - by skillfully utilizing multitude of Samskara carrying out synthetic and analytic procedures on drugs with the help of The Samskaras utilized in different steps while preparing Asava-Arishta Kalpana or all the (a) Time factor & (b) by pharmaceutical procedures performed during formulation may be processes i.e. Samskara, even a small dose of a divided into: drug may produce powerful action and a big dose of medication may produce very mild results. Purva Karma A drug, even though small in measure Karma becomes great in it’s action, if well impregnated. Paschat Karma Therefore, drugs should be impregnated either 1. Purva-karma includes - with their own expressed juice or The expressed A. Selection of Sandhana Patra (container) - juice of the drugs of similar potency Bhajana samskara 1. Alpesaya api Mahartatvam e.g. to increase Dhupana - Saucha&vasana samskara seeta & dahasamaka guna of Pravala ( coral), bhavana of gulaba jala (rose water) is given, Lepana - Saucha samskara which is having seeta & dahasaman property. Collection of drugs - Desa&Kala samskara 2. Prabhutasaya alpkarmatam e.g To reduce 2. Pradhana-karma includes - excessive Usna, teeksna gunas of gandhaka Drava Dravya - Toya sannikarsa (sulphur ) Sodhana samskara is done with the Madhura Dravya help of milk and ghee which are having seeta & manda properties. Thus Entirely new gunas Sandhana Dravya - Agni sannikarsa get manifested in a dravya after samskara. Prakshepa Dravya e.g. Vrihi which is guru & pitta-dosa vitiating, Filling and sealing of Patra becomes laghu & pitta-dosa alleviating after agni- Sthanavimarsha (placing of Sandhana samskara. So, here entirely new gunas get Patra) -Desa samskara manifested after Samskara. Sandhana Kala (Duration of Sandhana) Ghee is able to do thousands of functions if - Kala samskara processed accordingly. (Ca. Su. 27/232). 3. Paschat-karma includes - Taila is told to be Sarvarogapaham i.e. curing Observations (Sandhana Pariksha) all the diseases, if proper Samskara & Samyoga is Filtration done according to disease. (Ca Su. 27/287). Maturation - Kala prakarsha This may be one of the causes that in Ayurvedic texts, especially caraka samhita, most Storage of the preparations are found in taila or ghee form. Bhajana samskara (selection of fermenter) The containers used for fermentation were IMPORTANCE OF SAMSKARA IN made of mud, (Loha, Tamra, Suvarna), SANDHANA KALPANA Wood, Porcelain and recently Plastic & Steel have been superseded all above the material. , the nature of the interior surface of the container plays a Asavas and Arishtas, the main products of significant role providing the minute crevices Sandhana Kalpana is quite popular in the essential to build up a colony in the initial stages.

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Wooden vessels may contribute to the aroma for the purpose of medication should be from the and color when same fermentation is carried out specific land and from specific climate. In short they on repeated batches; porcelain containers seems to were well acquainted with the importance of land for effectively resist variation of the external the growth of plant. they were also familiar temperature. But most importantly why the regarding panch-bhautika constitution of land wooden and earthen pots gained popularity was which goes to make specific rasapanchaka due to their slightly rougher internal surface of a plant, and finally rasa panchaka is the governing which assists in logging of the micro-organisms, unit of pharmaco-kinetics and pharmacodynamics of assisting in the colony formation thus accelerating a plant. To maintain uniformity of temperature the overall reaction due to faster growth of the throughout the fermentation process containers are micro-organisms. said to be kept inside the heap of barley dry grass or Saucha & vasana samskara(sterlization & inside the ground etc. It is established fact that the fumigation). fermenting microbes are highly sensitive to wide temperature fluctuations and by this easily get Dhupana lepana of purva karma can be damaged rather than sustained slightly higher or included in this category Prevention of the lower than required temperature. Nowadays naturally occurring microbial flora in and around temperature requirements are easily met with steam the fermenter to avoid contamination is achieved or cold jackets to the fermenter vessel and the by Dhupana. The utensils are fumigated temperature to be maintained depends on the strain (Dhupana) with different drugs such as Guggulu, of the micro-organisms, usually ranging from 25°C - Jatamansi, Vaca, Aguru, Nimbatwak, Candana, 35°C. Karpura, etc The concept of Lepana seems to provide the local antiseptic action in the fermenter KALA SAMSKARA (DURATION) vessel needed even after fumigation procedure. The compounds used are Tikshna, with antimicrobial properties attributed to their The time required for completion of pharmacological action along with Ghrita or fermentation is said to vary from season to season Madhu which besides their slight disinfectant as well as from preparation to preparation. property, acts as base material. Also, role of Ghrita According to text minimum time limit is of seven as an alternate carbon source for the microbial days & maximum is six months. metabolism enhancing the growth rate. If the However the concept of Kala Samskara needs fermentation is invaded by a foreign micro- more deliberation given with the intelligent organism, it may support the growth of both the excerpt from Sharangadhara Samhita which reads: production organism and the contaminant, Toya Sannikarsha. resulting in loss of productivity, Contaminant Toya is the synonym of water. it is a good may degrade the desired product or may to solvent for the prepration of kwatha & swarasa . lysis of the culture. Thus maintenance of aseptic Active ingredients firstly dissolve in water,so conditions during the fermentation are water used should be of good quality and free from mandatory. Vasana samskara also gives good all contamination. ), Jala Mahabhuta is required to fragrance to the finished product & increases soften the hardness present in Parthiva Dravyas. therapeutic efficacy due to it’s volatile contents. Also Jala Mahabhuta penetrates into Parthiva Desa samskara (collection of drug & placing of dravya and loosens the molecular bonding, patra). thereby accumulating space present in between Collection of drugs & Placing of sandhana patra molecules. When assessing the suitability of a can be kept under this samskara. In Caraka water supply, it is important to consider pH, vimanasthana chapter 8th acharya narrates the dissolved and effluent contamination. The qualities of a drug. That the drug that is to be used mineral content of the water is very important in the fermentation process. Volume 2 Number 4, October - December 2009 234 Sanjay Gupta, Shuchi Mitra, P.K. Prajapati

AGNI SANNIKARSHA mainly two things i.e. selection of proper drug & selection of proper Samskara. By Samskara, one can The main divison of madya kalpana into asava make changes in the Pancabhutika composition of a and arista is based on agni sannikarsa ,but it is not dravya outside the body. When the dravya is taken true in every case. inside the body, it is subjected to changes in pancabhautika composition at different levels of agni Acharya Sharangadhara clearly defines Asava i.e. Jatharagni, Bhautikagni, Dhatvagni etc. Thus, as Madya, which is prepared without boiling the various new dravyas having different guna - drug in water. can be created by employing different samskaras to Kwatha Kalpana or the boiled/ cooked source dravyas. Selection of proper samskara for any dravya material is used in the process. Chakrapani also will depend on Mahabhuta dominance & opines that Arishtas are prepared with Aushadha- configuration of Mahabhutas of that dravya. Any Kwatha along with Madhu, etc. The Kwatha Samskara could not be employed to any dravya. nirmana determines the process of fermentation Selection of Samskara will also depend on the patient, and has impact on the final fermented product-the typeofdisease,stageofdisease,statusofdosadietc. biomass. Quantum of heat and the duration of heating are of prime concern for Kwatha nirmana. CONCLUSION The purpose is to drive the therapeutically active principles from the source drug up to maximum possible extent but without damaging/ denaturing Samskara and Gunantradhana are the prime any of the useful constituents in the process. essentials of ancient ideology. Samskara is the process to modify the natural properties of the KALA PRAKARSHA ( MATURATION) substances. Acharya Caraka defines Samskara as transformation of inherent attributes of a substance. This is created by dilution, application After proper filtration, the liquid is kept for a of heat, cleansing, churning, storing in a specific few days to allow the suspended sediments if any, place, maturing, flavoring, impregnation, to settle down and again filtered to separate the preservation, container etc. sediment. As cited earlier, maturation or ageing adds to the Organoleptic characters which is desirable apart from the therapeutic benefits. REFERENCES Reduced nutrients leading to starvation phase for the microbial growth triggers adaptive changes 1. Kasirama, Gudhartha Dipika 3rd edition, even at the genetic level and the microbes thus Saranghdhara Samhita. Chaukhamba Orientalia, sustain themselves over a very long period of time. 1983. Besides the changes occurring in the biomass- 2. Shastri Ambikadutt Kaviraja Susruta Samhita th constituents are increasingly getting documented 12 edition, Ayurveda Tatva Sandipika Hindi establishing the positive role of maturation. comm. Chaukhamba Sansthana,2001. 3. Shastri Satyanarayana, Charak Samhita, Vidhyotini tika, 17th ed . Chaukhamba DISCUSSION Bhartiya academy. 4. Vaghbata Astang Hridaya 1st ed . Chaukhamba Thus pharmaco dynamics and pharmaco Orientalia, 1982. kinetics of a dravya depends on it’s Pancabhautika 5. Vaghbhata Astang Sanghraha translated by composition. This pharmacology can be modified Vidyaalankara Atridev. Niramaya Sagar Press, 1951. with the help of Samskara. 6. Zha Pakshadhar, Asava Arista Vigyaniyam 3rd For the formation of new dravyas through ed. Chaukhamba Orientalia, 1982. alteration in Pancabhautika composition one has

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