A REVIEW ON KOSTHI WSR TO RASATARANGINI AND RASA RATNA SAMUCCHYA

Abstract

Ayurveda the science of life gives importance to keep balance between nature and human relationship. From Vedic period to Samhita period there was less of metals/minerals in formulation, but from the period of Nagarjuna formulation of herbo-mineral drugs are used profusely. A careful survey of the original text on Rasashastra shows that the subject covers the entire field of inorganic pharmaceutical preparation like metallic, non-metallic and ongano-metallic compounds of Ayurvedic Materia medica. Shodhana and Marana of the substance are done with some special processes and thereafter can be used therapeutically. Kosthi is defined as for extraction of dravyas sattva and for the purpose of Dhalana, the special ovens used are called Kosthika. They can be correlated with Gas stove, Hot plate and Heating mantle in modern science. Kosthi are the special devices mentioned in Rasa Shastra to process the Rasa Dravya. They are mentioned in text of Rasa Shastra depicting its importance to other devices like Yantra, Musha, Puta. Kosthi are of different types like Angarkosthi, Patal Kosthi, Gara Kosthi, Musha Kosthi. Their description in Rasa grantha draws attention to know Kosthi in scientific way. Therefore, in the present paper an attempt to review the different Kosthi.