Introduction

Rasa Shastra means "Science of Mercury." This specific section of Ayurveda focuses on elements that are Known as "Rasa Dravya’s". These medications have three key characteristics: immediate effectiveness, low dose requirements, and broad therapeutic applications regardless of constitution. Along with Parad drugs from plant origin, metals, oceanic products and gems are also used to prepare potent medicine. To study these drugs the Rasa Acharyas have classified them in various groups like Maharasa, Uprasa, Sadharana Rasa, Dhatu, Updhatu, Sudha Dravya, Ratna, Upratna. Ratna Varga is one such group of elements which consists of all precious gems. All those elements which are precious among its category appreciated and loved by the people and supposed to be best quality are called Ratna. The one who expects wealth is obsessive and deeply attached with these precious gems so the scientists of those days called these drugs as Ratna.

One of the raw drugs that was particularly used from animal origin is Mukta or Pearl. According to Atharvaveda, Mukta is the substance that provides the body freedom from diseases and difficulties. Garuda-Purana says that when Sun moves into Swati Nakshatra, the water drops that fall from the clouds gets into Shukti (Oyster shell) and transforms into Mukta (Pearl).^[1] It belongs to the class Mollusca, with Latin name Pinctada Margaritifera. Pearl is an organic gem. It is obtained from the pearl shell or oyster found in the sea, river or different water sources. In several European languages the word pearl is synonymous with bead. In simple terms, pearl is a whitish, hard and round object found within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk, usually an oyster shell. It is made up of concentric layers of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. Almost all species of shelled mollusks are capable of producing pearls of lesser shine or less spherical shape. Mukta is related to Chandra Graha.

Aims and Objectives

Aim: To study in detail the concept of Mukta.

Objectives:

1. To take various references related to Mukta in various Ayurvedic Samhita.

Identification^[5]

• Chemical formula: CaCO3
• Colour: White, Pink, Silver, Cream, Golden, Green, Blue, Black, Yellow
• Cleavage: None
• Mohs scale hardness: 2.5-4.5
• Streak: White

Sources of Origin

On the basis of Ayurveda Prakasha, Mukta has eight sources including.

1. Sukti (Oyster shell)
2. Shakha (Conch-shell)
3. Gaja (Elephant)
4. Varaha (Pig)
5. Sarpa (Snake)
6. Matrsya (Fish)
7. Dardura (Frog)
8. Venu (Bamboo)^[6]

Shodhana (Purification) of Mukta

Mukta is cleansed prior to usage as a medication; all potential negative effects or adverse outcomes should be eliminated. Because Mukta doesn't exhibit any active toxic alkaloids.
Following protocols arealways preferable. The Shodhana procedure is described in various Rasa Shastra classics. Shodhana is done in Churnodaka (Lime-water),^[7] AgastyaPatra Swarasa^[8] and Jayanti Patra Swarasa.^[9] For the Shodhana treatment, Mukta undergoes three hours of Swedana by Dola Yantra Vidhi.

Marana (Incineration) of Mukta^[10]

The whole method is to be completed in the following steps-

A) Bhavana (Trituration): Purified Mukta is finely powdered and taken into mortar. Then some cow milk or rose water is added to it and it is then subjected to trituration. Then this mixture is triturated into fine paste.

B) Preparation of Chakrikas (Pelletization): Small Chakrikas are prepared and dried. These Chakrikas are then kept in earthen plates, sealed and subjected to puta.

C) Sharava Samputa formation: These Chakrikas are then kept in earthen plates, sealed and subjected to Puta.

There is no human’s disruption in the natural process. Whereas for Cultured method, on the other hand, are made artificially.

A) Natural Method: The inner layer of an oyster or other mollusc shell becomes irritated when a little particle becomes lodged in it. The oyster then starts to diminish the material by concealing its excretion surrounding the item. Layers of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), either as the mineral aragonite or as a combination of calcite and aragonite, are laid down by the mollusk covering and stored with a biological horn resembling conchiolin. Nacre, which is the mother of pearls, is a mixture of aragonite and conchiolin. In actuality, the widely held notion that a grain of sand is an annoyance is not necessarily true. Organic materials, parasites, or even harm that eliminates clothing from another area of the body are examples of common stimulants.

B) Artificial Method: A pearl farm uses both natural processes and human intervention to cultivate pearls. The shells reaction is a tissue implant of cultured pearls. A small portion of the mantle tissue of the donor shell is put within a recipient shell. This graft will form a pearl sac, and the tissue will precipitate calcium carbonate into the pocket. There are numerous options. Use freshwater or seawater shells, place the graft into the gonad or mantle, add a spherical bead, or leave it unbeaded when processing cultured pearls.

Purity of the Mukta

X-ray testing distinguishes between cultured pearls (beadless or beaded) and fake pearls. Nucleated cultured pearls are commonly pre-formed means they confirm to the shape of the implanted shell bead nucleus. After inserting the pre-formed beads, the oyster secretes a coating of nacre around the exterior surface before removing them after six months or more. X-raying cultivated pearls with beads reveals a distinct structure compared to natural pearls. Beaded cultured pearls have a solid centre and no concentric growth rings, while natural pearls have a sequence of concentric rings. A beadless cultured pearl of freshwater or saltwater origin may exhibit growth.

Formulations (Yoga) of Mukta

• Muktapanchamruta Rasa^[16]
• Vasantakusumkara Rasa^[17]
• Pravalapanchamruta Rasa^[18]