Abstract

A LITERARY REVIEW ON THE STUDY OF HINGULA

Irfan S. Sheikh*, Ravindra B. Ghaywate and Dipali P. Nijwante

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Abstract

Hingula, also known as Cinnabar is the commonest and cheapest source of Mercury. It occurs in both crystalline and massive forms. In the world, almost total mercury is obtained from it. Due to its usefulness in various procedures of Parada Jarana and Dhatu- Marana, Acharya Vagbhata, the author of Rasaratna samucchaya has classified it as a Sadharana Rasa. Purified Hingula is therapeutically used in various diseased conditions whereas Parada (Parada extracted from Hingula) is considered as equally potential as Gandhak –jarit Parada and there is no need for purification (Shodhana) of that Parada. In the classical age, the native form was procured from Darada Desha (North West of Kashmir) and Mleccha Desha (China). However, nowadays important places of occurrence are Spain, Italy, the Western states of the U.S.A. and Mexico. Therapeutically it is widely used in many Ayurvedic formulations like Hinguleshwar rasa, Anandbhairav rasa, Tribhuvankirti rasa, Kasturibhairava rasa, etc.

Keywords: Hingula, Cinnabar, Shodhana, Rasa-Sashtra.