Qualities Of Water, Drinks and Foods Stored In Different Vessels
By Prof. Vd Rangaprasad Bhat.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The water stored in the vessels prepared from hema (gold), Trapusha (tin), ghosha paatra (brass), tamra (copper), pittala (brass), loha (iron), madhūdumbara (from wood sap of Ficus religiosa) and mud are mentioned to have medicinal properties as could be seen from the following references of the Ayurveda mahodadhi written by Vaidya Sushena.
Bhajana adhivasa vidhi: adhyaya from Ayurveda Mahodadhu of Sushena:
Ayurveda Mahodadhi, Sushena – Bhaja Adhiavasa Vidhi Adhyaya 1-13
Ideal Vessel to Store and Drink Water? Copper, Mud, Steel vs Glass
Water in golden vessel
The water stored in a golden vessel is cold in potency;
Sweet in taste, Madhura Vipaka – sweet taste conversion after digestion.
Tridosha Shamana – balances all the three Doshas.
Veeryakara – improves immunity, fertility and potency
Balakara – improves strength and immunity
Medhakara – improves intelligence
Shubha – auspicious, good.
Read related: Metal Charged Water For Skin Allergies, Tiredness, Energy
Water stored in tin vessel
Water stored in tin vessel (Trapusa):
Picchila – sticky
Madhura – sweet
Increases Kapha Dosha
Coolant
Increases the bulk of feces and urine.
Water stored in brass vessel
The metal used to prepare bell producing the sound is getting referred as Ghosha Patra – brass.
The water stored in a brass vessel is
Katu – Pungent in taste and Vipaka.
Guru – heavy
Increases Kapha and Pitta Dosha.
Increases strength and immunity, when used for a longer period of time. |3|
The stream of water made into contact with hot knife
Causes cold in regions around and above the nose (ghrāṇopari). When sprinkled over eyes, the thus obtained milk controls the Tridoshas (affecting the eyes). |4|
Water stored in copper vessel
The water stored in a copper vessel (tāmra bhājana)
Ushna – hot potency
Swadu – sweet
Katu – slightly pungent.
Katu vipaka – undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
It increases Pitat and Vata Dosha.
Decreases quantity of feces and flatus. |5|
Read related: Hot Water Benefits As Per Ayurveda
A kind of pittala or brass is known as Reetika:
Water boiled in rittikā vessel
Katu – spicy, pungent
Decreases Kapha Dosha.
increases the pitta.
Being hot in potency and kaTu in vipaka,
It may increase meha roga (an urinary disease). |6|
Water in iron vessel
The water stored in a iron vessel (lohabhājan-saṃsthaṃ) is spoiled (Dushita) and is unfit for drinking purpose.
Still if consumed, it results in raktapitta, itching and diminished agni. |7|
The water heated or boiled in a iron vessel (lohabhājan- saṃtaptaṃ) when partaken results in itching and low agni (low digestion) and purges the malas (malānām recane) and cleanses stomach (Amashaya kshalana) |8|
The water heated over the vessel prepared from the wood of udumbara – Ficus racemosa tree (madhūdumbara-pātreṇa tāpitam) is ideal for the body. It increases the luster of the body and alleviates the pitta too. |9|
Water heated in earthern vessel
The water heated over an earthern vessel
Useful to cleanse out waste products (malas)
Dhatu Samyakara – balances Doshas and body tissues.
Improves Veerya – potency
Bala Ojaskara – improves immunity and strength |10 |
Click to consult Vd. Rangaprasad Bhat
Food, drinks in different vessels
Dr JV Hebbar:
Acharya Sushruta describes as below:
वक्ष्याम्यतः परं कृत्स्नामाहारस्योपकल्पनाम् ॥
घृतं कार्ष्णायसे देयं , पेया देया ति राजते ॥४४९॥
फलानि सर्वभक्ष्यांश्च प्रदद्यद्वैदलेषु तु ॥
परिशुष्कप्रदिग्धानि सौवर्णेषु प्रकल्पयेत् ॥४५०॥
प्रद्रवाणि रसांश्चैव राजतेषुपहारयेत् ॥
कट्वराणि खडांश्चैव सर्वाच्छैलेषु दापयेत् ॥४५१॥
दद्यात्ताम्रमये पात्रे सुशीतं सुश्रृतं पयः ॥
पानीयं पानकं मद्यं मृन्मयेषु प्रदाप्पयेत् ॥४५२॥
काचस्फटिकपात्रेषु शीतलेषु शुभेषु च ॥
दद्याद्वैदूर्यचित्रेषु रागषाडवसट्टकान् ||४५३||
vakṣyāmyataḥ paraṃ kṛtsnāmāhārasyopakalpanām ||
ghṛtaṃ kārṣṇāyase deyaṃ , peyā deyā ti rājate ||449||
phalāni sarvabhakṣyāṃśca pradadyadvaidaleṣu tu ||
pariśuṣkapradigdhāni sauvarṇeṣu prakalpayet ||450||
pradravāṇi rasāṃścaiva rājateṣupahārayet ||
kaṭvarāṇi khaḍāṃścaiva sarvācchaileṣu dāpayet ||451||
dadyāttāmramaye pātre suśītaṃ suśrṛtaṃ payaḥ ||
pānīyaṃ pānakaṃ madyaṃ mṛnmayeṣu pradāppayet ||452||
kācasphaṭikapātreṣu śītaleṣu śubheṣu ca ||
dadyādvaidūryacitreṣu rāgaṣāḍavasaṭṭakān ||453||
Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 46th chapter.
Meaning of the verses:
Ghee should be kept in iron vessel – ghṛtaṃ kārṣṇāyase deyaṃ,
Juices, food drinks in silver vessels – peyā deyā ti rājate
Silver vessels are generally coolant. Coolant fruit juices and drinks, being cooling, would get their properties enhanced by silver.
phalāni sarvabhakṣyāṃśca pradadyat vaidaleṣu tu – fruits and all eatables(snacks) be kept in vessels made of leaves. Fruits remain fresh for a longer period of time, if kept in leaves wrapping.
parisuska(cooked meat) and Pradigdha(cooked meat soaked in milk) should be kept in vessels of silver;
sours (sauces), cooked buttermilk and all such others (which are sour) should be kept in vessels made of stone; If metallic, then the metals may react with the sour substances, hence the stone vessels.
water well boiled and the cooled should be kept in vessels of copper. I will discuss this in detail in a future letter.
Syrups and wines should be kept in vessels made of mud, glass or rock crystal(stone) are cold and beautiful.
These beverages are taken in a leisurely, relaxing environment. Hence, the stress on the vessels to be beautiful. The non reactive vessels are chosen specifically, for these drinks
Salted and soured pickles of vegetable and fruit (Raga, Sadava and Sattaka) should be kept in vessels of Gems and precious stones.
Type of vessel for medicines
Spcification of type of vessel for the preparation of certain medicines can be found in samhitas. Different vessels made of certain metals are mentioned for the preparation of some medicines. For example in Bhaishajya ratnavali, for the preparation of Chagaladya ghrita, acharya has specifically mentioned copper vessel.
27 comments on “Qualities Of Water, Drinks and Foods Stored In Different Vessels”
Diwakar
Interesting observation… Curious to know about… Water stored in panchaloha vessel.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Though not mentioned in text books, it will be slightly hot in nature. Very slightly increases Pitta, balances Kapha and Vata, useful in cough, cold etc.
ritesh makharia
Sir, hpw about the water stored in plastic bottles ? the one available in market under diffrent brands .. like Aquafina, Bisleri ?
and how about steel and earthen pots ?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Earthern pot – mud pot – mentioned in the article above, as best.
Steep pot – somewhat similar to Iron pot.
Aquafina, Bisleri etc – are good to use once in a while. Harmful for health, if directly exposed to sunlight or used on daily basis.
Shyam
very helpful article. Where do you get pots made of Udumbara ? I stay in a state where the tree is very popular.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
I have no idea. If the wood is available, then its cups etc can be ordered for preparation locally.
gg
hi,
where are you from. to know where is udumbra popular…
Laird McKillop
what about glass?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Since glass is neutral and its effect cannot be seen on water stored for just a few hours, I would say that its effect on water is neutral.
Karthik
Thanks for the insightful article. A few questions.
1. Should one not store or heat water with stainless steel vessels?
2. What about cooking rice, dal and sabji? Should one switch over to mud pot for that too?
Please advise…
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, as per Ayurveda, mud pot is the best one to store and to cook as well. Stainless steel is okay to use, if there is no option for mud pot / mud vessel.
P Nagendra Rao
What about silver vessel? Silver tumblers and plates for food are quite commonly used.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Silver / Rajata Bhasma is Natural coolant, useful in stress, anxiety, neuro muscular stimulant,memory enhancer. It is useful in Alcoholism, Fever, menorrhagia, bleeding disorders.
Some amount of the above claims on silver Bhasma can be attributed to water stored in silver vessel.
sujaya
What are the effects of water stored in SILVER vessels?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Silver / Rajata Bhasma is Natural coolant, useful in stress, anxiety, neuro muscular stimulant,memory enhancer. It is useful in Alcoholism, Fever, menorrhagia, bleeding disorders.
Some amount of the above claims on silver Bhasma can be attributed to water stored in silver vessel.
Syam
It is interesting to note that Silver is missing in the list. What are the properties of Silver vessel?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Coolant, useful in stomach complaints, psychiatric issues, anxiety.
Surekha
How about copper sir. Is it good for people with pitta Dosha and Vata Dosha.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Copper is good for Kapha Dosha.
Parasvi
Sir, I recently bought some copper mugs because I had read and heard that it is good to store water in copper cups all night and drink it first thing in morning.
But recently I came across new information that this copper water is not great for everyone. Only the people who have copper deficiency must drink it otherwise it will create new problems in people with enough copper. Is this true? Now I am confused whether to drink from Water in my copper glass or not.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, you can start drinking copper vessel stored water. If you start feeling vomiting sensation, you can stop it.
Surekha
How about if we stored gold and silver coins along with copper. silver is coolant will it offset the copper heating effect.
Another question is do we need to heat water with silver and gold coins to get its effect. Or can we just store water in silver glass with a gold coin to reap its benefit. Can we drink such a water everyday. Is it true that we should not eat sour things when we consume such water?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, gold and silvers are not prescribed as antidote for Copper.
You can heat it. The effect will be better.
It can be taken everyday.
No.
Anup kumar
What are effects of cooking food on brass utensils on tridosha?
You have not mentioned on your site the effect of different metals on cooking food? You should include this topic?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Will write about it shortly. Mud pot is told in Ayurveda as the ideal vessel to cook
Nirmala
Dr.Hebbar, please tell me: Urine therapy— is it good to drink urine on an empty stomach?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Please read here
https://www.easyayurveda.com/2013/03/11/my-take-on-self-urine-therapy/