Parada Bandha: Binding and Solidifying Mercury

Parada or mercury, even after purification, cannot be administered internally because of its chanchalya (quickness) and durgrahatva (difficulty in absorbing). To overcome this, the mercury should be in bound form and this is called “Bandha”.

According to Rasaranta Samucchaya –
येन येन हि चाञ्चल्यं दुर्ग्रहत्वं च नश्यति ।
रसराजस्य संप्रोक्तो बन्धनार्थो हि वार्त्तिकैः ॥ (र.र.स.११/६०)
yena yena hi cāñcalyaṃ durgrahatvaṃ ca naśyati |
rasarājasya saṃprokto bandhanārtho hi vārttikaiḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/60)

The procedures that are capable of relieving hypermobility and ‘difficult to grab’ qualities of Parada are called as Bandhas.

Types of Bandha

हठारोटौ तथाऽऽभासः क्रियाहीनश्च पिष्टिका ।
क्षारः खोटश्च पोटश्च कल्कबन्धश्च कज्जलिः ॥
सजीवश्चैव निर्जीवो निर्बीजश्च सबीजकः ।
शृंखला द्रुतिबन्धौ च बालकश्च कुमारकः ॥
तरुणश्च तथा वृद्धौ मूर्त्तिबद्धस्ततथाऽपरः ।
जलबन्धोऽग्निबन्धश्च सुसंस्कृतकृताभिधः ॥
महाबन्धाभिधश्चेति पञ्चविंशतिरीरिताः । (र.र.स.११/६१-६३)
haṭhāroṭau tathā”bhāsaḥ kriyāhīnaśca piṣṭikā |
kṣāraḥ khoṭaśca poṭaśca kalkabandhaśca kajjaliḥ ||
sajīvaścaiva nirjīvo nirbījaśca sabījakaḥ |
śṛṃkhalā drutibandhau ca bālakaśca kumārakaḥ ||
taruṇaśca tathā vṛddhau mūrttibaddhastatathā’paraḥ |
jalabandho’gnibandhaśca susaṃskṛtakṛtābhidhaḥ ||
mahābandhābhidhaśceti pañcaviṃśatirīritāḥ | (ra.ra.sa.11/61-63)

There are 25 bandhas. Viz –
1. Hata Bandha 2. Arota Bandha 3. Abhasa Bandha

4. Kriyaheena Bandha 5. Pishtika Bandha 6. Kshara Bandha

7. Khota Bandha 8. Pota Bandha 9. kalka Bandha

10. kajjali Bandha 11. Sajeeva Bandha 12. Nirjeeva Bandha

13. Nirbeeja Bandha 14. Sabeeja Bandha 15. Shrunkhala Bandha

16. Druti Bandha 17. Baalaka Bandha 18. Kumara Bandha

19. Taruna Bandha 20. Vruddha Bandha 21. Moorti Bandha

22. Jala Bandha 23. Agni Bandha 24. Susamskruta Bandha

25. Maha Bandha

These 25 types of bandas are explained in Rasaratna samucchaya.

Some others add Jaluka as 26th type of Bandha.

Hata Bandha

हठोरसः स विज्ञेयः सम्यक् शुद्धि विवर्जितः ।
स सेवितो नृणां कुर्यान्मृत्युं वा व्याधिमुद्धतम् ॥ (र.र.स.११/६५)
haṭhorasaḥ sa vijñeyaḥ samyak śuddhi vivarjitaḥ |
sa sevito nṛṇāṃ kuryānmṛtyuṃ vā vyādhimuddhatam || (ra.ra.sa.11/65)

Bandha done without proper purification of Parada is called as Hata Bandha. By consuming this, death occurs.

Arota Bandha

सुशोधितो रसः सम्यगारोट इति कथ्यते ।
स क्षेत्रीकरणे श्रेष्ठः शनैर्व्याधि विनाशनः ॥ (र.र.स.११/६६)
suśodhito rasaḥ samyagāroṭa iti kathyate |
sa kṣetrīkaraṇe śreṣṭhaḥ śanairvyādhi vināśanaḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/66)

Bandha done after proper Shodhana of Parada is called as Arota Bandha. This is considered for the pupose of Kshetreekarana. By administering this, disease can be relieved gradually.

Abhasa Bandha

पुटितो यो रसो याति योगमुक्त्वा स्वभावताम् ।
भावितो धतुमूलाद्यैराभासो गुणवैकृतेः ॥(र.र.स.११/६७)
puṭito yo raso yāti yogamuktvā svabhāvatām |
bhāvito dhatumūlādyairābhāso guṇavaikṛteḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/67)

Bandha done by giving Bhavana and Putapaka with Dhatus and herbs is called as Abhasa Bandha.

Kriyaheena Bandha

असंशोधितलोहाद्यैः साधितो यो रसोत्तमः ।
क्रियाहीनः स विज्ञेयो विक्रियां यात्य पथ्यतः ॥(र.र.स.११/६८)
asaṃśodhitalohādyaiḥ sādhito yo rasottamaḥ |
kriyāhīnaḥ sa vijñeyo vikriyāṃ yātya pathyataḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/68)

Bandha of purified Parada with unpurified Lohas is called as kriyaheena Bandha. After consuming this, if Apathya is followed, then it leads to health complications.

Pishtika Bandha

तीव्रातपे गाढतरावमर्दात्पिष्टी भवेत्सा नवनीतरूपा ।
ख्यातः स सूतः किल पिष्टि बद्धः संदीपनः पाचन कृद्विशेषात् ॥(र.र.स.११/६९)
tīvrātape gāḍhatarāvamardātpiṣṭī bhavetsā navanītarūpā |
khyātaḥ sa sūtaḥ kila piṣṭi baddhaḥ saṃdīpanaḥ pācana kṛdviśeṣāt ||(ra.ra.sa.11/69)

Parada is triturated under intense sunlight till it gains the paste form. It acts as Deepana and Paachana.

Kshara Bandha

शङ्ख शुक्ति वराटाद्यैर्योऽसौ संसाधितो रसः ।
क्षारबन्धः परम् दीप्तिपुष्टिकृच्छूलनाशनः ॥(र.र.स.११/७०)
śaṅkha śukti varāṭādyairyo’sau saṃsādhito rasaḥ |
kṣārabandhaḥ param dīptipuṣṭikṛcchūlanāśanaḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/70)

Bandha done with Bhasmas of Shankha, Kaparda etc is called as Kshara Bandha. It acts as Deepana, and releives abdominal colic.

Khota Bandha

बन्धो यः खोटतां याति ध्मातो ध्मातः क्षयं व्रजेत् ।
खोट बन्धः स विज्ञेयः शीघ्रं सर्व गदापहः ॥(र.र.स.११/७१)
bandho yaḥ khoṭatāṃ yāti dhmāto dhmātaḥ kṣayaṃ vrajet |
khoṭa bandhaḥ sa vijñeyaḥ śīghraṃ sarva gadāpahaḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/71)

Bandha done by which Parada attains a spherical shape and does not loose its shape weven alter subjecting it to high temperatura is called as Khota Bandha. It relieves all diseases.

Pota Bandha (Rasa Parpati)

दृतकज्जलिका मोचपात्रके चिपतिक्रता ।
स पोट: पर्पटी सैव बालाध्याखिलरोगनुत् ॥ (र.र.स.११/७२)
dṛtakajjalikā mocapātrake cipatikratā |
sa poṭa: parpaṭī saiva bālādhyākhilaroganut || (ra.ra.sa.11/72)

Kajjali is prepared with purified Parada and Gandhaka , melted and poseed between two banana leaves to get a flan cake. This is called as Pota Bandha. It releives all diseases.

Kalka Bandha

स्वेदाद्यैः साधित: सूत: पङ्कत्वं समुपागत:।
कल्कबद्ध: स विज्ञेयः योगोक्तफलदयक: ॥(र.र.स.११/७३)
svedādyaiḥ sādhita: sūta: paṅkatvaṃ samupāgata:|
kalkabaddha: sa vijñeyaḥ yogoktaphaladayaka: ||(ra.ra.sa.11/73)

Due to Swedana etc procedures when Parada gains wet mud like consistency, it is called as Kalka Bandha.

Kajjali Bandha

कज्जली रसगन्धोत्था सुश्लक्ष्ण कज्जलोपमा ।
तत्तत् योगेन संयुक्त कज्जली बन्ध उच्यते ॥ (र.र.स.११/७४)
kajjalī rasagandhotthā suślakṣṇa kajjalopamā |
tattat yogena saṃyukta kajjalī bandha ucyate || (ra.ra.sa.11/74)

Purified Parada and Gandhaka are triturated to obtain a fine sofá powder called kajjali. It improves the quality of medicinal compounds and it is also used individually.

Sajeeva Bandha

भस्मीकृतो गच्छति वह्नियोगाद् सूतः सजीवः खलु संप्रदिष्टः ।
संसेवितोऽसौ न करोति भस्मकार्यं जराव्याधिविनाशनञ्च ॥(र.र.स.११/७५)
kajjalī rasagandhotthā suślakṣṇa kajjalopamā |
tattat yogena saṃyukta kajjalī bandha ucyate || (ra.ra.sa.11/74)

Parada Bhasma, which gets evaported upon subjecting it to FIRE, is called as Sajeeva Bandha. It can not relieve any disease.

Nirjeeva Bandha

जीर्णाभ्रको वा परिजीर्णगन्धो भस्मीकृतश्चाखिललौहमौलिः ।
निर्जीवनाम ही स भस्म सूतो निःशेष रोगान्विनिहन्ति सद्यः ॥ (र.र.स.११/७६)
jīrṇābhrako vā parijīrṇagandho bhasmīkṛtaścākhilalauhamauliḥ |
nirjīvanāma hī sa bhasma sūto niḥśeṣa rogānvinihanti sadyaḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/76)

Parada Bhasma, which has been done Jarana with Abhraka or Gandhaka is called as Nirjeeva Bandha.

Nirbeeja Bandha

रसस्तु पादांश सुवर्ण जीर्णः पिष्टीकृतो गन्धकयोगतश्च ।
तुल्यांश गन्धैः पुटितः क्रमेण निर्बीज नाम सकलामयघ्नः ॥(र.र.स.११/७७)
rasastu pādāṃśa suvarṇa jīrṇaḥ piṣṭīkṛto gandhakayogataśca |
tulyāṃśa gandhaiḥ puṭitaḥ krameṇa nirbīja nāma sakalāmayaghnaḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/77)

Purified Parada is done Jarana with 1/4th quantity of Swarna. It is done Pisti with wqual part of Gandhaka. This pisti is placed in equal quantity of Gandhaka, packed isnide a Samputa and subjected to mild, médium and intense heat. This is called as Nirbeeja Bandha, which can cure all diseases.

Sabeeja Bandha

पिष्टि कृतैरभ्रकसत्वहेमतारार्ककान्तैः परिजारितो यः ।
हतस्ततः षड्गुणगन्धकेन स बीजबद्धो विपुल प्रभावः ॥ (र.र.स.११/७८)
piṣṭi kṛtairabhrakasatvahematārārkakāntaiḥ parijārito yaḥ |
hatastataḥ ṣaḍguṇagandhakena sa bījabaddho vipula prabhāvaḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/78)

Abhraka Satwa, Swarna, Rajata, Tamra, Kanta Loha – all these are done jarana with Parada and a Psiti is prepared. It is triturated with gandhaka and Putapaka is done. The Bhasma obtained is called as Nirbeeja Bandha. It is highly effective.

Shrunkhala Bandha

वज्रादिनिहतः सूतो हतः सूतः समोऽपरः ।
श्रृंखलाबद्धसूतस्तु देहलोहविधायकः ॥
चित्र प्रभावं वेगेन व्याप्तिं जानाति शंकरः ॥(र.र.स.११/७९)
vajrādinihataḥ sūto hataḥ sūtaḥ samo’paraḥ |
śrṛṃkhalābaddhasūtastu dehalohavidhāyakaḥ ||
citra prabhāvaṃ vegena vyāptiṃ jānāti śaṃkaraḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/79)

Parada which is done Marana with Ratnas and another Parada which is done Marana with Gandhaka and herbs are taken together and mixed. This is called as Shrukhala Bandha. It releives old age and makes the body strong and brings about amazing benefits.

Druti Bandha

युक्तोऽपि बह्यदृतिभिश्च सूतो बन्धंगतो वा भसितस्वरूपः ।
स राजिकापादमितो निहन्ति दुःसाध्यरोगान्दृतिबद्धनाम ॥(र.र.स.११/८०)
yukto’pi bahyadṛtibhiśca sūto bandhaṃgato vā bhasitasvarūpaḥ |
sa rājikāpādamito nihanti duḥsādhyarogāndṛtibaddhanāma ||(ra.ra.sa.11/80)

Bhasma prepared with Parada, which has been done bahya Fruti is called as Druti Bandha. It is consumed in 1/4th rajita quantity to relieve difficult-to-treat-diseases.

Baalaka Bandha

समाभ्रजीर्णः शिवजस्तु बालः संसेवितो योगयुतो जबेन् ।
रसायनो भाविगदापहश्च सोपद्रवारीष्ट गदानिहन्ति ॥ (र.र.स.११/८१)
samābhrajīrṇaḥ śivajastu bālaḥ saṃsevito yogayuto jaben |
rasāyano bhāvigadāpahaśca sopadravārīṣṭa gadānihanti || (ra.ra.sa.11/81)

Parada is done jarana with eqaul quantity of Abhraka. By consuming this, the difficult-to-treat-diseases can be treated.

Kumara Bandha

हरोद्भवो यो द्विगुणाभ्रजीर्णः स स्यात्कुमारो मिततण्डुलोऽसौ ।
त्रिःसप्तरात्रैः खलु पापरोगसंघातघाती च रसायनं च ॥ (र.र.स.११/८२)
harodbhavo yo dviguṇābhrajīrṇaḥ sa syātkumāro mitataṇḍulo’sau |
triḥsaptarātraiḥ khalu pāparogasaṃghātaghātī ca rasāyanaṃ ca || (ra.ra.sa.11/82)

Bhasma prepared with Parada which has been done Jarana with Hingula and Abhraka is called as Kumara Bandha. It cures all diseases and also acts as rasayana.

Taruna Bandha

चतुर्गुणव्योमकृताशनोऽसौ रसायनाग्र्यस्तरूणाभिधानः ।
अ सप्तरात्रात्सकलामयघ्नो रसायनो वीर्यबलप्रदाता ॥ (र.र.स.११/८३)
caturguṇavyomakṛtāśano’sau rasāyanāgryastarūṇābhidhānaḥ |
a saptarātrātsakalāmayaghno rasāyano vīryabalapradātā || (ra.ra.sa.11/83)

Bhasma of Parada, which has been done Jarana with 4 times of Abhraka is called as taruna Bandha. It cures all diseases, improves strength and acts as rasayana.

Vruddha Bandha

यस्याभ्रकः षड्गुणितो हि जीर्णः प्राप्ताग्निसख्यः स हि वृद्धनामा ।
देहे च लोहे च नियोजनीय शिवादृते कोऽस्य गुणान्प्रवक्ति ॥ (र.र.स.११/८४)
yasyābhrakaḥ ṣaḍguṇito hi jīrṇaḥ prāptāgnisakhyaḥ sa hi vṛddhanāmā |
dehe ca lohe ca niyojanīya śivādṛte ko’sya guṇānpravakti || (ra.ra.sa.11/84)

Bhasma of Parada, which has been done Jarana with 6 times of Abhraka is called as taruna Bandha. It is useful both in Dehavada and Lohavada.

Moorti Bandha

यो दिव्यमूलिकाभिश्च कृतोऽत्यग्निसहो रसः ।
विनाभ्रजारणात्स स्यान्मूर्तिबन्धि महारसः ॥
अयं हि जार्यमाणस्तु नाग्निना क्षीयते रसः ।
योजितः सर्वयोगेषु निरौपम्यफलप्रदः ॥(र.र.स.११/८५-८६)
yo divyamūlikābhiśca kṛto’tyagnisaho rasaḥ |
vinābhrajāraṇātsa syānmūrtibandhi mahārasaḥ ||
ayaṃ hi jāryamāṇastu nāgninā kṣīyate rasaḥ |
yojitaḥ sarvayogeṣu niraupamyaphalapradaḥ ||(ra.ra.sa.11/85-86)

Parada marana done with Divine herbs is called as Moorti bandha. It does not get lost even alter putting on fire and can cure all diseases.

Jala Bandha

शिलातोयमुखैस्तोयैर्बद्धोऽसौ जलाबन्धवान् ।
स जरारोगमृत्युघ्नः कल्पोक्तफलदायकः ॥ (र.र.स.११/८७)
śilātoyamukhaistoyairbaddho’sau jalābandhavān |
sa jarārogamṛtyughnaḥ kalpoktaphaladāyakaḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/87)

Parada Bandha done with Shila Toya (water which has continuous contact with stones, minerals etc) is called as Jala Bandha.

Agni Bandha

केवलो योगयुक्तो वा ध्मातः स्याद्गुटिकाकृतिः ।
अक्षीणश्चाग्निबद्धोऽसौ खेचरत्वादिकृत् स हि ॥ (र.र.स.११/८८)
kevalo yogayukto vā dhmātaḥ syādguṭikākṛtiḥ |
akṣīṇaścāgnibaddho’sau khecaratvādikṛt sa hi || (ra.ra.sa.11/88)

When Parada is blowed into fire and if it gets converted into tablet form, such a Bandha is called as Agni Bandha. One can walk in space, by holding this tablet in mouth.

Susamskruta Bandha

विष्णुक्रान्ताशशिलताकुम्भिकनकमूलकैः ।
विशालानागिनीकन्दव्याघ्रपादिकुरण्टकैः ॥
वृश्चिकालीभशुण्डीयां हंसपादी सहासुरैः ।
अप्रसूतगवां मूत्रैः पिष्टं बालुकके पचेत् ॥
पक्वमेवं मृतैर्लोहैर्मर्दितं विपचेद्रसम् ।
यन्त्रेषु मूर्च्छा सूतानामेष कल्पः सुसंकृतः ॥ (र.र.स.११/८९-९१)
viṣṇukrāntāśaśilatākumbhikanakamūlakaiḥ |
viśālānāginīkandavyāghrapādikuraṇṭakaiḥ ||
vṛścikālībhaśuṇḍīyāṃ haṃsapādī sahāsuraiḥ |
aprasūtagavāṃ mūtraiḥ piṣṭaṃ bālukake pacet ||
pakvamevaṃ mṛtairlohairmarditaṃ vipacedrasam |
yantreṣu mūrcchā sūtānāmeṣa kalpaḥ susaṃkṛtaḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/89-91)

Vishnukranta, Somalata, Jalakumbhi, Dhatturamoola, Indrayana, Lakshmana kanda, vikankata twak, Vishala, nagini kanda, Vyaghra padi, Kurantaka, Vrushcikali, Shundika Hamsapadi Mudgaparni, Rajita – all these are triturated with urine of the cow, which has not become pregnant even once, and a bolus is prepared. This bolus is triturated with Parada and subjected to fire in Valuka Yantra. Tus obtained Bhasma is mixed with Dhatu Bhasmas, kept in Sharava Samputa and Puta is given. It is called as Susamskruta Bandha.

Maha Bandha

हेम्ना व रजतेन वा सहचरो ध्मतो व्रजत्येकताम्
अक्षीणो निबिडो गुरूश्च गुटीकाकारश्च दीर्घोज्ज्वलः ।
चूर्णत्वं पटुवत्प्रयाति निहतो घृष्टो न मुञ्चेन्मलम्
निर्गन्धो द्रव्ति क्षणात्स हि महाबन्धाभिधानो रसः ॥ (र।र।स।११/९२)
hemnā va rajatena vā sahacaro dhmato vrajatyekatām
akṣīṇo nibiḍo gurūśca guṭīkākāraśca dīrghojjvalaḥ |
cūrṇatvaṃ paṭuvatprayāti nihato ghṛṣṭo na muñcenmalam
nirgandho dravti kṣaṇātsa hi mahābandhābhidhāno rasaḥ || (ra.ra.sa.11/92)

Parada Bandha, which, upon subjecting to intesne heat along iwth Swarna or Rajata, does not lose wieght, remains in solid form, and retians spherical shape, has long lasting lustre, is not brittle, does not get stained upon rubbing, easily melts upon heating and devoid of any smell, such a Bandha is called as Maha bandha.

Jaluka Bandha

Swarna Jarita or naga Jarita Parada is aadded with 1/16th part of Eranda Beeja, Semala Beja, Bhanga churna, Shleshamtaka Beeja, Jyotishamti Beeja, badara, Tila, Tejapatra and Semala and tritrated well to obtain jaluka Bandha. It can be of three shapes – long, circular and