Heeraka (Diamond): Types, Qualities. Shodhana, Marana, Dosage

Heeraka or Diamond is one of the best-known and most sought-after gemstones. Diamonds have been known to humankind and used as decorative items since ancient times. Diamond’s hardness and high dispersion of light – giving the diamond its characteristic “fire” – make it useful for industrial applications and desirable as jewelry.

Diamonds are such a highly traded commodity that multiple organizations have been created for grading and certifying them based on the four Cs, which are carat, cut, color, and clarity. Other characteristics, such as shape and presence or lack of fluorescence, also affect the desirability and thus the value of a diamond used for jewelry.

Table of Contents

Synonyms

Heeraka, Vajra, Bhidura, Kulisha, pavi, Abhedya, Drudharatna, Bhaargavaka.

Chemically Diamond is made of carbon.
Specific gravity – 3.5
Hardness – 10

Availability

India, South Africa, Iran, Brazil, Australia etc.

Types

Vajra is of 3 types –
1. Nara (best)
2. Nari (medium quality) and
3. Napumsaka (bad)

Each of these has four types. –
1. Brahmana (white colour)
2. Kshatriya (red coluor)
3. Vaishya (yellow colour)
4. Shoodra (black colour).

Suitable characteristics

अष्टास्त्रञ्चाऽष्टफलकं षटकोणमतिभासुरम ।
अम्बुदेन्द्रधनुर्वारितरं पुंवज्रमुच्यते ॥
तदेव चिपिटाकारं स्त्रीवज्रं वर्तुलायतम ।
वर्तुलं कुण्ठकोणाग्रं किञ्चिदगुरु नपुंसकम ॥ (र.र.स. ४/२७ – २८)
aṣṭāstrañcā’ṣṭaphalakaṃ ṣaṭakoṇamatibhāsurama |
ambudendradhanurvāritaraṃ puṃvajramucyate ||
tadeva cipiṭākāraṃ strīvajraṃ vartulāyatama |
vartulaṃ kuṇṭhakoṇāgraṃ kiñcidaguru napuṃsakama || (ra.ra.sa. 4/27 – 28)

Nara type of vajra having 8 surfaces, 8 sides, 6 angles, shining, reflecting rainbow colours is considered as suitable.
Nari type of vajra having 8 suraces, 8 sides, 6 angles, shining, reflecting rainbow colours, flat and cylindrical shape are considered as suitable.
Napumsaka vajra having round shape, irregular angles, and heavy, is considered as suitable.

Unsuitable characters

वर्तुलं मलिनं नीलं भूत्याभं स्फुटितं खरम ।
सकाकपदं रेखाढ्यं हेयं हीरकमादिशेत ॥ (र.त.२३/७)
vartulaṃ malinaṃ nīlaṃ bhūtyābhaṃ sphuṭitaṃ kharama |
sakākapadaṃ rekhāḍhyaṃ heyaṃ hīrakamādiśeta || (ra.ta.23/7)

Spherical shape, dirty, blue, having impurities, broken, scratches, having streaks is considered as unsuitable.

Qualities

आयुष्प्रदं झटिति सदगुणञ्च वृष्यं दोषत्रयप्रशमनं सकलामयघ्नम ।
सूतेन्द्रबन्धवधसदगुणकृत्प्रदीपनं मृत्युञ्जयं तदमृतोपममेव वज्रम ॥ (र.र.स. ४/३२)
āyuṣpradaṃ jhaṭiti sadaguṇañca vṛṣyaṃ doṣatrayapraśamanaṃ sakalāmayaghnama |
sūtendrabandhavadhasadaguṇakṛtpradīpanaṃ mṛtyuñjayaṃ tadamṛtopamameva vajrama || (ra.ra.sa. 4/32)

Improves age, Tridoshahara, Rasayana, strengthens body, useful in treatment of Shosha, Kshaya, Bhagandara, Prameha, Pandu and Shotha.

Chemical composition – C

Properties – Madhura, amla, lavana, katu, tikta, kashaya. Has yogavahi guna and is equivalent to Parada bhasma.

Indications of Heeraka bhasma – Benign and malignant tumours, Diabetes, disorders caused by Medas, tuberculosis in advanced stages, anemia, inflammation, male infertility, Angina pectoris, angina pectoris vasomotiria, thrombus, aneurysm etc. They also increases longevity, acts as aphrodisiac, pacifies Tridosha, ards off death, brings about clear and radiant eyes, improves strength, complexion and intelligence.

Dose – 1.25mg – 6.25 mg

As per Rasa tarangini , 125 mg of Heeraka bhasma should be triturated well in mortar and pestle along with 4 g of Rasa sindoora. 125 mg -250 mg of this combination must be administered.

Adjuvants – Sugar and milk or with other medicines.
How to use

Malignancy – Heeraka bhasma – 125mg, swarna bhasma – 2 g, mukta pishti – 2g, abhraka bhasma – 2g should be mixed well and preserved. Make 48 packets. Administer 1 packet each day along with sugar candy.

Formulations – Kandarpasundara rasa, Kamadeva rasa, Trailokya chintamani rasa, Navartana raja mriganka rasa, Panchamita rasa, Mahamriganka rasa, Mani parpati, Ratna garbha pottali, Vasanta kusumakara rasa.

Shodhana

Kulattha Kwatha swedana
Kodrava kwatha swedana
Heated and dipped in Snuhi ksheera for 100 times.
Heated and dipped in Parada for 100 times
Read: Concept of Shodhana in Rasashastra

Marana

Vajra is mixed with equal parts of haratala, Gandhaka and Manashila, given Bhavana with Karpasa moola swaraasa, cakes are prepared and subjected to 14 Mahaputa heat.
Vajra powder is given to Bhavana with Ksheerakakoli and subjected to Gajaputa heat.
Read more about Heeraka Bhasma here