Manikya (Ruby): Types, Qualities, Shodhana, Marana, Dosage

Ruby is one among the precious stones. The ruby is a pink to blood-red coloured gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (Aluminium oxide). The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red.

Table of Contents

Synonyms

Padmaraga, Sougandhika, Shrungari,Shonaratna, Kuruvinda, Ratnaraata, Raviratna.

Specific gravity

4, Hardness – 9, Melting point – 2044 degree C. Luster – Vitreous.

Effect on Graha – Calms Suryagraha.

Availability

Myanmar, Ceylon, Thailand, America, Australia and Kashmir of India.

Types

1. Padmaragaakhya 2. Neelagandhi.

Suitable qualities

कुशेशयदलछायं स्वच्छं स्निग्धं गुरु स्फुटम ।
वृत्तायत्तं समं गात्रं माणिक्यं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ (र.र.स. ४/९)
kuśeśayadalachāyaṃ svacchaṃ snigdhaṃ guru sphuṭama |
vṛttāyattaṃ samaṃ gātraṃ māṇikyaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate || (ra.ra.sa. 4/9)

Padmaagaagaakhya: The Manikya having red colour similar to petals of red lotus, unctuous, clear, heavy, shining, and spherical shape, is considered as the best.

Neelagandhi:

नीलं गंगाम्बु सम्भूतं नीलगर्भारुणच्छवि ।
पूर्वमाणिक्यवच्छ्रेष्ठं माणिक्यं नीलगन्धि तत ॥ (र.र.स. ४/१०)
nīlaṃ gaṃgāmbu sambhūtaṃ nīlagarbhāruṇacchavi |
pūrvamāṇikyavacchreṣṭhaṃ māṇikyaṃ nīlagandhi tata || (ra.ra.sa. 4/10)

The manikya, collected from Ganga river, having external reddish colour and inner bluish colour is considered as great as Padmaraaga.

Unsuitable characters

रन्ध्रकार्कश्यमालिन्यरौक्ष्यावैशद्यसंयुतम ।
चिपिटं लघुवक्त्रञ्च माणिक्यं दुष्टमष्टधा ॥ (र.र.स. ४/११)
randhrakārkaśyamālinyaraukṣyāvaiśadyasaṃyutama |
cipiṭaṃ laghuvaktrañca māṇikyaṃ duṣṭamaṣṭadhā || (ra.ra.sa. 4/11)

The manikya with holes, rough, dirty, dry, unclear, flat, light and curved is considered unsuitable.

Qualities

Chemical composition – Al₂ O₃Indications of Manikya pishti– Aphrodisiac, Malabsorption syndrome, impairment of memory, insomnia, disorders caused by Vata vikara, diseases caused by microbes especially tuberculosis.

Dose – 31.25 mg – 62.5 mg
Adjuvants – Cream or Eladi mantha or as per the disease.
Formulations – Jawaharmohra vati, Navaratna raja mruganka rasa, Brahmi vati, Mani parpati, Ratnabhagottara rasa.

Reasearch work
Manikya bhasma on experimental model is proved to possess neuroprotective action.

माणिक्यं मधुरं स्निग्धं वृष्यं हृद्यं च दीपनम ।
मेद्यं रसायनं बल्यं वातपित्त क्षयार्तिनुत ॥ (रसामृत)
māṇikyaṃ madhuraṃ snigdhaṃ vṛṣyaṃ hṛdyaṃ ca dīpanama |
medyaṃ rasāyanaṃ balyaṃ vātapitta kṣayārtinuta || (rasāmṛta)

Sweet in taste, unctuous, aphrodisiac, strengthens heart, improves digestion, intelligence, strength, rejuvenative, cures Kshaya disease and calms Vata & Pitta.
Read more about Puta Prakarana here

Shodhana (Purification)

Dolayantra Swedana with Nimbu swarasa for three hours.
Dolayantra Swedana with any Amlavarga dravya swarasa for three hours.

Marana (Incineration)

Manikya choorna is added with equal parts of Shuddha Gandhaka, Shuddha Manashila and Shuddha Haratala, given bhavana with Nimbu Swarasa and Cakes are prepared, dried, samputa is prepared and subjected to 8 Gajaputa of heat to get good quality Manikya Bhasma.
Read more about Manikya Bhasma here

Dosage

¼ – ½ Ratti (31.25 mg to 62.5 mg) in divided doses per day.

Anupana

Honey or milk cream.

Important formulations

Maniparpati
Navaratna raja mruganka rasa
Ratnabhagottara Rasa.