DRAVADRAVRA VIJNAJVITA (Knowledge of liquid materials)

We shall now expound the chapter, Dravadravya vijflaniya—knowledge of liquid materials; thus said Atreya and other
great sages.

Toya varga—(group of waters)
Gañ’ãmbu—( rain water) :— ! gf

Enlivening, satiating, comforting (healthy) to the heart (mind), refreshing, stimulating the intellect, thin, of imperceptable tastes, slightly sweet, cold (coolant), easily 1igestable nectorike in property/effect, are the properties of gangambu (rain water) which has fallen from the sky, coming in contact with sunlight, moonlight and wind, Its good or bad, depends chiefly on the region and season.
Notes :——The properties described above are those of rain water collected in a clean vessel directly, a little while after the commencement of
rain, especially so when there is bright sunlight. It should be consumed within a few hours as it loses its properties by storing. It is not good in all seasons. In olden days rain water used to be pure and so good for health, but not so now-a-days. With the increasing industrialisation, the atmosphere has become contaminated with poisonous gases, fumes and dust, so the rain Water coming down form the clouds gets polluted to a great extent, because of this only we hear of sour rain, salty rain, crimson rain etc. frequently. Use of such polluted rain water for drinking is not good for health.

Oflly that raiia water which makes the boiled rice kept in a clean silver plate neither too moist nor change its colour is to to cousiderd as goou fir drinking, 2[
Sãmurathbu—(seawater) :— 31T II ‘4 ii

water are calhd saiudra (a water), they should not be used for drinking except (luring ãvayuja (Septerxiber’October/autu n season). 3.
Notes :—--Tbe terms gangambu (also called aindrärnbu) and sãmudrãmbu also denote potable (puLe.irinkahle ) water and unpotable (contaminated, unsui.ed or drinking) respectively. Durng ãsvayuja month there will be the appearance of Agasiya nak”atra (the star canopus) which is said to remove the poisonous properties of water and other things of the earth, hnce permusiOn to use other kinds of water also for drinking during this season.

Rain wtei, collected in a good (cIca) vse1 and which has not become changed (in colour taste, touch etc.), should be used for drinking always. In its absence, the water of the earth, which resembles rainwater (in all its qualities) collected from places which are clean, and vast, having black or white soil, and exposed to sunlight and breeze.
Dufajala—(contaminateJ water) :—

The water which is dirty, being mixed with slush, algae, weeds and leaves, which is not exposed to sunlight and wind, which is a mixture ol old and fresh, which is thick, heavy (not easily digestable), frothy, containing worms, hot (by nature), causes tingling of teeth by being very cold, that rain-

water which is unseisowl or though seasoml that of the first rain, (befoie the appttance of Agsty r.akatra), that conta minated with the webs, saliva, urine, faeces of spider etc., and such other poisonous materails, should not be used for drinking.

Indian Medicinal Plants ; Ayurveda

Ayurvedic treatments and Ayurveda Principles