Abstract

A REVIEW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BHAVANA DRAVYAS IN BHASMA PREPARATION

Dr. Yogeshwar Balwantrao Kadam*

Abstract

Bhavana is an important samskara in Rasashastra in which purified metals and minerals are triturated repeatedly with specific liquid media known as bhavana dravyas and dried between cycles to facilitate their transformation into safe and efficacious bhasma.[1,3] This process contributes not only to reduction in particle size but also induces significant physicochemical changes such as chelation, adsorption of herbal constituents, organometallic complex formation and partial detoxification of the parent substance. Proper selection of bhavana dravya based on the nature of the drug, disease condition and dosha involvement, along with its use during premarana and inter-puta stages, is essential for achieving classical bhasma qualities such as nischandra, rekha purnata and niruttha nature. Modern analytical studies on Swarna, Yashada and Tamra bhasma demonstrate that bhavana media significantly influence particle size distribution, crystalline phases, trace element composition and overall pharmacological activity and safety profile. This review critically evaluates classical Ayurvedic concepts along with contemporary scientific findings to highlight the importance of bhavana dravyas as media, catalysts and carriers of herbal attributes in herbo-metallic formulations.

Keywords: Bhavana, Bhavana dravya, Bhasma preparation, Rasashastra, Marana, Samskara, Herbo-metallic formulations.