Arkaprakasha

Arkaprakasha

ABSTRACT 

Arka prakasha is a classical treatise written in 16th century by Lankapathi Ravana, which focuses on Arka Kalpana ie distillate 

preparations using herbal and mineral drugs. Arka kalpana is a dosage form with longer shelf life. This book comprises of 10 chapters, 

hindi commentary given by Indradeva Tripathi. This review highlights the basic information and principles related to arka kalpana 

given in “Arka Prakasha”.

Keywords: Arka prakasha, Kalpana, Dosage form, Shelf life, Ravana, Arka kalpana. 

INTRODUCTION

Arka prakasha – a book which throws light on arka kalpanas 

used in treating diseases. In this book, arkas (distillates) 

prepared out of herbal and mineral drugs indicated in different 

rogas have been mentioned. History of arka starts from time 

immemorial. The author of this book Lankapathi Ravana, is 

the grandson of Bramhana Pulasthya rishi, and son of 

Vishwashrava. 

The hindi commentary of this book is written by Sri Panditha 

Mukundaramji who hails from Bhansbareli. But the complete 

information about the commentator is not available. The 

chikitsa based on arka preparation is followed by unani system 

of medicine. But the usage of arka kalpana for treating vyadhi 

is not mentioned in any classical Ayurveda text books. Its 

utility in treating diseased condition has to be substantiated 

with the help of research. 

In this treatise arka of all drugs has been mentioned based on 

rasa panchaka, gana, vyadhi nashakata etc criteria. Some of 

them act as oushadhi (medicine) some as anupana (vehicle). 

The arkas mentioned in this treatise has marana, mohana, 

vasheekarana etc effects. The method of shodhana, marana of 

rasadravyas and dhathus with the help of arka has been 

described1

. 

There are 10 chapters in Arka prakasha, which are termed as 

“shataka”. 

1

st chapter – Prathama shatakam – 

Description of Ravana and mandodari, oushadhi – types, 

laxana, useful parts, rasa and guna, veerya, vipaka, prabhava, 

Pancha vidha kashaya kalpana, importance of arka and about 

the arka yantra, different methods of preparation of arka has 

been mentioned in this chapter. Explanation of patra to 

prepare arka out of visha dravyas has been explained. Arka 

vaidhya, arka sevana vidhi, Nishidha arkasya sevana doshas, 

arka pana vidhi, shadagni laxanas (dhumagni, deepagni, 

mandagni, madhyamagni, kharagni, bhatagni) to prepare arka, 

arka panottara krama (tambula sevana), etc are mentioned. 

2

nd chapter – Dwitiya shatakam– 

 Description of pancha vidha oushadhis, quantity of drug to 

extract arka, arka ayogya aushadhies, method of extraction of 

arka from phala and pushpa, ardra dravya bhedha, extraction 

of arka from patra, sadugdha dravyas, kashta dravya and 

nirasa dravya, method to remove durgandha from arka, 

gandhakavasana to that arka has been explained (dhupa); 

dhupana vidhi to remove vatadhi doshas of all arkas, name of 

drugs include in different vargas, method to do nirgandha of 

palandu and lashuna and method of preparation of arka from 

them has been explained, preparation of arka from mamsa has 

been quoted, shankha drava nirmana vidhi, method of

extraction of Madhya from anna and from other dravyas and 

explanation of satvakadhi Madhya, arka extracted from 

madhaka dravya (bhang), dhathura beejadi arka guna are 

mentioned. 

3

rd chapter – Tritiya shatakam – 

Properties of arka prepared out of herbal drugs and their effect 

on different diseases has been elaborated. Haritakyaadidravya 

arka, shunti arka- indicated in vibandha, amavata, shula, 

adraka arka- indicated in jvara, daha, agni deepani; pippali andmaricha arka- indicated in swasa; pippalimula arka- pliha, 

gulma roga; chavya arka- indicated in guda rogas, gaja pippali 

and chitraka arka- indicated in agni mandhya; yavaani and 

ajamoda arka , jeeraka arka- garbhashaya shuddhikara; 

Krishna jeeraka arka, dhanya arka- indicated in daha, trusha, 

vamana, tridoshahara; methika arka- kapha vataja roga, jwara, 

amakapha nashaka; hingu arka- pachana, ruchya, krimi roga; 

vacha arka- vamaka, vahni krut; vidanga arka- udara, krimi 

roga; samudraphena arka- lekhana; kampillaka araka- vireki, 

prameha, anaha, udara roga indicated, aragvadha arka-

indicated in raktapitta, udavarta, kandu, prameha, kushta, 

madanaphala arka- indicated chardhi, netra roga; jyothishmati 

arka- buddhi and smruti prada; kushta arka- indicated in 

vatarakta, kushta; shrugni arka- indicated in urdhva vata, 

pashanabheda arka- yoni roga; manjista arka- vishajanya 

upadrava; bakuchi arka- panduroga, shotha; kantakari arka – 

pachana, kapha kasahrut, Devadali arka - gulma, arsha, udara, 

langali arka lepa- shotha, vrana, arsha; sudarshana arka- ushna 

in nature, indicated kapha and vata roga 

4

th chapter - Chaturtha shatakam– 

Description of arka prepared out of shadrasa, dhanya varga, 

pashuvarga, madhuvarga, pakshi varga, matsya varga 

consumption of arka according to season are explained in this 

shataka. Unmatta panchaka arka: unmatta(dhattura), soma, 

vijaya (bhanga), jatipatri, khakhasa and yavani are added or 

immersed in milk and extracted the arka. Trisugandha arka-

mala bhedana, mukhadurgandha hara, triphala arka- indicated 

in kushta, prameha, vishama jwara, trikatu arka, chaturushana 

arka, panchakola arka, ashtavarga arka, dashamula arka, 

jeevaniya gana arka, viranagana arka, dugdhakanda 

arka,vataphala arka- grahi, varnya, ashwattha phala arka-

indicated in yoni dosha, kshirinivruksha arka, vishanamarka-

if lepa is done , cures gandamala, vataroga; tailadhanya arka, 

bhramara bheda- makshika, bhramara, kshaudra, pautika, 

chatra, dala, dardya audalaka; kanji, varuni arka; gramyapashu 

arka- dipana, vatahara, balavardhana, bhramana, anda arka-

veerya vardhaka, vatahara; according to season: vasanta-

neem, amrankura arka, greshma- gulab(rose) arka, varsha-

triphala arka, sharad- parijata arka, hemanta- yavani arka, 

shishira – nimbu arka. 

5

th chapter – Panchama shatakam – 

Arka preparations for specific diseases like Jwara sthambhaka 

arka, jwarahara arka, sannipata hara arka, grahani – pravahika 

nashaka arka etc are explained in this chapter. Jwarahara 

yoga- methi, vanadya (vanamethi), tulasi, kala, amalaka, 

lavanga and bhunimbha arka along with mukta bhasma, atisara 

nashaka arka- shrungavera (nagara), nagavera immersed in 

eranda jala and parpata is mixed, extract the arka, balaroga 

nashaka arka- gairika is given 20 times bhavana with 

chikkanyarka, this churna is given dhuma, krimi nashaka arka-

khurasani, yavani, kuberakshi, vidanga, vyosha arka is 

extracted indicated in mandagni, krimi, kamala nashaka arka-

swarnamakshika is given bhavana with equal amount of 

triphala arka and guduchi arka and given along with

dronapushpi rasa and rasanjana in early morning. 

Amlapittaghna arka- guduchi, nimba patra, patola dala arka 

given along with mahu, vamanahara arka- ashwattha tvak 

arka, kamala arka makshikavit arka or durva arka; nidrahara 

arka- saindhava , sveta maricha, sarshapa, kushta along 

vatsamutra (goat’s urine) arka is extracted; vamanadi 

nirodhaka arka- vacha arka for vamana, trivrit arka for 

virechana, tumbura arka for pachana and kaphahara; prameha 

hara arka- the person who takes milk daily in that person also 

prameha is cured in 15 days by intake of these arka - guduchi 

arka and sita or gokshura arka or stambhani arka, dadru 

nashaka arka- kushta, krimija, dadrughna, haridra, saindhava, 

sarshapa, amrasthi- arka – lepa is done 

6

th chapter – Shashta shatakam-

Treatment of shalya rogas like galaganda, gandamala, granthi 

roga, arbuda etc with the help of different arka has been 

explained. Galagandahara arka- sweta aparajita mula arka 

taken along with ghrita; grantiroganashaka arka- swarjika and 

mulaka kshara arka done lepa along with shankha churna; 

shlipadanashaka arka- arka prepared out of dhattura, eranda, 

nirgundi, varshabhu, shigru mulas is done paste with sarshapa 

and lepa done; shastrakruta vrana purakarka- Madhya or 

nagabala arka purana done reduces tivra vedana; agnidagdha 

vrana rohanarka- katuvalli or kumari arka sechana done; nadi 

vranahara arka- arka preapared out of snuhi dugdha, arka 

dugdha, darvi, Madhya, varti prepared and inserted in nadi 

vrana; garbhanashaka arka- dushta and ushna upodika bhojana 

done; garbha raksha arka- malati arka is taken. 

7

th chapter – Saptama shatakam – 

The treatment of indralupta, darunaka, arunshika, gudakandu, 

gudabramsha etc. with the help of different arka has been 

explained. Keshakrishnakara yoga- triphala, nilikapatra, 

bhringaraja, ayomala done paste by using avimutra; Indralupta 

nashaka yoga: gajadanta masi, ajakshira, rasanjana,

vataprarohaka- paste can be applied or arka of these drugs – 

lepa is done, darunakaroga nashaka arka – amrabeeja, pathya-

nirvapita (immersed or dipped) in dugdha for three days, then 

arka is prepared and lepa is done; mukha vyangaghna arka-

vatankura, masura, manjista, madhu immersed in water and 

arka is extracted; Guda kandughna arka- arka extracted from 

shankha, sauvira (kanji), yasti- daily prakshalana done at 

gudha region; Shira shulahara yoga- arka extracted from 

triphala, rajani, guda, bhunimba, nimbaka, guduchi- lepa is 

done; Netraroga shamaka arka- arka extracted from 

punarnava, tuvari, kumari, triphala, nisha, yashti, gairika, 

saindhava, darvi-purana done; karnaroganashaka arka-

shrinbera, kshaudra, sindhu, taila; kantarogahara arka- arka 

prepared out of gomutra, ativisha, devadaru, pata, visha, 

katuki; mukhapaka hara arka- arka prepared of jatipatra, 

amrita, draksha, vasa, darvi, triphala and along with madhu, 

gandusha is done; vishanashaka arka; garbhakara arka-

ashvagandha arka, siddha dugdha and ghrita taken after 

rutusnana; skandapasmara hara arka; vajikarana yoga. 

8

th chapter – Ashtama shatakam-

With the help of arka – vashikarana, vidweshikarana, 

uchatikarana, shatruparajayakarana, marana, mohana karana, 

adrushya karana and buddhi bramsha karana etc abhicharaka 

karyas has been explained. Agnistambhana vidhi; 

jalastambhanakarma vidhi; unmattikarana vidhi; 

duradeshagamana sadhana; kshudhanivara yoga- ganeshapriya 

( mushakarni), turangahva (ashvagandha), mulaka, neelotpala 

mula, kesara- payasa is prepared and along with ghrita it is 

taken, the person will not feel hunger for one month;

9

th chapter – Navama shatakam – 

The arka which acts as nadiposhaka, netrya, lavana ksharadi 

gana arka and its utility in different diseases has been 

explained. Vamana gana- jyothishmati, hemahva, dhattura, 

naganiphala, swarna makshika, devadali; netrya gana- two 

types of rasanjana, triphala, two types of lodhra, kumara, 

kulattha; upavisha gana- bhallataka, ativisha, 4 types of 

khakhasa, two types of karavira, ahiphena, dhattura (4types), 

gunja, vishamushti, langali; jalapushpa gana; kanda gana; 

phala gana; amla gana- 17 drugs; shali gana; kshudradhanya 

gana; different types of pakshi gana, virechana gana-

kampillaka, aragwadha, katuki, kotavaruni, shivalingi, 

nagapushpi, danti (two types); deepana gana- chitraka, 

godhanya, ajamoda, jeeraka, habusha; krimighna gana; 

vruksha gana; gulma gana; rasavarga- 4 types of rasa and 

gandhaka, tala (two types), anjana (two types), kasisa, gairika; 

uparasa varga; ratna varga; uparatna varga. 

10th chapter – Dashama shatakam – 

Dhatu shodhana, marana and bhasma guna, upadhatu 

shodhana, marana, sindhura sevana vidhi, ratna shodhana, 

marana vidhi, uparasa shodhana vidhi, visha shodhana vidhi 

(jayapala shodhana vidhi). Uttama vanga swarupa and bhasma 

guna; jasada swarupa and bhasma; naga lakshana and bhasma 

guna; anupana bhedena loha bhasma guna- vata (shunti), pitta 

(sita), kapha (Krishna), sandhi roga (trijataka), pandu 

(triphala), ashuddha loha bhasma sevana will cause tvak 

kantaka, hridroga, shula, hrullasa, ashmari; parada

samshodhana vidhi; darada samshodhana vidhi, haratala 

bhasma- anupana vidhi are mentioned. 

CONCLUSION 

Arka prakasha is a classical treatise written by Lankapathi 

Ravana. It is a book in which he has given importance for both 

Bhaishajya as well as Rasashastra. The book deals with a 

special dosage form Arka (Distillation), which has more shelf 

life and better palatability. Apart from classical reference he 

has mentioned different preparations as panchavidha kashaya 

kalpana (basic preparations) like Kalka, Churna, Rasa, Taila, 

Arka. In which Arka is also mentioned and is said to be the 

most potent among the other preaparations. Starting from 

instrument used for extraction of arka i.e. arka yantra, 

importance of arka and its anupana. He has explained arka 

preparation with various drugs along with ratio of water to 

extract arka. And arka ayogya aushadhies, Shanka drava 

nirmana. He has given the Ritu kramena arka sevana. Arka for 

almost all systemic diseases. Both internal and external 

administration of arka has been quoted. He has given a special 

importance about the arka prepared out of some drugs used as 

vasheekarana. Different vargas of vamana, virechana, 

krimighna, vataghna, phala, dathu, upadathu, ratna and 

uparatna, etc. has been mentioned. Shodhana, marana of 

different Rasoushadies are explained. Indication of loha and 

haratala bhasma with different anupanas is mentioned as well. 

It is a complete and unique book of Arka Kalpana and is 

comprehensive as well. 

RE