Vaidurya (Cat’s Eye/Chrysoberyl): Types, Qualities, Shodhana, Marana, Dosage

Appearance of Vaidooryam is similar to the eye of Cat. So the name is Cat’s eye or Vidalaksha. Its main chemical ingredients are Aluminium and Beryllium with traces of Iron and Chromium. It calms Ketu graham.
Specficig gravity 3.5 Hardness 2.5

Table of Contents

Synonyms

Vaidurya, keturatna, Pravrushya, Vidaalaaksha, Viduraja, Vayaja|

Availability

Lanka, Myanmar, Brazil, Norway, America & Kashmir of India.

Types of Vaidurya

Types are not mentioned in rasashastra texts but according to modern science, it is of two types

Cat’s eye
Alexandride

Suitable characters

वैडूर्यं गुरु सुस्निग्धं विडालेक्षणसप्रभम ।
भ्रमच्छुभ्रोत्तरीयाढ्यं वैडूर्यं जात्यमुच्यते ॥ (र.त.२३/११३)
vaiḍūryaṃ guru susnigdhaṃ viḍālekṣaṇasaprabhama |
bhramacchubhrottarīyāḍhyaṃ vaiḍūryaṃ jātyamucyate || (ra.ta.23/113)

Grahya lakshanas – Heavyness, unctuousness, similar to Cat eye, shining, having white spots and streaks, devoid of holes are the suitable characteristics of Cat’s eye.

Unsuitable characters

विच्छायं लघु रूक्षञ्च सत्रासं चिपिटं खरम् ।
कृष्णं तथा मृच्छिलाढ्यं वैडूर्यं हेयमीरितम् ॥ (र.त.२३/११४)
vicchāyaṃ laghu rūkṣañca satrāsaṃ cipiṭaṃ kharam |
kṛṣṇaṃ tathā mṛcchilāḍhyaṃ vaiḍūryaṃ heyamīritam || (ra.ta.23/114)

Agrahya Lakshanas – Light, having mud and stone particles inside, dry, generating fear, flat and black colour are the unsuitable characters of Cat’s eye.

Qualities

दीपनं मेध्यमायुष्यं बल्यं च मलभेदनम् ॥
रक्तपित्तप्रशमनं चक्षुष्यं बृंहणं परम् ।
पित्तामयप्रशमनं समाख्यातं वेशेषत: ॥ (र.त.२३/११७ – १८)
dīpanaṃ medhyamāyuṣyaṃ balyaṃ ca malabhedanam ||
raktapittapraśamanaṃ cakṣuṣyaṃ bṛṃhaṇaṃ param |
pittāmayapraśamanaṃ samākhyātaṃ veśeṣata: || (ra.ta.23/117 – 18)

Digestive, improves intelligence, age, Bala, useful in Raktapitta and such other Pitta disorders.

Chemical composition – BeO Al₂O₂Indications of vaidoorya pishti– Bleeding disorders, loss of appetite, malabsorption syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, eye disorders. In healthy persons, it increases longevity.

Dose – 62.5 mg – 125 mg
Adjuvants – Ghee or sugar candy

Formulations – Choornanjana, Pindanjana, Indrokta rasayana, Navaratna raja mriganka rasa, Ratna bhagottara rasa.

Shodhana

3 hours Swedana in Triphala kwatha.

Read more about Shodhana procedure here

Marana

Cat’s eye is added with Gandhaka, haratala and Manashila, triturated with Nimbuswarasa, cakes are prepared and 8 Puta heat is given to get good quality Bhasma.