The Dhatu Shastra Mantra is a class of incantations used in the preparation and application of metallic and mineral medicines (dhatus) within Ayurveda and Rasa Shastra. These mantras are chanted during the purification, incineration, and formulation of metals such as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead, as well as minerals like mica and mercury. The primary deity invoked is Dhanvantari, the divine physician, who is considered the originator of Ayurveda. According to the *Rasa Hridaya Tantra* (a key Rasa Shastra text), the chanting of specific bija mantras during the bhasma (ash) preparation process is believed to imbue the medicine with pranic energy and remove toxic impurities. The *Ayurveda Sara Samgraha* states that mantras such as 'Om Swarna Bhasma' and 'Om Rajata Bhasma' are recited 108 times while heating the metal in a crucible, to ensure its therapeutic efficacy and safety. The phonetics of these mantras often include the bija 'Hraum' (ह्रौं) associated with transformation and 'Gam' (गं) for protection, aligning with the alchemical goal of transmuting base metals into potent remedies. The traditional purpose is twofold: to purify the metal of its 'asuddha' (impure) qualities and to enhance its 'rasayana' (rejuvenative) properties. The *Rasa Ratna Samuccaya* recommends chanting these mantras during the 'shodhana' (purification) and 'marana' (incineration) stages, ideally at dawn or noon, facing east, after bathing and wearing clean clothes. A rudraksha mala is often used to count 108 repetitions per cycle. Caution is advised: these mantras should only be chanted by those who have received proper initiation (diksha) from a qualified guru in the Rasa Shastra tradition, as improper use is believed to lead to adverse effects. The mantras are also chanted during the preparation of 'bhasma' for external application in wound healing, as noted in the *Bhasma Vigyaniya*. Overall, the Dhatu Shastra Mantra serves as a spiritual technology to align the alchemical process with cosmic energies, ensuring the medicine is both physically potent and spiritually charged.
The purification of metals, the preparation of bhasmas.