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Handbook of Tibetan Buddhis#133 9/1/10 11:34 AM Page 20

20 T he Handbook of T ibet an B uddhist S ymbols

THE PRECIOUS MEDICINE traditions animal bezoars were highly es-
(Skt. gorochana; Tib. gi-wang) teemed as an antidote against the rather
common practice of poisoning. Of particu-
The precious medicine is derived from the larly value were the ‘oriental bezoars’ ob-
intestinal-stones or gallstones that are found tained from the East, which consisted of
in certain animals, particularly elephants, organic resin layers formed around a small
bears, and cattle. The Sanskrit term goro- foreign body. The common Indian antelope
chana refers specifically to the stones or ‘be- is known as the bezoar antelope, and the
zoars’ found in cattle (Skt. go), such as the wild Persian goat as the bezoar goat. It is re-
bull, cow, ox, and yak. The presence of be- puted that in Turkestan bezoars were ritu-
zoars is reputedly indicated by the snoring ally worshipped to bring rain. In Tibet small
or nocturnal sounds that the animal makes mineral stones, of a white or orange color,
in its sleep. are found at hot springs as calcium and sul-
A Vedic legend relates how the god Indra phur accretions. These calcified stones or
once cast the five precious minerals: gold, ‘pills’ (Tib. ril-bu) are believed to possess
silver, coral, pearl, and sapphire or tur- similar medicinal qualities to animal be-
quoise, into the great ocean. These precious zoars.
substances were eventually consumed by ele- It is believed that the finest quality of
phants, bears, snakes, frogs, vultures, geese, gorochana is obtained from the brain or fore-
and pigeons, which then formed bezoars head of an elephant, and the second best
within their bodies. The intestinal stones ob- quality is obtained from the stomach of a
tained from these creatures consequently cow. In size and appearance gorochana is
possess different colors and potencies. Their said to resemble the yellow yoke of a boiled
medicinal properties are reputed to counter- egg. The yellow pigment obtained from it is
act poisoning, promote clear thoughts, and used as a tonic and sedative, and may also be
alleviate fevers and contagious diseases. The applied as a sacred mark or tilaka to the fore-
superior, mediocre, and inferior forms of head. When mixed with honey and applied to
these stones are reputed to respectively cure the eyes, gorochana is believed to bestow
seven, five, or three patients who have been clear vision, enabling one to perceive all of
poisoned. the treasures of the world. Similarly the gray
The word ‘bezoar’ is derived from the or white stone obtained from the crown of a
Persian pad-zhar, meaning ‘protecting king cobra’s head is believed to enable a
against poisoning’, and its general meaning snake charmer to control all lesser serpents,
is ‘antidote’. In medieval European medical and bestows immunity against their venom.
The occidental ‘toadstone’, obtained from
the skull of an old toad, was similarly cred-
ited with the antidotal qualities of serum.
In Tibetan art this precious medicine is
represented in many different ways. It ap-
pears in the form of pills, or in the shape of
an egg, bean, spiral, fruit, gland, or fungus.
It is usually colored white or yellow, and is
commonly illustrated as a solid oval shape
The precious medicine. suspended in a viscous white liquid.