Anjana (collyrium / kohl)
Añjana अञ्जन
Also: kohl, collyrium, eye-liner
A collyrium — fine powder or paste applied to the eye-lid margins for both cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. The Ayurvedic antecedent of modern kohl.
Three classical Anjanas (Sushruta Cikitsa 24)
| Type | Material | Frequency | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sauviranjana | Pure antimony sulphide (Srotonjana) | Daily | Eye-strengthening, cosmetic |
| Rasanjana | Concentrated Daru-haridra (Berberis aristata) extract | 1× per week | Eye-cleansing, drainage |
| Pushpanjana | Flower-based, several formulas | Occasional | Special days, ritual |
How it’s used
A thin line is applied to the inner edge of the lower eyelid with a clean wooden swab (Shalaka). The Anjana migrates around the eye over the next minutes and stimulates tearing — this is the desired effect; it cleanses and strengthens the conjunctiva.
Per Sushruta Cikitsa 24.9: “Anjana alleviates the burning and itching sensations in the eyes, removes all local pains, secretions and impurities, increases the range of vision, enables the eyes to bear the blasts of the wind and the glare of the sun and guards against the inroads of ocular affections.”
Regulatory notes
Antimony Anjana is legal in India for cosmetic kohl, but restricted in EU and US. For export-market cosmetic positioning, replace the antimony with iron oxide black (CI 77499) + zinc oxide — gives the same visual without regulatory issue.
Rasanjana (the Daru-haridra-based one) is cosmetic-acceptable in all jurisdictions; it imparts a yellow tone rather than black, however.