AYURVEDIC MASSAGE OIL
Mahanarayana Thailam
Mahanarayana Thailam, a classical Ayurvedic massage oil of the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, a base of 37 botanicals in sesame oil.
Mahanarayana Thailam is one of the most respected classical oils of Ayurveda, recorded in the Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Art of Vedas keeps its composition in the original form: an anhydrous base of 37 botanicals in sesame oil, made for Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage. This page sets out what the oil is, the classical tradition it belongs to, and the heavy-metal and microbiological test results recorded for every batch.
What Mahanarayana Thailam is
Mahanarayana Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic herbal oil, prepared by Art of Vedas as a massage oil. It is anhydrous, meaning it contains no added water: a base of 37 botanicals in sesame oil, with nothing else added and no preservative needed. It is made in India under Good Manufacturing Practice, following ISO 22716 principles, and is not tested on animals. It carries a period after opening of 12 months and is offered in 200 ml, 450 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre sizes.
The full INCI list begins with Sesamum Indicum (sesame) seed oil and continues through the classical botanicals of the formula, including Withania somnifera, Asparagus racemosus, Tribulus terrestris, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Cedrus deodara and Crocus sativus, for 37 botanicals in all. Several fragrance components present naturally in the aromatic botanicals are declared on the label. The complete ordered ingredient list is given further down this page.
Mahanarayana Thailam in classical Ayurveda
Mahanarayana Thailam takes its name from the classical Ayurvedic literature, where it is recorded in the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, one of the principal compendia of Ayurvedic formulations. It belongs to the family of Narayana oils, prepared by the classical Sneha Paka method, in which a large group of herbs is cooked slowly into a sesame oil base.
In the tradition the oil is associated with Abhyanga, the daily practice of full-body self-massage with warmed oil that the classical texts count among the practices of Dinacharya, the daily routine. The oil is warmed and worked into the skin with slow, even movement.
Art of Vedas presents the oil within that classical frame, describing the practice rather than any outcome. The oil itself is offered as the classical Mahanarayana Thailam, kept in its original composition and tested with every batch.
Quality and testing
Tested with every batch
Every production batch of Mahanarayana Thailam is tested before it is released for sale. Two things are checked: heavy metals, by a laboratory method called ICP-MS, and microbiological safety, against the international standard ISO 17516:2014. The figures below are representative results; every batch is retested before release.
Heavy metals
Five heavy metals were tested by ICP-MS. Each one was within the permitted limit for products left on the skin. The right-hand column shows the maximum level allowed under German BfR guidance, so you can see the limit each result sits within.
| Metal | Result | Permitted maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | Within the permitted limit | max 2 mg/kg |
| Cadmium (Cd) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.1 mg/kg |
| Mercury (Hg) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.1 mg/kg |
| Arsenic (As) | Within the permitted limit | max 0.5 mg/kg |
| Nickel (Ni) | Within the permitted limit | max 5 mg/kg |
ICP-MS stands for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, a standard laboratory method for detecting metals. The limits shown are the German BfR guidance values for products left on the skin, in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).
Microbiological safety
Microbiological safety is tested against ISO 17516:2014. The overall counts of microbes stay within the limits set for products left on the skin, and the specific organisms that must not be present were each absent.
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Aerobic Microbial Count | Within the EU limit |
| Total Yeast and Mould Count | Within the EU limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Absent (not found) |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Absent (not found) |
| Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) | Absent (not found) |
| Candida albicans | Absent (not found) |
ISO 17516:2014 sets the microbiological limits; the thresholds for products left on the skin apply to this oil.
Further assurances
- An anhydrous, water-free oil, so it needs no added preservatives.
- Made in India under Good Manufacturing Practice, following ISO 22716 principles.
- Not tested on animals.
Full ingredients
The complete INCI list, given in order. The base is sesame oil, carrying the extracts of the classical botanicals:
Aegle Marmelos (Bael) Root Bark, Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) Root, Solanum Indicum (Indian Nightshade) Root, Tribulus Terrestris (Gokshura) Fruit, Oroxylum Indicum (Indian Trumpet Tree) Root Bark, Sida Cordifolia (Bala) Root, Erythrina Variegata (Indian Coral Tree) Bark, Solanum Xanthocarpum (Yellow-Berried Nightshade) Whole Plant, Boerhavia Diffusa (Punarnava) Root, Abutilon Indicum (Indian Mallow) Root, Premna Corymbosa (Premna) Root Bark, Paederia Foetida (Skunk Vine) Whole Plant, Stereospermum Colais (Patala) Root Bark, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Shellac, Alpinia Galanga (Galangal) Root, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Fruit, Cedrus Deodara (Deodar Cedar) Wood, Pseudarthria Viscida (Salaparni) Root, Desmodium Gangeticum (Shalaparni) Root, Vigna Pilosa (Mudgaparni) Seed, Vigna Radiata (Mung Bean) Seed, Mesua Ferrea (Nagkesar) Flower, Sodium Chloride, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root, Parmelia Perlata (Stone Flower) Thallus, Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom) Seed, Rubia Cordifolia (Manjistha) Root, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root, Cyperus Rotundus (Nutgrass) Root, Cinnamomum Tamala (Indian Bay Leaf) Leaf, Cinnamomum Verum (Cinnamon) Bark, Ipomoea Mauritiana (Vidari) Root, Asparagus Racemosus (Shatavari) Root, Curculigo Orchioides (Black Musli) Root, Coleus Vettiveroides (Hrivera) Root, Butea Monosperma (Flame of the Forest) Flower, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Bark, Cinnamal, Eugenol, Linalool, Coumarin, Benzyl Benzoate, Limonene
Cinnamal, Eugenol, Coumarin, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Anethole and Camphor occur naturally within the aromatic botanicals of the formulation. They are listed because these fragrance components must be declared.
Product details
- Net content: 200 ml, 450 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre.
- Period after opening: 12 months.
- Made in India.
Precautions
- For external use only. Do not use internally.
- Avoid contact with the eyes. If contact occurs, rinse with water.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- If irritation occurs, discontinue use.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Mahanarayana Thailam: questions on quality, testing and use
- What is Mahanarayana Thailam?
- Mahanarayana Thailam is a classical Ayurvedic herbal oil recorded in the Bhaishajya Ratnavali. Art of Vedas prepares it as an anhydrous body massage oil, a base of 37 botanicals in sesame oil, in 200 ml, 450 ml, 1 litre and 5 litre sizes. It contains no added water and no preservative, and is made for Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage.
- Is Mahanarayana Thailam tested for heavy metals?
- Yes. Every batch is tested for five heavy metals by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic and Nickel were each within the permitted limit for products left on the skin, benchmarked against German BfR guidance: Lead max 2, Cadmium max 0.1, Mercury max 0.1, Arsenic max 0.5 and Nickel max 5 mg/kg.
- Is Mahanarayana Thailam tested for microbiological safety?
- Yes. Microbiological safety is tested to ISO 17516:2014. Total Aerobic Microbial Count and Total Yeast and Mould Count stay within the limits for products left on the skin, and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans are each absent. The product is also made under ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practice principles.
- Does Mahanarayana Thailam contain a preservative?
- No. The oil is anhydrous, meaning it contains no added water, so no preservative is needed or added. The formulation is the 37 botanicals in a sesame-oil base, nothing more.
- What are the ingredients in Mahanarayana Thailam?
- The base is Sesamum Indicum (sesame) seed oil, with the extracts of further classical botanicals including Withania somnifera, Asparagus racemosus, Tribulus terrestris, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Cedrus deodara and Crocus sativus, for 37 botanicals in all. Several fragrance components occurring naturally in these botanicals are declared: Cinnamal, Eugenol, Coumarin, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Anethole and Camphor.
- How is Mahanarayana Thailam used in Abhyanga?
- In Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic full-body self-massage, a small amount of the oil is warmed and worked into the skin with slow, even strokes until absorbed. In the traditional ritual the oil is left to rest on the skin for a time before bathing. It is for external use only; avoid contact with the eyes.
- What is the Bhaishajya Ratnavali?
- The Bhaishajya Ratnavali is one of the principal classical compendia of Ayurvedic formulations. Mahanarayana Thailam is recorded there, within the family of Narayana oils prepared by the classical Sneha Paka method. Art of Vedas describes this tradition as Ayurvedic heritage; it is part of the formulation’s history rather than a claim about the product.
- Is Mahanarayana Thailam tested on animals?
- No. Mahanarayana Thailam is not tested on animals.
ART OF VEDAS
Bring Mahanarayana Thailam into your ritual
The classical Ayurvedic massage oil of the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, kept in its original composition and tested with every batch. See the sizes, the full details and availability.
Shop Mahanarayana ThailamResponsible Person and distribution
Responsible Person (EU): Svedica B.V., Herengracht 449A, 1017BR Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
EU Distributor: Authentic Ayurveda d.o.o., Slavka Krautzeka 51, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Mahanarayana Thailam by Art of Vedas: a classical Ayurvedic massage oil of the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, kept in its original composition and tested for heavy metals and microbiological safety with every batch.
