History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.4

v1.c18.4

It is important to mention here that initially the development of Rasa Śāstra was started to achieve the objectives of Lohavedha (alchemy) to remove poverty from the world and in this respect the great Indian alchemist Nagarjuna and his followers - Nandi, Govinda, Bhagavatpāda, Somadeo, Yaśodhara, Nityanātha and Dhundhukantha etc. have contributed much and took this branch of learning and practice to its great heights and developed a number of mercurial and metallic compounds. Incidentally during this period some scholars started to use these compounds for *Deha vedha* (transformation of body tissues) purposes also, considering the *samyatva* (similarity) between *loha* (metal) and *deha* (body) or *loka* (world) and *purūṣa* (man). They observed highly encouraging response in their efforts. In this way the mercurial and the metallic compounds have found their uses in the therapeutics of Ayurveda. Further, in this period, primarily the mercurial and metallic compounds have been used for the promotion of positive health only but slowly these are found highly useful for the prevention and cure of diseases also.