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History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s4.t4: 4. Rasendra Cūḍāmaṇi (12th A.D.)

History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c18.s4.t4

Language
English

4. Rasendra Cūḍāmaṇi (12th A.D.)

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Rasendra Cūḍāmaṇi is an important text of Alchemy and therapeutics written by Sri Somadeva in about 12th century A.D. This text seems to be more systematic and well classified and covers almost all the aspects of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics specially concerning to Mercury, Metals and Minerals.

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It is important to mention here that in this text though Mercury and its processes are described in detail the mercurial compounds of therapeutic importance are not found described. In this text ‘Jāraṇa’ process of Mercury is given more importance and the method for ‘Abhraka Satva Jāraṇa’ in different proportion alongwith their properties and Tāmra Jāraṇa, Loha Jāraṇa and Suvarṇa Jāraṇa methods are also found described. but, there is no mention of ‘Mūrcchanā’ process in this text which is important from the point of view of preparation of mercurial commpounds of curative value.

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As regards the metals, minerals, their processing and compound preparation this text for the first time devoted three chapters completely and exclusively.

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In this text nine metals have been described as lohas and have been classified in three groups, viz.

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1. Śuddha Loha 2. Pūti Loha and 3. Miśra Loha *Metallic Compounds*

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1. *Soma Nāthī Tāmra* It is a compound of Copper, Mercury, Sulphur, Orpiment and Realgar and prepared in a *Kupi* (Bottle) through *Balūkā yantra* system of heating. Its dose is 4-6 ratti (500-750 mg). It is a method of preparing *Tamra bhasma* (Copper Sulphide).

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2. *Soma Devodita Tāmra bhasma Yoga* It is a compound of Copper prepared in *bhasma* form with Mercury, Sulphur and a few Herbal drugs. Its dose is 2 ratti mixed with *Pippalī* and ghee.

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3. *Amṛta Loham* : It is an Iron compound prepared in *bhasma* form from *Kāla Loha* or *Kānta loha* with Sulphur, *Matsyākṣi* and Milk.

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4. *Rajata Rasāyana* It is a compound of Silver, Copper and Mica alongwith *Trikatu* equal to all. It should be used mixed with Ghee and honey.

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5. *Kānta Rasāyana* It is a compound of *Kanta Loha* (magnetic iron), and *bhasma* mixed with *Abhraka Satva*, Gold, Copper, *Vaikrānta* and *Raupya Mākṣika*.

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6. *Vaṅga Rasāyana* It is a compound of *Vaṅga bhasma* (tin oxide) mixed with *Kānta Loha bhasma*, *Abhraka bhasma* and *Rājāvarta bhasma*.

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7. *Śisā Rasāyana* It is a compound of lead in which lead *bhasma* is mixed with *Mākṣika bhasma*, Copper *bhasma*, Silver *bhasma*, *Kānta Satva bhasma*, *Abhra Satva bhasma* and *Sphaṭikā bhasma* and processed as per direction.

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8. *Pittala Rasāyana* It is a compound brass *bhasma* mixed with *Kānta bhasma* and *Abhra Satva bhasma* and with some herbal drugs.

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Besides these metallic compounds the processing methods i.e. *Śodhana* (purification) and *Māraṇa* (Incineration) of each metal referred to in this text are also found described in this text here. These processes are employed to convert the metals into some compound form by way of some chemical reactions taking place during processing. Thus since the beginning of 12th century A.D nine substances included under *Loha* (Metal) group are processed in such a way that these either change into Oxide, Sulphide, Sulphate form or into very fine state of subdivisions and thus making these readily absorbable into the system.

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These processes also help to make these preprations less or even non toxic to the human system on internal use.

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It is also important to mention here that for *Śodhana* and *Māraṇa* of each metal, number of methods are found described in this text which may sometimes help to convert the metals into different compounds on the basis of the drugs used in the process.

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In the beginning of the 14th Chapter, a few fundamental principle for *Loha Māraṇa* are also found mentioned in this text, such as *Loha Māraṇa* with *Rasa Bhasma* or Mercurial compounds is considered best, with herbal drugs medium, with sulphur etc. minerals inferior and with *Arilohas* (anti metals) most undesirable as it may induce undesired properties in the *bhasmas*.

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Another important point mentioned in this text is about the use of the term ‘*Bhasma*’ in the context of metals and minerals i.e. this text for the first time used the term *bhasma* for *Mṛta Loha* frequently.

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Apart from above, this text has also mentioned the heating systems and the heating schedules required to prepare *bhasma* of different metals. The number of heatings required for each metallic *bhasma* are found specified in this text.

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The specific colour of the finished product (*bhasma*) of each metal is also found mentioned indicating the relationship between the type of compound prepared in the particular metal with particular processing method.

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Further, it is also mentioned in this context that for preparing the *bhasma* of particular metal particular type of *puṭa* (heating temperature pattern) is required for getting optimum chemical reaction to prepare a desired compound of the metal. In addition to above following minerals and Gem stones are also found described and advised to be subjected to *Śodhana* and/or *Māraṇa* processes to convert these into desired compounds in which these prove beneficial/effective to the system and become least or non toxic.

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In *Minerals* : Mica, Lapis Lazuli, Tourmaline, Copper Sulphate, Iron pyrite, Bitumen/Mineral Pitch, Zincite, Chalcopyrite, Sulphur, Orpiment, Alum, Realgar, Galena, *Kankuṣṭha* (Unidentified mineral), Green Vitriol, Hematite, Arsenic, Ammonium Chloride, Cowry, Amber, Red Oxide of Mercury, Cinnabar and litharge are described.

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In *Gem Stones* : Ruby, Pearl, Coral, Emerald, Topaz, Diamond, Sapphire, Hessonite/Cinnaman Stone, Cat’s eye. These are either treated with *Śodhana* and/or *Maraṇa* process for converting these into desired compounds.

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Further, in the beginning of this text descriptions regarding pharmacy, its staff and equipments, alongwith definitions of various technical terms, apparatus’, crucibles, heating systems, schedules and different kinds of furnaces and various groups of herbal and mineral drugs are also found mentioned.

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5. *Rasa Prakāśa Sudhākara* (12th century A.D.)

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It is another important text of Indian Alchemy and therapeutics. It has been written in the later part of 12th century A.D. by Shri Yaśodhara bhaṭṭa. It contains 13th Chapters which are devoted to describe Mercury, its compounds, 9 metals, their types, properties and processing techniques, 20 minerals, Nine Gems, 103 metallic and mineral compounds and artificial preparation of Gems and Metals.

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In this text many details regarding Mercury such as its *Doṣas* (impurities), *Saṃskāras* (18 special processes for removing its various types of impurities and potentiating it in many ways specially for making it suitable for internal use) are found described.

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As regards mercurial compounds the four types of Pārada bandhas either on the basis of forms (i.e. Jalūkā, Khoṭa, Poṭa and Bhasma) or on the basis of the types of drugs used i.e. Mūlikā (herbs), Maṇi (Gems), Dhātu (Metals) and Druti (liquified metals) are found mentioned. It is also mentioned in this text that for making Pārada Bhasma the Mercury extracted from Hiṅgula (Cinnabar) should be used as Mercury obtained from this mineral was considered to be free from impurities and superior in properties. From this Pārada three coloured bhasmas are described to be prepared i.e. Red, Black and White.

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The Red and Black coloured pārada bhasmas are the Red and Black sulphides of Mercury while white coloured pārada bhasma may be Mercuric Mercurous chloride.

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In case of other types of Pārada bandhas it may be said that these may be the metallic amalgams of Mercury.

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In metals Gold, Silver. Copper, Iron, Tin, Lead are the pure metals and Bell metal, Brass and Varta Loha (German Silver) are the metallic alloys which when treated with Śodhana and Māraṇa treatments may forms some metallic compounds depending upon the methods and drugs used during these treatments i.e. either in oxide or sulphide or in mixed compound form except Gold which is made to reduce to finest form only.

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In minerals Mica is Ferromagnesium aluminium silicate compound which when treated with māraṇa treatment may convert into an Iron and Aluminium oxide. Chalcopyrite may convert into Copper and Iron Sulphide, Zincite into Zinc oxide, Copper Sulphate into Copper Sulphide, Ferrous Sulphate into Ferric oxide and Calcium Carbonate into Calcium oxide etc. compounds. Many minerals are used only after their purification treatments which means these are used in their original form and compounds. As in their case probably no change in their compound is considered necessary to achieve their therapeutic effectiveness.

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Further in VIIIth Chapter author himself has mentioned 103 formulations which are herbomineral compounds or organo metallic compounds and these are recommended for being used internally for the treatment of respective diseases as therapeutic agents.

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Besides processing of minerals for therapeutic uses the minerals are used for extracting their satvas (Metal contents). And so extracted metals are also advised to be treated with respective Sodhana and Māraṇa treatments to convert these into suitable metallic compounds for therapeutic uses.

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It is also mentioned in these texts that the metals obtained as satvas are many times superior in their therapeutic effectiveness than the native metals (metals obtained from nature in natural form).

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The text has also mentioned the artificial preparation methods for a few gems and metals. That means in ancient times probably many metals could not be obtained in sufficient quantities in nature and this might have made them to think for some alternative sources to obtain metals and minerals and as a result artificial gem making and metal making methods were evolved.

Cites (2)