[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Minerals and Metals in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996) › v2.c44.s3.7 # Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s3.7 Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s3.7 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c44.s3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996.v2.c44.s3.7) The alchemist Nāgārjuna lived in the monastery of Kosala or Berar, modern Chāndā (near Nāgpur or Amrāvati), and was a friend of the Sātavāhana King addressed to whom he wrote a book: Suhrillekha (Letters to a Friend). Hiuen-Tsang wrote that when the king had fallen short of gold, Nāgārjuna used a ‘divine decoction and converted some stone into gold with which four statues of Buddha were made’. (Beal, 1884, 1969: 216). The allusion was most probably to the yellow or gold-coloured brass, widely publicised by Nāgārjuna. - [Previous: v2.c44.s3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996.v2.c44.s3.6) - [Next: v2.c44.s3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996.v2.c44.s3.8) - [Up: v2.c44.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996.v2.c44.s3) ## Cites (1) - [Suhṛllekha](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.lekha.suhrllekha) — Nāgārjuna, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996.v2.c44.s3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.biswas-1996.v2.c44.s3.7) · Pramāṇa