A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c43.s29.152

v3.c43.s29.152

The purification and killing of metals, minerals and gems, as well as the processing of mercury for internal use, is elaborately described by Śārṅgadhara, whose saṃhitā is the earliest medical treatise presenting a detailed account of these techniques. Metallic and mercurial preparations figure more prominently in Śārṅgadhara’s work than in those preceding it. The number of metals (dhātu) was increased to seven by Śārṅgadhara (II.11.1) in order to make them agree with the seven tissues of the body (also called dhātu), though, in addition, a number of nine metals, becoming current later and brought into relation with the nine planets, 1108 is already met with in his saṃhitā (II.12.3–4ab). The traditions connected with the Siddhas were known to Śārṅgadhara (II.12.158).