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A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48: Part 10

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48

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English

Contents

Part 10

v3.c48.1

The Ānandakanda¹ is a very elaborate text on alchemy in the form of a conversation between Bhairava² and Bhairavī.³

v3.c48.2

Contents⁴

v3.c48.3

The treatise consists of about 6,900 verses, arranged in two sections (amṛtīkaraṇaviśrānti and kriyākaraṇaviśrānti), which are divided into twenty-six and ten chapters (ullāsa) respectively, followed by two addtional chapters (pariśiṣṭa).

v3.c48.4

The amṛtīkaraṇaviśrānti deals with the processing of mercury, the kriyākaraṇaviśrānti with the processing of metals, minerals, gems, etc.

v3.c48.5

The subjects of chapter one of section one (61 1/2 verses) are: introduction (1–8ab), the origin of mercury and its varieties (1.8cd–27ab), the names of mercury and their etymology (27cd–34ab), generalities on the doṣas of mercury (34cd–38ab), the five avasthās (38cd–39ab), the five gatis (39cd–42ab), the doṣas and their effects on the human system (39cd–53ab), and a ritual (53cd–62ab).

v3.c48.6

Chapter two (270 verses) deals with the teacher and his pupil (2–10ab),⁵ the kākinī and a substitute for her (10cd–21), the rasaśālā (22–37ab), rituals to be performed (37cd–199ab), a eulogy of mercury (199cd–221ab), and a stotra addressed to mercury (221cd–270).

v3.c48.7

Chapter three (125 verses) is about the initiation ritual (dīkṣā).

v3.c48.8

Chapter four (518 verses) lists the saṃskāras (1–6) and describes these operations: svedana (11–24ab), mardana (24cd–29ab), mūrchā (29cd–35ab), utthāpana (35cd–36), the three types of pātana (37–53ab), nirodhana (53cd–57), niyāmana (58–60ab), dīpana (60cd–65ab), anuvāsana (65cd–66), cāraṇa (69cd–170ab), jāraṇa (170cd–391), garbhadṛuti (392–422ab), bāhyadṛuti (422cd–435), rañjana or rāga (436–469), the three types of sāraṇā (470–489), vedha (490–509), and krāmaṇa (510–518).

v3.c48.9

Two types of cāraṇa are described, samukha- and nirmukhacāraṇa, four varieties of mukhīkaraṇa (71–96ab), and twelve ways to achieve above abhrakacāraṇa (98–149).

v3.c48.10

Other subjects of chapter four are the preparation of abhrakasattva (174–187; five methods), dvandvamelāpana (188–243ab), bījas (243cd–328), bīḍas (329–359), the druti of mica, gold and gems (423cd–429), drutimelāpana (429cd–435), rañjanataila (437–440), and sāraṇataila (480–489).

v3.c48.11

Chapter five (86 1/2 verses) is concerned with bhūcarī jāraṇa (2–9),⁶ khecarī jāraṇa (10–16ab),⁷ another type of jāraṇa (16cd–20),⁸ jāraṇa again (21–33ab),⁹ the jāraṇa of gems (33cd–45),¹⁰ dhūmavedhirasa (46–52),¹¹ some methods to achieve vedha (53– 62), 12 grades of vedha dependent on the amount of grāsa assimilated (jīrṇa) by mercury (63–71), 13 the properties of mercury when it has assimilated a sixfold amount of abhraka (72–75ab), the order in which mercury should be made to digest and assimilate other substances, the amount of grāsa to be added, the effects of the addition of each grāsa (75cd–83ab), 14 and, finally, the general effects of each of the saṃskāras (83cd–87ab).

v3.c48.12

Chapter six (129 1/2 verses) is about dehavedha, i.e., the transformation of the body. Its subjects are: the preparatory purification of the body by means of pañcakarman (4–18ab), other purificatory measures (18cd–30), āroṭarasa and its uses (31–39), khoṭabaddharasa and the way to use it (40–85ab), dietary and behavioural rules (85cd–106ab), rasājīrṇa and its treatment (106cd–114ab), and vedha of the seven dhātus of the body (114cd–130ab).

v3.c48.13

Chapter seven (188 1/2 verses) deals with the origin of the gems (1–5); diamonds (vajra), their varieties, characteristics, and uses (6–14), their purification (15–19), vajrabhasman as a rasāyana (20–35ab), vajraudana (35cd–39), the liquefaction (druti) of diamonds (40–42ab) and other gems (42cd–44), and the properties of vajrabhasman (45–49ab); gold, its varieties, purification, bhasman, its use as a rasāyana, its liquefaction (49cd–82); kānta(loha), its origin and varieties (83–96), the extraction of its essence (sattvapātana; 97–104), its properties and purification (105–111ab), mantras to be employed (111cd–115), the preparation of the bhasman, its amṛtīkaraṇa, pāka, and uses as a rasāyana (116–139ab), 15 the liquefaction of kānta (139cd–140ab); the four types of iron (kiṭṭa, muṇḍa, tīkṣṇa, kānta) and the superiority of kānta for alchemical purposes (140cd–143ab); mica (abhraka), its origin, four varieties, the superiority of the variety called vajra, the preparation of dhānyābhraka (143cd–164), the extraction of abhrakasattva (165–168), 16 the bhasman of the sattva (169–174), the uses of the sattva (175–183ab), the liquefaction of the sattva (183cd–185ab), and the properties of mica (185cd–189ab).

v3.c48.14

Chapter eight (22 verses) gives an account of rasāyana and the order in which various preparations should be used.

v3.c48.15

Chapter nine (196 verses) deals with the preparation of rasāyanas.

v3.c48.16

Chapter ten (140 verses) is about fifteen different ghuṭikās (15cd–102ab), plants and other drugs employed in krāmaṇa (1102cd–107), the effects of the pills (ghuṭikā) described (1108–140ab), and a mantra (140cd).

v3.c48.17

Chapter eleven (42 verses) describes bhūtakālāntakarasa. 17

v3.c48.18

Chapter twelve (200 verses) is devoted to the mountain Śrīśaila (= Śrīparvata) and the numerous holy places there, where siddhis can be acquired; the chapter ends with mantras.

v3.c48.19

Chapter thirteen (38 verses) is concerned with sulphur (gandhaka), its origin, four varieties, purification, and uses as a rasāyana.

v3.c48.20

Chapter fourteen (47 verses) deals with poisons, their origin (12–12), varieties (13–25), purification (26–27), uses as a rasāyana (28–31), and the disorders caused by poisons, followed by the treatment of these disorders (31–47).

v3.c48.21

Chapter fifteen (634 verses) describes kalpas of thirty-eight divine herbs (divyauṣadhi).

v3.c48.22

Chapter sixteen (127 verses) is about the following subjects: aṅkolakalpa (11–13), 18 other rasāyanakalpas (14–25), mahākāmeśvarakalpa (26–33), mixtures of organic and inorganic substances (34–37), mahānīlitaila (38–43ab), candanādyataila (43cd–51ab), a rasāyana used in massage (udvartana; 51cd–60), kalpas used in blackening the hair (keśarañjana; 61–109ab), and rules for the digging up of divyauṣadhis (109cd–127).

v3.c48.23

Chapter seventeen (94 1/2 verses) is about the drinking of water in the early morning (uṣapāna) as a rasāyana. 19

v3.c48.24

Chapter eighteen (476 verses) discusses the daily regimen (dinacaryā, 1–381; rātricaryā, 382–476), chapter nineteen (21 verses) the regimen during the seasons (1–183ab); chapter nineteen includes descriptions of the digestive process and metabolism (183cd–204); it ends with verses on the digestive fire (205–219ab).

v3.c48.25

Chapter twenty (196 verses) is devoted to jīvanmukti, the means to attain this state, and yoga.

v3.c48.26

Chapter twenty-one (110 verses) describes the construction of the hut (kuṭī) used for rasāyana, the procedure itself, and its results.

v3.c48.27

Chapter twenty-two (88 verses) describes vandāka, several kinds of this plant, and vandākakalpas. 20

v3.c48.28

Chapter twenty-three (749 1/2 verses) deals with the purification (śodhana) of mercury (13–34; seven methods), vaḍavānalabīḍa (35–43ab), the preparation of mercurial ashes (pāradabhasman; 43cd–127: thirty-one methods), the preparation of gandhapiṣṭī (129–149ab; six methods), piṣṭīstambhana (149cd–154ab), piṣṭījāraṇa (154cd–158ab), piṣṭīmāraṇa (158cd–164ab), bandhas of mercury (164cd–211: vaikrānta-, gandhaka-, gandhakasvarṇa-, mūlikābandha), mūrchanā (212–241; nine methods), kalpas resulting in the bandha of mercury (242–408: mūlikābandha), kartarīrasabandha (409–417ab), a number of udakabandhas (417cd–527ab), some ghuṭikās (527cd–557), some rasāyanakalpas (558–584ab), baddhajāraṇa (584cd–586), three types of bandha: mūla-, sāra- and pākabandha (587–593ab), drutibandha (593cd–597ab), drutimelana (597cd–599), types of vajrabandha (600–648ab), bandhas suitable to attain vedha (648cd–727ab), vajrahemadvandvamelāpana (727cd–742ab), and ratnadrutibandha (742cd–750ab).

v3.c48.29

Chapter twenty-four (207 verses) is devoted to the bandha of mercury by means of mahārasas, uparasas and lohas. 21 Its subjects are: vaikrāntabandha (22–37; ten methods), kāntabandha (38–41ab), capalabandha (41cd–54ab; three methods), gandhakabandha (54cd–95; eight methods), tālakabandha (96–102ab), several types of laghubandha (102cd–154ab), nigalabandha (154cd–178), mūrchā (179–189ab), and jalūkābandha (190cd–208ab).

v3.c48.30

Chapter twenty-five (114 verses) gives definitions of technical terms (paribhāṣā). 22

v3.c48.31

Chapter twenty-six (244 verses) 23 gives an account of the yantras (1–148ab), mūṣās (148cd–186ab), koṣṭhīs (210cd–214), puṭas (218cd–237), and some related subjects.

v3.c48.32

Chapter one of the kriyākaraṇavīrśanti (363 verses) is devoted to the uparasas. It begins with lists of the uparasas (4–9ab), lohas (9cd–10), ratnas (11) and uparatnas (12–13cd).

v3.c48.33

Subjects dealt with in this chapter are: gandhaka (sulphur; 13cd–47); haritāla (48–73ab); manaḥśilā (73cd–88); mākṣika (89–140); abhraka (mica; 141–180ab);²⁴ hiṅgula (cinnabar; 180cd–190); gairika (191–194ab); capala (194cd–204ab); śilājatu (204cd–215); bhūnāga (216–228ab); haridrāśman (228cd–229ab); agnijāra (229cd–234); rasaka (235–243); mayūratuttha (244–251ab); kaṅkuṣṭha (251cd–252); girisindūra (253–254); ṭaṅkaṇa (255–257ab); kampillaka (257cd–258); vatsanābha (259–261); kāśīśa (262–265); gaurīpāṣāṇaka (266); tuvarikā (267–268); podāraśṛṅgaka²⁵ (269–270); sindūra (271–273); rasāñjana, nīlāñjana, sauvīrāñjana and sroto’ñjana (274–286); aphena²⁶ (287–292); puṣpāñjana (293–294); śaṅkha and kṣudraśaṅkha (295–298ab); śukti (298cd–300); jalaśukti (301–302ab); kaparda (302cd–308ab); sābuṇī (308cd–310ab); navasāra (310cd–312ab); saurāṣṭrī (312cd–313ab); ākhupāṣāṇa (313cd–315ab); sarjarasa (315cd–318ab); guggulu (318cd–324); yavakṣāra (325–326); sarjikā (327–328ab); lavaṇakṣāra (328cd–330ab); vajrakakṣāra (330cd–332ab); sāmudralavaṇa, saindhava, kācalavaṇa, bida, and sauvarcala (332cd–343); amlavetasa (344–347); kāca (348); chagaṇa (349–350ab); aṅgāra (350cd–351ab); sikatā (351cd–352ab). The chapter ends with verses on the purification of the uparasas (352cd–363).

v3.c48.34

Chapter two (481/2 verses) is devoted to gold, its names, varieties, purification, the preparation of its bhasman, and its properties. Silver and copper are dealt with in the same way in chapters three (33 verses) and four (60 verses).

v3.c48.35

Chapter five (811/2 verses) is about iron, its origin and three types (1–6), kāntaloha, its names and properties (7–17ab), purification (17cd–28ab), the preparation of its bhasman (28cd–61ab; nine methods), the amṛtīkaraṇa of the bhasman (61cd–66ab), lohapāka (66cd–68ab), the examination of the bhasman and its properties (68cd–82ab).²⁷

v3.c48.36

Chapter six (371/2 verses) deals in the same way with tin (1–16ab) and lead (16cd–38ab).

v3.c48.37

Chapter seven (1111/2 verses) deals with pittala (brass; 1–11ab); kāṃsya (bronze; 11cd–18ab); vartaloha²⁸ (18cd–24ab); alloys (24cd–28); abhrakaśattva,²⁹ its four varieties (29–30ab), the extraction of abhrakaśattva (30cd–34ab), the varieties called kathina, mṛdu and bīja (34cd–60ab), the purification (nirmalīkaraṇa) of abhrakaśattva (60cd–65), the preparation of abhrakaśattvasindūra (66–86ab; four methods), sthalīpāka (86cd–89), the amṛtīkaraṇa of lohabhasman (90–92), the properties of abhrakaśattvasindūra (93–99); māṇḍūra (100–106ab); the quantities of a series of substances to be used in the purification and māraṇa of mercury, metals, etc. (106cd–112ab).

v3.c48.38

Chapter eight (218 verses) gives an account of the ratnas (1–166ab) and uparatnas (166cd–218). Its subjects are: māṇikya (4–15ab); muktā (15cd–21); pravāla (22–30); marakata (31–40); puṣparāga (41–46); vajra,³⁰ its names, the places where it is found, its varieties, qualities and blemishes (47–57ab), purification (57cd–66), the killing of its varieties (67–66ab) and of vajra in general (76cd–115; fourteen methods), its mṛdūkaraṇa (116–131; six methods), druti (132–136ab), and properties (136cd–139ab); nīla (139cd–149ab); gomeda (149cd–155ab); vaidūrya (155cd–164); the group of five ratnas and the group of nine ratnas (164cd–166ab); sūryakānta (166cd–171); candrakānta (172–174); sphaṭika (175–176ab); vaikrānta (176cd–193); rājāvarta (194–204ab);

v3.c48.39

sasyaka (204cd–208); vimala (209–217); peroja (218).

v3.c48.40

Chapter nine (110 verses) discusses in its introductory verses the herbs used in alchemical operations (the kulauṣadhis, which are to be distinguished from those useless for this purpose (the tṛṇauṣadhis). The kulauṣadhis are divided into four groups: rasauṣadhis, mahauṣadhis, siddhauṣadhis and divyauṣadhis (1–19ab). The divyauṣadhis belong to six groups, called vṛkṣa, vallī, latā, gulma, tṛṇa and vandānika (18). Chapter nine describes the sixty-four divyauṣadhis (19cd–97) and ends with an enumeration of these plants (98–111).

v3.c48.41

Chapter ten (235 verses) describes eighty-eight mahauṣadhis (1–224) and ends with an enumeration of these plants (225–235).

v3.c48.42

The two pariśiṣṭa chapters (paribhāṣā: 121 verses; prakīrṇaka: 1631/2 verses) consist of quotations from the Abhidhānakāmadhenu, Ajīrṇamañjarī, Devīyāmala, Rasadarpaṇa, Rasakāmadhenu, Rasamañjarī, Rasapaddhati, Rasaprakāśasudhakara, Rasaratnākara, Rasaratnasamuccaya, Rasārṇava, Rasasāra, Rasāvatāra, Rasendracūḍāmaṇi and Śaktyavatāra.

v3.c48.43

The Ānandakanda is quoted in the commentary on the Aṣṭamahāmātrā, Gulrājśarmamiśra’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa (ad 1.363), Somadevaśarman’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa, and the Rasatattvavivecana.³¹

Special features

v3.c48.s1.1

The five avasthās of mercury are: dhūma, ciṭiciṭi, maṇḍūkapluti, sakampa and vikampa (I.1.38cd–39ab).³³ The five gatis are: jalavadgati, dhūmagati, haṃsavadgati, kiṭṭanibhā gatih, and jīvadvagati (I.1.39cd–42ab).³⁴ The fourteen naisargikadoṣas are: pārthiva or bhauma, āpya, āgneya, anila or vāyavya, nābhasa, gajacarmākhya or gajatvac, puṇḍarīka, visarpa, hāridra, raktacarmākhya, nāraṅga, raktabinduka or raktabīja, asahyāgni, and maṇḍūka (I.1.42cd–44ab).³⁵ The seven kañcukas or aupādhikadoṣas are: kālikā, malinī, kapotī, raktakañcukā, salomī, girijā, and piṅgalī (I.1.44cd–45).³⁶ The three yaugikadoṣas are viṣa, nāga and vaṅga (I.1.46ab).³⁷ Each of the twenty-four doṣas is associated with a particular disorder (I.1.46cd–53ab).

v3.c48.s1.2

The worship of Rasabhairava and Rasāṅkuśī are important topics of chapter two. Numerous other deities are mentioned, among whom are the ten Dūtīs (I.2.122–123),³⁸ the eight Vidyeśvaras (I.2.127), the seven Mothers (I.2.163),³⁹ the Yoginīs,⁴⁰ Śaktis, Kubjikā (I.2.164–165), etc. Mantras are frequently mentioned. Bhūtaśuddhi is elaborately described (2.97–194ab). The verses on rasasandhyā (I.2.40–62) are peculiar to the Ānandakanda.⁴¹

v3.c48.s1.3

Chapter three discusses five types of dīkṣā: samayā- (I.3.9–56), sādhaka- (I.3.57–70), nirvāṇa- (I.3.71–81), ācārya- (I.3.82–96), and siddhadīkṣā (I.3.97–109).⁴² The verses on the samayādīkṣā enumerate the nine Nāthas⁴³ and the sixteen Siddhas. The names of the nine Nāthas are: Ādinātha,⁴⁴ Mīnanātha,⁴⁵ Gorakṣa,⁴⁶ Koṅkaṇeśvara,⁴⁷ Jālandhreśa,⁴⁸ Kandhanīśa,⁴⁹ Oḍḍīśa, Ciñciṇīśvara,⁵⁰ and Caurāṅgī⁵¹ (I.3.47–48ab). The sixteen Siddhas⁵² are: Caurāṅgī,⁵³ Carpati,⁵⁴ Ghoḍācūli,⁵⁵ the two Rāmas,⁵⁶ Bholagovinda, Vyāḍi,⁵⁷ Nāgārjuna,⁵⁸ Koraṇḍa,⁵⁹ Śūrpakarṇa,⁶⁰ Muktāyī, Revaṇa,⁶¹ Kukkurapāda,⁶² Śūrpapāda, Kaṇaurika, and Kiṅkiṇika (I.3.48cd–50).

v3.c48.s1.4

The list of the eighteen saṃskāras at the beginning of chapter four (I.4.1–6) omits grāsapramāṇa, krāmaṇa and sevā; anuvāsana is a saṃskāra; the three types of sāraṇa are regarded as three distinct saṃskāras.

v3.c48.s1.5

Divine plants (divyamūlikā), employed in the cāraṇa of mica (abhraka) are: agnidhamanī, bṛhatī, ciñcikā, haṃsapādī, indravāruṇī, karkoṭī, khaṇḍajārī, kumārī, lāṅgalī, maṇḍūkī, puṅkhā, rambhā, śaṅkhapuṣpī, sarpākṣī, vajrī, and vyāghrapādikā (I.4.154cd–156). Four bījas are said to be important: hema-, tāra-, nāga- and vaṅgabīja (I.4.250cd–254ab); a fifth type described is tāmrabīja (I.4.318cd–320).

v3.c48.s1.6

Sixteen different bījas are described (I.4.330–359). Anusāraṇa and pratisāraṇa are described as simple repetitions (once, respectively twice) of the operation called sāraṇa (I.4.489). Types of vedha are not distinguished in chapter four.

v3.c48.s1.7

Some purificatory measures, to be taken before the ingestion of mercurial preparations, are said to remove the lavaṇa-, kṣāra- and amladoṣa from the adept's body (I.6.18cd–23ab).⁶⁴

v3.c48.s1.8

Diamonds and their processing are dealt with in chapter seven (I.7.1–49ab), separately from the other gems. Three types of gold are distinguished: rasavedhaja (gold made by means of transmutation), kṣetrasambhava (naturally occurring gold) and lohasaṃkaraja (products resembling gold) (I.7.50–52ab). Five varieties of kāntaloha are described: bhrāmaka, cumbaka, karṣaka, drāvaka and romaka (I.7.87–96).⁶⁵

v3.c48.s1.9

The names of the pills (ghuṭikā) described in chapter ten⁶⁶ are: mṛtasamjīvanī, divyā, kāmeśvarī, hemasundarī, madanasundarī, khecarī, vajreśvarī, mahāvajreśvarī, vajrakhecarī, kālavidhvaṃsinī, gaganeśvarī, vajraghaṇṭeśvarī, vajrabhairavī, tripurabhairavī, and mahābhairavī.⁶⁷

v3.c48.s1.10

Place-names, names of deities, etc., occurring in chapter twelve, are: Acaleśvara (169), Acchatailagiri (148), Alampura (75; 77), Amareśvara (170), Āvartaka (46), Bhīmapāduka (75), Bhṛgupātana (145), Brahmeśvara (68), Caṇḍikā (71), Candraguptaprākāra (150), Chedikīdvāraka (138), Dādhikavāṭaka (148), Dakṣiṇā (141), Devahrada (155), Doṅgalikā (190), Durgā (69), Gaṇādhipa (123), Ghaṇṭāsiddheśvara (8; 11), Guṇḍiprabhā (159), Hastiśilā (52), Hastiśiras (52), Ileśvara (168), Īśāna (126), Kadambeśvaradeva (133), Kākalārī (192), Kālakaṇṭheśa (163), Kapoteśa (137), Kapoteśvara (141), Kokilābila (34), Koṭīśvara (168), Kṣetrapālaka (121), Kuṇḍaleśvara (48), Liṅgādri (182), Mahānanda (162), Maheśvara (80), Maṇipalli (29), a yakṣiṇī called Mohalī (104), an elephant called Mohana (152), Nīlavanī (157), Padmāvatībila (127), Paṭṭhakarṇeśvara (175), Piṇḍikā (184), Puruṣeśvaradeva (49), Puṣpagiri (137), Rāmeśvara (45), Sarveśvara (189), Sparśaśilā (151), Śrīmālīniśvara (165), Śrīmallikārjuna (8), Sureśvara (43), Svargapurīnātha (39), Svarṇaśilā (170), Tambīpura (161), Tripurāntaka (22), Umāparvata (165), Vajreśvara (43), and Yogīśvarī (77).⁶⁸

v3.c48.s1.11

Chapter fourteen describes ten poisonous substances of vegetable origin that are unsuitable for rasāyana purposes: kālakūṭa, dardura, hālāhala, meṣaśṛṅga, mohada, granthi, karkaṭa, raktaśṛṅgi, haridra, and kesara (I.14.13–14); the eight suitable poisons are: śvetaśṛṅgī, vatsanābha, sarṣapa, śṛṅgī, vāluka, mastaka, saktuka, and kardama (I.14.15–16ab). The eight stages (vega) of intoxication are dealt with (14.33–35ab).

v3.c48.s1.12

The kalpas described in chapter fifteen are called after the following thirty-eight divyauṣadhis: brahmavṛkṣa (3cd–51),⁶⁹ śvetabrahmavṛkṣa (52–60ab),⁷⁰ muṇḍī

v3.c48.s1.13

(60cd–70ab),⁷¹ devadālī (70cd–91),⁷² śvetārka (92–97ab),⁷³ hastikarṇī(palāśa) (97cd–101),⁷⁴ rudantī (102–111ab),⁷⁵ nirguṇḍī (111cd–130),⁷⁶ śunakaśālmalī (131–138ab),⁷⁷ pathyā (138cd–156ab),⁷⁸ āmalakī (156cd–162ab),⁷⁹ triphalā (162cd–177ab),⁸⁰ śuṇṭhī (177cd–181), pippalī (182–191ab),⁸¹ citraka (191cd–201),⁸² bhallātakī (202–205ab), bhūmikadamba (205cd–209ab),⁸³ punarnavā (209cd–218),⁸⁴ bhṛṅgarāja (219–227),⁸⁵ kumārī (228–245ab), mahānīlī (245cd–253ab),⁸⁶ musalī (253cd–257),⁸⁷ indravallī (258–263ab), jyotirdruma (263cd–264), aśvagandhā (265–266ab),⁸⁸ jyotiṣmatī (266cd–304),⁸⁹ guggulu (305–312),⁹⁰ vijayā (313–499),⁹¹ kañcukī (500–510), kukkuṭī (511–522ab), somalatā (522cd–579ab),⁹² guḍūcī (579cd–587), tuvaraka (588–596),⁹³ somarājī (597–599ab),⁹⁴ vṛddhadāruka (599cd–620), vajravallī (621–623ab),⁹⁵ tilakṣīriṇikā (623cd–627), and brāhmī (628–634).

v3.c48.s1.14

The elaborate description of uṣapāna in chapter seventeen is a remarkable feature of the Ānandakanda; the sniffing up of water through the nose (nāsāpāna) is also dealt with (17.93cd–95ab).

v3.c48.s1.15

Chapter twenty describes the ten main nāḍīs (62–64) and the ten kinds of vāyu (65–69), Kuṇḍalinī (73–82ab), mudrās and bandhas (82cd–108ab), together with other subjects known from Tantric works and treatises on Yoga.

v3.c48.s1.16

The construction of the hut (kuṭī) for rasāyana purposes is a distinctive feature of the Ānandakanda, not found in other rasāstra texts.

v3.c48.s1.17

Chapter twenty-two describes a long series of varieties of vandāka or badhnaka, growing on about fifty different plants and trees.⁹⁶

v3.c48.s1.18

The mūlikābandhas of chapter twenty-three are concerned with the following plants and substances: niśācara (244–260),⁹⁷ aṅganāyikā (261–269ab),⁹⁸ narasāra (269cd–286ab),⁹⁹ kaṅkālakhecarī (286cd–289ab),¹⁰⁰ mantrasimhāsanī (289cd–295ab),¹⁰¹ irindarī (295cd–310ab),¹⁰² kṣamāpāla (315–316ab),¹⁰³ tṛṇajyotis (338–341ab),¹⁰⁴ uccaṭā (341cd–346),¹⁰⁵ raktasnuhi (347–348),¹⁰⁶ sthalapadminī (349–355),¹⁰⁷ citraka (356–365ab),¹⁰⁸ jyotiṣmatītaila (365cd–370),¹⁰⁹ dagdharuhā (371–377ab),¹¹⁰ kaṭutumbī (377cd–380ab),¹¹¹ lohadaṇḍa (380cd–386),¹¹² kṣīrakanda (387–392ab),¹¹³ śākavṛkṣa (392cd–398),¹¹⁴ devadālī (399–402),¹¹⁵ śvetaguñjā (403–408),¹¹⁶ and kartarīrasa (409–417ab).¹¹⁷

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The udakabandhas of chapter twenty-three describe candrodakabandha (417cd–428ab),¹¹⁸ viṣodakabandha (428cd–446ab),¹¹⁹ saṃjīvanījalakalpa (446cd–466),¹²⁰ uṣṇodakakalpa (467–480ab),¹²¹ and śailodakakalpa (480cd–527ab).¹²²

v3.c48.s1.20

The ghuṭikās which follow (23.527cd–557) are prepared with śailodaka,¹²³ the rasāyanakalpas (23.558–584ab) with rasabhasman.¹²⁴ The verses on bandha and related subjects (23.584cd–790ab)¹²⁵ mention several types of this process.¹²⁶

v3.c48.s1.21

Chapter twenty-four describes four types of jalūkābandha: mardana-, manmatha-, kandarpa-, and madanajalūkā (24.190cd–208ab). The operations called svedana and saṃnyāsa, described at the end of chapter twenty-five (25.112cd–115ab), are varieties of niyamana.¹²⁷

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Chapter twenty-six describes the yantras according to the Rasendracūḍāmaṇi.¹²⁸ Yantras ahead are: pātālayantra (91cd–93ab),¹²⁹ dīpikāyantra (93cd–94ab),¹³⁰ gaṅgāsāgara- or bhaṭṭiyantra (94cd–99), koṣṭhīyantra (101cd–102),¹³¹ garbhayantra (103–106),¹³² haṃsapākāyantra (107–108),¹³³ mūṣāyantra (109–111),¹³⁴ stanayantra (112–113), nāgamāyūrayantra (114–117), cakrayantra (118–120ab), khecarayantra (120cd–123), kāpālīyantra (124–125ab), vālukāyantra (125cd–128), 135 lavaṇayantra (129–130), 136 bhūdharayantra (131), 137 nālikāyantra (132–134ab), 138 puṭayantra (134cd–135ab), 139 pātālayantra (135cd–139ab), 140 dhūpayantra (139cd–141ab), 141 and adhaḥpātanayantra (141cd–144ab and 144cd–148ab). 142

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The mūṣās are described according to the Rasendracūḍāmaṇi. 143 Mūṣās added are a second type of vajramūṣā (179–180), 144 the prakāśa- and andhamūṣā (181–184ab), 145 bhasmamūṣā (184cd–185ab), 146 and a third type of vajramūṣā (185cd–186ab). 147

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The description of the koṣṭhīs (26.201cd–218ab) has been borrowed from the Rasendracūḍāmaṇi. 148 The same applies to the puṭas (26.218cd–237). 149

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Verses on vessels and types of fuel are added. Synonyms of the vessel called kūpikā are rūpikā, bhiddhā, gola and karaṇḍaka (26.238). 150 Synonyms of the vessel called caṣaka are kaṭhorī, cāṭikā, khorikā, kañcolī and grāhikā (26.239). 151

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The list of uparasas of chapter one of the kriyākaraṇaviśrānti is longer than in any other text; items found in this list, but not described in chapter one, are cīnakṣāra, lākṣā and gorocanā (1.7cd–8). The metals (loha) are twelve in number: gold, silver, copper, kānta, abhrasattva, tīkṣṇa, muṇḍaka, lead, tin, rīti (= pittala), kāṃsya, and vartaka (1.9cd–10). 152 The list of the nine gems (ratna) presents the usual series (1.11). The nine uparatnas consist of sūryakānta, candrakānta, tārakānta, kāntaka, 153 vaikrānta, nṛpāvarta (= rājāvarta), sasyaka, vimalā, and peroja (1.12–13ab). 154

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Godaṇtī is a synonym of haritāla (1.48). Hīngula is of three varieties: carmāra, śukaṭuṇḍaka and haṃsapāda (1.18cd–182ab). Gairika is of two kinds: svarṇagairika and pāśṇagairika (1.191–192ab). Ten varieties of capala are mentioned (1.195–196ab), two varieties of śilājatu: gomūtra- and karpūraśilājatu (1.205). Synonyms of haridrāśman 155 are niśāgrāva, pītāṅga and pītagharṣaṇa (1.128cd). Two varieties of kaṅkuṣṭha are distinguished: hema- and tārakaṅkuṣṭha (1.252ab). Kāsīsa is of three types: kāsīsa, puṣpakāsīsa and hīrakāsīsa; some authorities mention four varieties: yellow, black, white and red (1.263–264ab). Four kinds of aphena 156 are described: white or jāraṇa, black or māraṇa, yellow or dhāraṇa, and karbura or sāraṇa (1.289–290).

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A noteworthy feature is the description of sābuṇi and the enumeration of its synonyms (1.308cd–309ab), 157 as well as the description of ākhupāṣāṇa (1.313cd–315ab). 158 Sarjarasa or rāla is said to be of five varieties: red, yellow, black, white, and multicoloured (1.316–317). Five varieties of guggulu are mentioned: mahiṣākṣa, nīlaka, padma, kumuda, and suvarṇa (1.320cd–321ab). 159 Noteworthy among the kṣāras are lavaṇakṣāra or loṇāra (1.328cd–330ab) 160 and vajrakakṣāra (1.330cd–332ab). Amlavetasa, which has many synonyms, is of two kinds: śaṅkhadrāvin and māṃsadrāvin (1.344–347).

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Chapter seven of the kriyākaraṇaviśrānti mentions four types of abhrakasattva: kaṭhina, mṛdula, druti and bīja (7.29–30ab). The preparation of the kaṭhina, mṛdu and bīja types is described (7.30cd–60ab); the preparation of the druti type is absent. 161 The same chapter gives an account of the preparation of abhrakasattvasindūra, which is red in colour (7.66–86ab).

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The red ruby (māṇikya), found in Siṃhala, is called padmarāga; the yellow variety, called kuruvinda, occurs in Kālāpura; the saugandhika, coloured like an aśoka shoot, is found in Āndhra; the nīlagandhi, of a blue hue, occurs in Tumburu 162 (8.10–11). Diamonds of particular colours are found in Pauṇḍra, 163 on the Mataṅgagiri, 164 in the Himālaya, in Saurāṣṭra, Supāra, 165 Kosala, Kaliṅga, and on the banks of the river Peṇṇā 166 (8.49–54ab). 167 Eight varieties of vaikrānta are mentioned (8.177cd–178ab). Garuḍodgāra, usually one of the names of the emerald, is used as a synonym of sasyaka (8.204cd). Synonyms of peroja are harinmaṇi 168 and haritāśman (8.218).

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The sixty-four 169 divyauṣadhis described in chapter nine are: somavallī, 170 somavṛkṣa, 171 sthalapadminī, 172 goṇasā, 173 uccaṭā, 174 īśvarī, 175 bhūtakeśī, 176 kṛṣṇalaṭā, 177 lāśunavallī, 178 rudantī, 179 vārāhī, 180 saptapattrī, 181 nāginī, 182 sarpiṇī, 183 chattriṇī, 184 gośṛṅgī, 185 jyotirlatā, 186 raktavallī, 187 pattravallī, 188 kākinī, 189 cāṇḍālī, 190 tāmravallīkā, pītavallīkā, vijayā, 191 mahauṣadhi, 192 devadālī, 193 mraṅkṣaṇagandhinī or navanītakagandhī, 194 gāruḍavallī, 195 tumbinī, 196 bhūtumbinī, gandharvā, vyāghrapādī, mahauṣadhi, 197 gomārī, triśūlī, 198 rutasivallikā, 199 triḍaṇḍī, bhṛṅgavallī, camarikā, karavīralatā, vajravallī, 200 vāravallī, 201 rohiṇī, bilvinī, gorocanalatā, 202 akṣarā, 203 apattrā, 204 kuṭajavallī, mūlakandā, brāhmaṇī, munivallī or ghṛṭagandhā, nimbakālatā, tilakandā, aśativallikā, bodhilatā, madyagandhā, kūrmalatā, mādhavī, viśālā, mahānāgā, maṇḍukalatikā, udumbaralatā, and citravallī. 205

v3.c48.s1.32

Chapter ten describes the following eighty-eight mahauṣadhis: 206 himajā or yavaciñcā, kāravī, kaṭutumbī, jyotiṣmatī, liṅginī or īśvarī, pātālagaruḍī, girikarṇī, ākhukarṇī, vārāhī, devadālī, 207 aindrī (= indravāruṇī), 208 gojihvā, kakaṭuṇḍī, raktapādī, punarnavā, 209 atyamlaparṇī, kaṛoṭakī, śarapuṅkhā, 210 bhṛṅgarāja, 211 guḍūcī, 212 mūrvā, 213 śaṅkhapuṣpī, kākajaṅghā, śatāvarī, 214 gokṣura, kākamācī, ādityabhaktā, nākulī, 215 kṣīrakanda, 216 sinduvāra, 217 araṇyakārpāsī, kokilākṣa, bṛhatī, kaṇṭakārī, guñjā, 218 vṛddhadāruka, 219 bākucī, 220 apāmārgā, prapunnāṭa (= cakramarda), viṣamuṣṭi, kāṇḍīra, hastikanda, samudraśoṣī, gorakṣadugdhī, 221 bhūpāṭalī, medā, mahāmedā, kākolī, kṣīrakākolī, vṛddhī, ṛddhi, jīvaka, ṛṣabha, ādityaputra, hastikarṇī, 222 kapikacchū, karṇasphoṭā, rudrajaṭā, nīlikā, kośātaki, jīvantī, 223 jaṭukā, muṇḍī, 224 viṣṇukrāntā, kumārī, 225 bhūmyāmalī, barhicūḍā (= mayūraśikhā), brāhmī, 226 taṇḍulīya, pāṣāṇabhedana, hastisuṇḍī, kṣudrāmlikā, brahmaḍaṇḍī, tālī, ākāśavallī, sahadevī, lakṣmaṇā, bhūkadamba, 227 tailakanda, viṣṇukanda, trikarṇikā, nāgadantī, droṇapuṣpī, 228 amṛtasravā, putradātrī, śālmalīkanda, āvartakī, and amlapatrī.

v3.c48.s1.33

The list at the end of the chapter adds haṃsapādī (10.234).

The author

v3.c48.s2.1

The author of the Ānandakanda is unknown. 229 Some are of the opinion that it was composed by a follower of the Bhairava cult, because the treatise is said to have been expounded by Bhairava. 230 Others suppose the author to have been a resident of Śrīśaila, since this mountain and many sacred places in its vicinity are referred to in the Ānandakanda. 231

v3.c48.s2.2

The fact that the Ānandakanda contains material that is also found in the Rasārṇava and Rasendracūḍāmaṇi, two works which are original compositions of their authors, implies that it is probably posterior to the twelfth or thirteenth century. 232 The references to Gorakṣa and Mīnānātha are in agreement with this upper limit. The same applies to the employment of the term gañjā in the vijayākalpa. 233 The resemblances between parts of the Ānandakanda and Nityanātha’s Rasaratnākara are unsuitable to chronological purposes since the latter work is based on earlier sources. 234

v3.c48.s2.3

Āyurvedaprakāśa

v3.c48.s2.4

The Āyurvedaprakāśa by Mādhava¹ is a comprehensive treatise on alchemy in the service of medicine.

v3.c48.s2.5

Contents

v3.c48.s2.6

The work consists of about 1,800 verses, mixed with prose,² arranged in six chapters (adhyāya).

v3.c48.s2.7

Chapter one (sūtasādhanādhyāya; 597 verses and prose passages) deals with the following subjects, after paying homage to Śiva, Śivā and Heramba (1–2) and a number of verses introducing the subject of the treatise (3–15): the doṣas of mercury (16–22ab); the necessity of its purification (22cd–25ab); the quantity of mercury one should employ in the purificatory processes (25cd–27ab); the ritual to be performed before starting the work (27cd–30ab); the mortar (khalva) and pestle (mardaka) (30cd–31); opinions on the number of the saṃskāras (32); a list of eighteen saṃskāras: svedana, mardana, mūrchana, utthiti, patana, rodha, niyāmana, samdīpana, gaganabhakṣaṇamāna, saṃcāraṇa, garbha-gatā drutiḥ, bāhyā drutiḥ, jāraṇā, rāga, sāraṇa, saṃkrāmaṇa, vedha, and śarīrayoga (33–34); the first eight saṃskāras, to which the author restricts himself (35); a list of nineteen saṃskāras, i.e., the previous list, to which anuvāsana has been added (36); svedana (37–48); mardana (49–54ab); mūrchana (54cd–62); utthāpana (= utthiti) (63–67); pātana (68–85); bodhana (= rodha; 86–94); niyamana (95–100); samdīpana (101–103); anuvāsana (103–104); jāraṇa of sulphur, gold, mica and the essence of mica, together with many related subjects (107–251);³ garbhadṛuti and related subjects (252–306);⁴ bāhyadṛuti (307); sāraṇa (308–311); krāmaṇa (312); rañjana (313–318); vedha (319–326) and related subjects (327–350: rājavatī vidyā and hemavatī vidyā); bandha (351–390); mūrchana (391–396); the reduction to ashes (bhasmīkaraṇa) of mercury, followed by the preparation of rasasindūra and rasakarpūra (397–435); the killing (māraṇa) of mercury (436–463); jalaukābandha (464–469ab); the preparation of the pill called khecarī guṭikā (469cd–480); sevana (the consumption of the mercurial product and the rules to be observed; 481–555), and finally, a number of rasayogas (556–597).

v3.c48.s2.8

Chapter two (uparasasādhanādhyāya; 351 verses and passages in prose) is concerned with the uparasas, because those some of their properties are similar to those of mercury (rasa). The group consists of gandha (sulphur), hiṅgula (cinnabar), abhra (mica), tālaka, (manaḥ)śilā, sroto’ñjana, ṭaṅkaṇa, rājāvartaka, cumbaka, sphaṭikā, śaṅkha, khaṭī, gairika, kāsīsa, rasaka, kaparda, sikatā, bola, kaṅkuṣṭhaka, and saurāṣṭrī (1–2ab).

v3.c48.s2.9

The subjects of this chapter are: sulphur, its mythical origin, names, varieties, properties, purification, etc. (2cd–69ab); hiṅgula, its names, varieties, properties, purification, killing, etc. (69cd–86); the names, properties, etc., of girisindūra (87), abhraka (88–172), haritāla (173–212), manaḥśilā (213–224), sroto’ñjana and other varieties of añjana (225–242), ṭaṅkaṇa (243–246), rājāvarta (247–252), cumbaka (= kāntaloha) (253–255), sphaṭikā (256–258), śaṅkha (259–263), khaṭikā (264–267), gairika (268–272), kāsīsa (273–275), rasaka (276–293), kapardikā (294–302), sikatā (303–305), bola (306–311), kaṅkuṣṭha (312–319), saurāṣṭrī (320–321), abdhiphena (= samudraphena) (322–324ab), kṣudraśaṅkha (324cd–325), śukti and jalaśukti (326–330), mṛttikā (331), paṅka (332) and kampilla (333–333), gaurīpāṣāṇaka (336–337) and navasāra (338–340), agnijāra and girisindūra (341–342), and bodāraśṛṅgaka (2.343–344).

v3.c48.s2.10

Kampilla, capala, gaurīpāṣāṇa, navasādara (= navasāra), vahnijāra (= agnijāra) and (giri)sindūra constitute the group of the sādhāraṇarasas (345). A list of the uparasas that differs from the one found at the beginning of the chapter follows. This list enumerates gandhaka, vajra (= vajrābhra), vaikrānta, sindūra, bola, gairika, samudraphena, the two kinds of khaṭikā, śambūka (= jalaśukti), tārkṣya (= rasāñjana), kāsīsa, kāntapāṣāṇa (= kāntaloha), varāṭī (= kapardikā), śukti, hiṅgula, kaṅkuṣṭha, śaṅkha, bhūnāga, ṭaṅkaṇa, and śilājatu (347–349).

v3.c48.s2.11

A disagreeing view on the rasas and uparasas is quoted; the eight rasas are, according to this authority: abhra, vaikrānta, mākṣika, vimala, adrija (= śilājatu), sasyaka, capala, and rasaka; the eight uparasas are: gandhāsman (= gandhaka), gairikā, kāṅkṣī (= saurāṣṭrī), kāsīsa, āla (= haritāla), (manaḥ)śilā, añjana, and kaṅkuṣṭha (350–351).

v3.c48.s2.12

Chapter three (dhātusādhanādhyāya; 296 verses and passages in prose) deals with the seven metals (dhātu): gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, lead and iron (1). The subjects discussed are: the etymology of the term dhātu (2); the connections between a series of nine metals and the nine grahas (3–4ab); a list of seven upadhātus: tāpya (= mākṣika), vimalā, tuttha, kāṃsya, pittalaka, sindūra, and śailaniryāsa (= śilājatu) (4cd–6ab); gold, its origin, varieties, properties, purification, uses, killing, etc. (6cd–78); the origin, varieties, properties, killing, etc., of silver (79–109), copper (110–147), tin (148–180), zinc (181–183), lead (184–203), iron (204–284ab), and maṇḍūra (284cd–293).

v3.c48.s2.13

Chapter four (upadhātukādhyāya; 140 verses and passages in prose) discusses the upadhātus. Its subjects are: svarṇamākṣika, its names, varieties, purification, and the extraction of the essence (1–17); the names, varieties, properties, purification, etc., of tāramākṣika (18–24), vimalā (25–33), tuttha (34–44), bhūnāga (45–55), kāṃsya and pittala (56–81), the alloy called pañcaloha (82–86), sindūra (87–92), and śilājatu (93–136ab).

v3.c48.s2.14

An additional upadhātu discussed in this chapter is capala; its varieties, properties and purification are described (136cd–140).

v3.c48.s2.15

Chapter five (ratnoparatnasādhanādhyāya; 184 verses and some passages in prose) describes the precious (ratna) and semi-precious (uparatna) stones. The subjects of this chapter are: generalities about gems (1–3); the names of the nine major gems according to the Rasapaddhati and Viṣṇudharmottara(purāṇa) (4–6ab); the names of a num-

v3.c48.s2.16

ber of minor gems (6cd–8); names of the major gems again (9–13); diamonds (vajra), their origin, varieties, blemishes, characteristics and properties, their sizes and value, their assessment and examination (14–50); pearls (mauktika), their origin, varieties, characteristics and properties (51–66); the properties of diamonds, their purification and killing (67–88); the characteristics and properties of coral (pravāla) (89–93), pearls (94–99), rubies (māṇikya) (100–104), emeralds (marakata) (105–108), vaidūrya (109–114), gomeda (115–119), sapphires (nīla) (120–125), and puṣparāga (126–130); generalities on the gems (131–132); the five most excellent gems (pañcaratna): puṣparāga, mahānīla, padmarāga (ruby), vajra and marakata (133); the eight gems which are called maṇi: vaikrānta, sūryakānta, hīraka (diamond), mauktika, maṇi, candrakānta, rājavarta, and garuḍodgāraka (emerald) (134); the stones related to sphaṭika: gomeda, tārkṣya (emerald), vājaya (= vaidūrya), devejyamani (= puṣparāga), indu (= candrakānta), and taraṇika (= sūryakānta) (135); the names and properties of sphaṭika (136–138), sūryakānta (139–141), candrakānta (142–144), rājāvarta (145–147), and peroja (148–149); the purification and killing of the ratnas and uparatnas (550–154); some generalities on gems (155–159); vaikrānta, its origin, varieties, properties, purification, killing, the extraction of its essence (155–174ab); some generalities on the uparatnas (174cd–176); the connections between the gems and the quarters of the sky, followed by their connections with the grahas (177–178); the liquefaction of gems (179–180); the extraction of the essence from saurāṣṭrī (181–182ab) and sasyaka (182cd–184).

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Chapter six (viṣopaviṣādisādhanādhyāya; 125 verses and some prose passages) deals with poisonous substances. Its subjects are: the origin of poisons (1–9ab); the names of poison, the eight saumya and ten ugra poisons deriving from bulbous and tuberous plants (9–10); the eight poisonous substances used in medicine (saumya), their characteristics and properties (11–19); the ten poisonous substances not to be employed in medicine (ugra) and their characteristics (20–34ab); the nine vegetable poisons distinguished by some authorities and the localities where they are found (34cd–40);⁵ the colours of the four groups of poisons: brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra (41–42); the properties of the poisons (43–47ab), their purification (47cd–61) and employment in medicine (62–79); the symptoms of poisoning and its eight stages (80–86); the treatment of poisoning and the mantras to be employed (87–107); the minor poisons (upaviṣa), seven or nine in number (108–111);⁶ the purification of some upaviṣas: lāṅgalī, guñjā, viṣamuṣṭi, jepāla, dhūrtabīja, ahiphena and bhaṅgā (112–116); the preparation of viṣataila (117–118); the formula of viṣavajrapāṭarasa (119–120) and lavaṇabhedisudhānidhirasa (121–122), to be used as antidotes; the preparation of two alkaline fluids (kṣāra) (123–125).

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⁵ the colours of the four groups of poisons: brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra (41–42);

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⁶ the minor poisons (upaviṣa), seven or nine in number (108–111);

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The Pākāvalī,⁷ which forms part of the Āyurvedaprakāśa according to the colophons of some of its MSS,⁸ is absent from edition c. It is said to deal with mercurial and mineral preparations, and with various decoctions.⁹ One of the MSS begins with the recipe called bhatpūgapāka;¹⁰ two MSS end with the formula of mahākāmeśvaramodaka.¹¹ The Rasayogasāgara quotes a number of recipes from Mādhava's Pākāvalī.¹²

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⁷ The Pākāvalī,

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⁸ colophons of some of its MSS,

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⁹ mercurial and mineral preparations, and with various decoctions.

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¹⁰ bhatpūgapāka;

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¹¹ mahākāmeśvaramodaka.

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¹² Mādhava's Pākāvalī.

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The Āyurvedaprakāśa is quoted or referred to in the Āyurvedīya Khanijavijñāna, Gulrājśarmamiśra's Viśikhānupraveśavijñāna, Hazārīlāl Sukul's commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya, the Rasadhātuprakāśa, Rasakāmadhenu, Rasatattvavivecana, bhasmapīṭiprakaraṇa of the Rasoddhāratantra, and Yādavjī Trikamajī's Rasāmṛta and Siddhayogasampraha.

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The author is quoted as Āyurvedaprakāśakāra and Rasamādhava in Haridattaśāstrin's commentary on the Rasataraṅgiṇī, as Āyurvedaprakāśakṛt in the commentary on the Āyurvedābdhisāra, as Mādhava in the Bṛhadyogataraṅgiṇī and Aśubodha and Nityabodha Senagupta's commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya, and as Mādhavācārya in Hāzarīlāl Sukul's commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya.

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Sources mentioned in the text of the Āyurvedaprakāśa are: Bhāluki (4.57–58), Bhāskara (1.96–100), Bhāvaprakāśa (prose between 2.192 and 193), Govindapādāḥ (2.132), Nāgārjuna (2.281), Nityanātha (2.164), pāścātyāḥ (2.242), Rasahṛdaya (1.281),¹³ Rasapaddhati (prose between 4.24 and 25), Rasaratnākara (prose between 1.65 and 66), Rasārṇava (1.127),¹⁴ Siddhamata (1.299), and Trivikrama (1.186).¹⁵

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Sources mentioned in the Sanskrit commentary of Gulrājśarmamiśra are: Agniveśa (4.110–115), Ātreya (1.538),¹⁶ Bhāluki (4.58), Bhāvaprakāśa (2.188cd–192),¹⁷ Gaurīmata (5.162), Govindapādāḥ (1.262), Hārita (1.538; 4.107), Laghuyogataraṅgiṇī (2.193–203), Maheśvara (1.108–112),¹⁸ Nityanātha (1.106, 391–394, 485–489ab), Rājanighaṇṭu (2.240 and 334–335), Rasacintāmaṇi (1.105, 330–334, 428cd–435, 469cd–480),¹⁹ Rasamañjarī (2.112),²⁰ Rasapaddhati (1.35; 2.78–82, 133–135ab, 211; 3.30, 89–90, 135, 160, 198–199, 202, 255; 4.31–33, 56–57, 131, 133, 136–137; 5.4 and 23–24),²¹ Rasarājalakṣmī (1.150 and 398), Rasaratnākara (1.106, 153–160ab, 198, 209cd–213), Rasaratnasamuccaya (5.67–69ab),²² Rasavāgbhaṭa (1.523–525), Śārigadhara (1.174–179 and 205cd–209ab),²³ Siddhalakṣmīśvaratantra (1.229–230ab), Siddhamata (2.209), Śiva (1.499),²⁴ Śivāgama (1.118–121ab and 181),²⁵ Vāgbhaṭa (1.65; 2.25, 75, 123–124ab, 285; 3.31–32; 4.108–109; 6.80–85),²⁶ Vārttikakṛt (2.115), Viṣṇudharmottara (5.5–6ab), and Yogataraṅgiṇī (6.54cd–56).²⁷

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Additional authorities mentioned by P.K. Gode²⁸ are: dākṣiṇātyāḥ, Rāmarāja, and Vṛddhavāsiṣṭha.²⁹

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The number of borrowings from earlier works is much larger than indicated in ed. d.

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The Sanskrit and Hindī commentaries of Somadevaśarman on chapter one give almost all the sources of this part of the Āyurvedaprakāśa.³⁰ Mādhava appears to be heavily indebted to the author of the Rasendracintāmaṇi, from which work he borrowed extensively.³¹

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Other sources, mentioned by Somadevaśarman and absent from Gulrājśarmamiśra's commentary, are:³² Rasapaddhatīṭīkā (1.191), Rasaratnadīpikā (1.351–355), Rasaratnapradīpa (1.401–403), Rasaratnapradīpikā (1.139), Rasasaṃketakalikā (1.182, 203–205ab, 363–365, 455, 497), and Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (1.57–60).

Special features

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The author declares that the contents of his treatise are based on the words of his teacher and his own experience (1.6 and 13).³³

v3.c48.s3.2

The naisargikadoṣas or mahādoṣas of mercury are eight in number: nāga, vaṅga,

v3.c48.s3.3

mala, vahni, cāpalya, viṣa, giri, and asahyāgni;³⁴ the most important of this group are viṣa, vahni and mala (1.16–19ab). The doṣas are twelve in number according to another classification:³⁵ two yaugikadoṣas: nāga and vaṅga, seven kañcukas or aupādhikadoṣas: bhūmija, girija, vārja, two kinds of nāgaja, and two kinds of vaṅgaja, supplemented by the doṣas called viṣa, vahni and mala (1.19cd–22ab).

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The ritual preceding the alchemical enterprise is described very concisely; one should praise one's guru and pay homage to Kanyā (= Kumārī), Vaṭuka (= Bhairava), Gaṇeśa, the Yoginī, and the Kṣetrapālas (1.27cd–30ab).

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The saṃskāra called anuvāsana is described twice (1.104–105).³⁶

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Mūrchana³⁷ is of various types: nirgandha- and sagandhamūrchanā; the nirgandha type is not subdivided; sagandhamūrchanā is of three varieties: bahirdhūma-, antardhūma- and nirdhūmamūrchanā; nirdhūmamūrchanā is of five types: gandhapiṣṭi, gandhabaddharasa, gandhajīrṇarasa, gandhakajjali, and dhātupiṣṭi (1.137).³⁸ Two particular bījas, borrowed from the Siddhamata, are called lohabhekī and tārābhekī (1.298–299).³⁹ The Siddhamata employs the term bheka to designate a dhātu (1. 301).⁴⁰ The types of vedha called kuntavedha, kṣepavedha, etc., are not dealt with.⁴¹ The alchemist is advised to sell his artificial gold in the market of a city (1.327).⁴² Methods for making artificial silver and gold by means of the deposition of coloured surface-films are discussed (1.329–350: tāravatī and hemavatī vidyā).

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The bandhas of mercury receive much attention (1.351–390). The descriptions of the twenty-five bandhas are taken from the Rasaratnasamuccaya.⁴³ A disagreeing view, distinguishing four bandhas, is quoted from an unspecified source; these types are pāṭa-, khoṭa-, jalaukā- and bhasmabandha (1.363).⁴⁴ Pāṭabandha is the same as parpaṭībandha;⁴⁵ piṣṭībandha results in a khoṭaka;⁴⁶ jalaukābandha⁴⁷ is identical with pakvabandha (1.364);⁴⁸ two varieties of sūtabhasman, the product of bhasmabandha, are mentioned: ūrdhvaga and adhoga; ūrdhvagabhasman is of two kinds: rasasindūra and rasakarpūra (1.365).⁴⁹

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A process called mūrchana, but altogether different from the third saṃskāra, also known as mūrchana, makes a bhasman out of mercury (1.391–396).⁵⁰

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The twenty uparasas listed in chapter two (2.1) are the same as those mentioned in the Dhanvantarīyanighaṇṭu (7.92).⁵¹ The second series of twenty (or twenty-one) uparasas (2.347–349) is not known to me from an earlier work. The third list of eight uparasas (2.350–351) is found in the Rasahṛdaya, Rasaprakāśasudhakara, Rasendracūḍāmaṇi, and other treatises. The eight rasas (2.350) agree with those called mahārasa in the Dhanvantarīyanighaṇṭu.⁵²

v3.c48.s3.10

Four varieties of sulphur are distinguished: red (called śukaṭuṇḍa), yellow (called āmalasāra), white (called khaṭikā) and black (2.11cd–13), three varieties of cinnabar: carmāra, śukaṭuṇḍaka and haṃsapāda (2.70cd–72ab), four varieties of mica: white (= brāhmaṇa), red (= kṣatriya), yellow (= vaiśya) and black (= śūdra), four varieties of black mica: pināka, dardura, nāga and vajra (2.91–93), two varieties of haritāla: pattrākhya and piṇḍasamjñaka (2.173–175).⁵³

v3.c48.s3.11

A time-consuming way of preparing a haritālabhasman from a variety called tabakī is described according to the Siddhamata; this process, taking 441 days, results in a product that cures numerous diseases. Twenty-one different plant juices are employed;⁵⁴ the purified haritāla has to be steeped in or rubbed with each of these juices for twenty-one days, followed by heating of the powder obtained for eight days. The bhasman is claimed to cure all kinds of diseases, amongst which are eighteen disorders of the blood (raktavikāra),⁵⁵ the group of kaṭhinavikāras,⁵⁶ the mūdhavikāras,⁵⁷ phiraṅga, and the ten disorders caused by blood (raktajaroga),⁵⁸ etc. (2.209).

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The four varieties of haritāla acknowledged in the Siddhamata are bugadādi, godantī, tabakī and piṇḍatāla (2.209).

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Three varieties of manaḥśilā are described: śyāmāṅgī, kaṇavīrikā and dvikhaṇḍākhyā (2.215–217). Two varieties of sroto’ñjana are recognized by the author: sroto’ñjana, which is black, and sauvīra, which is white; another classification acknowledges five types: sroto’ñjana, sauvīra, rasāñjana, nīlāñjana and puṣpāñjana (2.225–227); the variety called kulatthikā is added (2.240–241). Capala is regarded as a sādhāraṇarasa, but hiṅgula and mṛddāraśṛṅga are not mentioned as belonging to this group (2.345). Rājāvarta, considered to be one of the uparasas or a ratna, is of two kinds: rakta and nīla (2.247–248). Two kinds of khaṭikā are described: khaṭī and gaurakhaṭī (2.264). Three varieties of gairika are distinguished: svarṇa-, sāmānya- and pāṣāṇākhyagairika (2.268–269), two varieties of kāsīsa: pāṃsu- and puṣpakāsīsa (2.273), two varieties of kharpara: dardura and kāravellaka (2.276–278ab), three varieties of kapardikā or vāratikā: red, white and yellow (2.294–295), supplemented by a black type with white spots (2.295cd–296ab), three varieties of bola: rakta, śyāma and manuṣyaja (2.306), and two varieties of kaṅkuṣṭha: nalikākhya and reṇuka (2.312). Kaṅkuṣṭha is regarded as a substance found in the Himālaya, but disagreeing opinions are given too (2.312–317). Two varieties of gauripāṣāṇa are described: a white artificial one, and a yellow, naturally occurring one (3.336–337), and two varieties of bodāraśṛṅgaka: yellow and pale (3.343).

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The metals (dhātu) are seven or nine in number; the series of seven consists of gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, lead and iron (3.1); the series of nine metals, connected with the nine grahas, comprises gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, tīkṣṇaka, āra (= pittala), kāṃsya and vartaloha (3.3–4ab). The usual varieties of gold, silver, copper, tin and lead are described. The three varieties of muṇḍaloha are mṛdu, kuṇṭha and kaḍāraka (3.206); the six varieties of tīkṣṇaloha are kharākhya, sārasamjñaka, huṇṭāla, tārāvaṭṭa, vājira, and kālaka (3.207); the five varieties of kāntaloha are bhrāmaka, cumbaka, karṣaka, drāvaka and romaka (3.208). Three varieties of vimala are described: svarṇa-, rūpya- and kāṃsyavimala (4.27), two varieties of pittala (brass): rājaritikā and kākatuṇḍī (4.69). The alloy, called pañcaloha or bharta, consists of bronze (kāṃsya), brass (pittala), copper, lead and tin (4.83).

v3.c48.s3.15

Śilājatu has its origin in rocks or an alkaline earth (4.93); the first kind is of four varieties: sauvarṇa, rājata, tāmra and āyasa (4.94–98); another kind of śilājatu, used in fireworks (agnibāṇa),⁵⁹ is called soraka (4.133). The usual four varieties of capala are mentioned: white, black, yellowish green (harit) and red (4.136).

v3.c48.s3.16

The nine major gems (ratna) are, according to a quotation from the Rasapaddhati: vajra (diamond), vidruma (coral), mauktika (pearl), marakata (emerald), vaidūrya, gomedaka, māṇikya (ruby), harinīla (sapphire), and puṣpadraḍ (topaz); the same

v3.c48.s3.17

series is found in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, cited by Mādhava (5.4–6ab). Minor gems (uparatna) mentioned by name are: vaikrānta, sūryakānta, candrakānta, rājāvarta, lāla,⁶⁰ peroja, muktāśukti, śaṅkha, karpūrāsman, and coloured glass (kācaja maṇi) (5.6–8). Two varieties of peroja (turquoise) are described: bhasmāṅga and harita (5.148); eight varieties of vaikrānta are referred to (5.164).

v3.c48.s3.18

The ten poisons, derived from bulbous or tuberous plants (kandabhava), which may be used in medicine (saumya), are: saktuka, mustaka, kaurma, dārvīka, sārṣapa, saikata, vatsanābha and śvetaśṛṅgī (6.11); the ten ugra poisons to be avoided in medicine are: kālakūṭa, ṛṣaśṛṅgī, darduraka, hālāhala, karkoṭī, granthi, hāridra, raktaśṛṅgī, kesara, and yamadaṃṣṭrā (6.20–21). The nine vegetable poisons distinguished by other authorities are: vatsanābha, hāridra, saktuka, pradīpana, śṛṅgika, kālakūṭa, saurāṣṭrika, and hālāhala; they are said to be found in mountainous regions, in haridrā regions,⁶¹ in the mountains, in flat regions, in Surāṣṭra, in the vicinity of kapilā riverbanks, in Ahicchatra, on the mountain Kiṣkindha, and on the mountain called Brahma respectively (6.40).⁶² The minor poisons of vegetable origin (upaviṣa) are seven in number: arka, sehuṇḍa, dhattūra, lāṅgalī, karavīra, guñjā, and ahiphena (6.108); their number is nine according to other authorities: arka, snuh (= sehuṇḍa), lāṅgalī, guñjā, mayāri (= karavīra), viṣamuṣṭi, āphena (= ahiphena), unmatta (= dhattūra), and jepāla (6.111). An added item is bhaṅgā.

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The extent to which the Āyurvedaprakāśa consists of quotations from earlier treatises is, in particular, elucidated in Somadevaśarman’s commentary. The glosses in prose can be attributed to Mādhava himself, who does not hesitate to give his own opinion on some issues⁶³ and refers to the tradition established by his guru.⁶⁴ The views adopted by him are repeatedly indicated, followed by disagreeing opinions.

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