Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48.s2: The author

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48.s2

Language
English

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).

v3.c48.s2.17

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).

v3.c48.s2.18

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

v3.c48.s2.19

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

v3.c48.s2.20

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

v3.c48.s2.21

⁷ The Pākāvalī,

v3.c48.s2.22

⁸ colophons of some of its MSS,

v3.c48.s2.23

⁹ mercurial and mineral preparations, and with various decoctions.

v3.c48.s2.24

¹⁰ bhatpūgapāka;

v3.c48.s2.25

¹¹ mahākāmeśvaramodaka.

v3.c48.s2.26

¹² Mādhava's Pākāvalī.

v3.c48.s2.27

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.

v3.c48.s2.28

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.

v3.c48.s2.29

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

v3.c48.s2.30

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

v3.c48.s2.31

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

v3.c48.s2.32

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

v3.c48.s2.33

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

v3.c48.s2.34

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).

Linked texts (20)