A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c48.s3.6

v3.c48.s3.6

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).