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A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c49: Chapter 5: Rasajalanidhi

A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c49

Language
English

Contents

Chapter 5: Rasajalanidhi

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The Rasajalanidhi by Bhūdeva Devaśarman (Bhudeb Mookerji) 1 is an extensive work in Sanskrit verse and prose, accompanied by an English translation, on all the aspects of alchemy and iatrochemistry.

Contents

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Volume I consists of eight chapters, preceded by a maṅgala.

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Chapter one (rasasādhanasya prayojanāni; 6–17) deals with the qualifications of a teacher and his disciple, the construction of the laboratory (rasaśālā), the rasaliṅga and its worship, and the equipment (upakaraṇāni) of the laboratory. Chapter two (śi-ṣyopanayana; 18–26) is on the initiation of a student. Chapter three (rasaprasaṅga; 27–36) begins with a eulogy of mercury, followed by verses on the various kinds of mercury and the meaning of its names.

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Chapter four (pāradaprasaṅga; 7–220) deals with the blemishes of mercury (7–8), the eighteen saṃskāras (39–40), śodhana (40–51), svedana (51–53), mardana (54–56), uddhṛti (56–57), 2 ūrdhvapātana (57–60), adhapātana (60–61), adhapātana followed by ūrdhvapātana (61–63), tiryakpātana (63), rodhana or nirodha (63–66), niyāmana (66–69), dīpana (69–71), anuvāsana (71), the plants called rasamūlikā (72–73), two easy ways of complete purification of mercury (73–75), grāsana (75–93; verses on the preparation of viḍas 3 and a viḍavatī form part of this section), gandhakajāra-ṇa (94–98), abhrakasattvajāraṇa (98–99), mūrchanā (99–126; the preparation of rasasindūra, rasakarpūra, pītarasa, kṛṣṇarasa, parpaṭīrasa, rasatālaka, makaradhvaja, and svarṇasindūra forms part of this section), bandhana (126–129), saṃcāraṇa (129–130), garbhadṛuti (130–132), jāraṇa (132–142; related subjects dealt with are the vajramūṣā, viḍas, and a viḍavatī), grāsamāna (140–141), māraṇa (142–156), bhasmī-karaṇa (156–176), the medicinal uses of mercurial ashes (bhasman) and the anupānas to be taken (176–190), a few rasayogas (190–192: vajrapaṅjarasa, pañcāmṛta), the regimen that precedes the taking of mercurial preparations (192–195: kṣetrīkaraṇa), rules accompanying their use (195–205), the disorders resulting from improper use of mercury and the treatment of these disorders (205–213), niyāmaka plants (214), the plants called mūlikā (215–217), and plants and substances used in the killing (māraṇa) of mercury (217–220).

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Chapter five (rasarañjana; 221–249) is concerned with the processes called rañjana (221–222), sāraṇā (222–236), saṃkrāmaṇa (236), and vedhana (237–249). Chapter six (yantrāṇi; 250–298) describes yantras and koṣṭhikās (250–285), crucibles (mūṣā; 285– 293), and puṭas (293–298). Chapter seven (299–320) contains a series of definitions (paribhāṣā; 299–309), followed by verses on weights and measures (309–311). The second part of the chapter is devoted to the bandhas of mercury (311–320). Chapter eight (321–350) describes methods of making gold and silver; it ends with some verses on the bleaching (śvetīkaraṇa) of copper.

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Volume II consists of four chapters, preceded by a maṅgala. Chapters one to three are about the uparasas, chapter four deals with some of the metals.

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Chapter one (2–129) begins with an enumeration of the uparasas, divided into three groups: (a) substances to be purified and killed: vajrābhra, the two kinds of mākṣika, vimala, śilājatu, tutthaka, sasyaka, capala, and rasaka; (b) substances used in mercurial operations: gandha, gairika, kāsīsa, kānkṣī, tāla, śīlā, añjana, and kaṅkuṣṭha; (c) substances having some properties in common with mercury and therefore called sādhāraṇarasas: kampilla, gauripāṣāṇa, navasāraka, kaparda, vahnijāra, girisindūra, hiṅgula, mṛddāraśṛṅga, and bhūnāga.

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The subjects of chapter one are: mica (abhraka), its four usual varieties, its purification, the preparation of dhānyābhra, the killing of mica, the amṛtīkaraṇa of the ashes, plants and some substances employed in the killing of mica, the medicinal uses of the ashes of mica, the extraction of the essence, its purification and killing, the softening (mṛdūkaraṇa) of essences, the liquefaction (druti) of mica, the transmutation (vedha) of base metals by means of mica (3–60); the varieties, purification, killing, the extraction of the essence, etc., of mākṣika (61–77), vimala (77–83), śilājatu (83–104), tuttha (104–110), sasyaka (110–115), capala (115–118), and rasaka or kharpara (118–129).

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The subjects of chapter two (130–210) are: sulphur (gandhaka), its varieties, purification, the uses of purified sulphur, the preparation of gandhataila, the removal of the bad smell, and the transmutation of metals by means of sulphur (130–149); the varieties, purification, the extraction of the essence, and medicinal uses of gairika (146–149), kāsīsa (149–152), kānkṣī or tuvarī (152–154), haritāla (155–196), manaḥśilā (196–201), añjana (201–207), and kaṅkuṣṭha (207–210).

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The subjects of chapter three (211–236) are: kampilla and its purification; the purification of sādhāraṇarasas in general (211–212); the purification, etc., of gauripāṣāṇa (213–214), navasāra (214–216), varāṭikā or kapardī (216–219), śaṅkha (219–221), agnijāra (221–222), girisindūra (222–224), hiṅgula (cinnabar) (224–233), mṛddāraśṛṅga (233–234), and bhūnāgas (234–236).

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Chapter four (237–288) is concerned with gold, silver and copper. The chapter begins with an enumeration of the seven metals (dhātu, loha): gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, tin and lead, and the three alloys (miśraloha): pittala, kāṃsya and vartaka. The subjects of chapter four are: the varieties and properties, purification, killing, etc., of gold (237–259), silver (259–273), and copper (273–288).

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Volume III is divided into eleven chapters.

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Chapter one, preceded by a maṅgala, is devoted to iron and maṇḍūra (3–95). Its subjects are: the properties of iron, its seven natural blemishes, its varieties, purification, killing (bhānupāka, sthalīpāka, puṭapāka are also dealt with; the items of a number of gaṇas are enumerated), niruttīkaraṇa and amṛtīkaraṇa of the ashes, the uses of the ashes, liquefaction of iron (3–91); maṇḍūra, its properties, varieties and uses, its purification and liquefaction (91–95).

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Chapter two (96–140) is devoted to the varieties, properties, purification, killing, etc., of zinc (96–101), tin (101–120), and lead (120–140).

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The subjects of chapter three (140–158) are: the three alloys, their purification and killing (140–152); triloha, its purification, killing and uses (152–153); the extraction of the essence of bhūnāga and the uses of this essence (kharasattva; 153–157).

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Chapter four (159–259) is devoted to the ratnas and uparatnas (precious and semi-precious stones). Sixteen ratnas are enumerated: vajra (diamond), marakata (emerald), māṇikya (ruby), mauktika (pearl), nīlamaṇi (sapphire), gomeda (zircon), vaidūrya (cat’s eye), dagdhahīraka or vaikrānta (garnet), sphaṭika (quartz), candrakānta (moonstone), sūryakānta (sunstone), pravālaka (coral), karketa (chrysoberyl), puṣparāga (topaz), rājāvarta (lapis lazuli), and bhīṣmaka (a kind of quartz); seven uparatnas are mentioned: pālaṅka (onyx), rudhira (carnelian), pūti(kā) or putrikā (peridote), tārkṣaja (turquoise), pīlu (jade), upala (opal, chalcedony and agate), and sugandhika (spinel) (159–160).

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The subjects dealt with are: diamonds, their classification, characteristics, blemishes, purification, killing, etc. (163–187), the purification and killing of gems in general (188–195), marakata (196–201), māṇikya (201–209), pearls (209–217), nīla (217–220), gomeda (220–223), vaidūrya (223–226), vaikrānta (226–235), sphaṭika (235–237), candrakānta and sūryakānta (238–239), pravāla (240–242), karketa (242–244), puṣparāga (245–248), rājāvarta (248–251), bhīṣmaka or bhīṣmamaṇi (251–252), and the uparatnas (252–259).

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Chapter five (260–282) deals with groups of alkaline substances (kṣāra), their sources, general properties, yavakṣāra, ūṣara, miśrakṣāra, svarjikṣāra, ṭaṅkaṇa, the uses of kṣāra, the preparation of kṣāra, more groups of kṣāras.

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Chapter six (283–291) is about salts (lavaṇa); six types are distinguished: sāmudra, saindhava, viḍa, sauvarcala, romaka, and cūlikālavaṇa.

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Chapter seven (292–329) describes poisonous substances (viṣa). Ten sources of sthāvaraviṣa (poisons of vegetable origin and inorganic substances) are distinguished: roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, barks, milky juices, woods, exudates (niryāsa), tubers, and metals. The usual eighteen poisonous tubers are enumerated and described (292–303).⁴ The eight tuber poisons that may be used for medicinal purposes are divided into brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra types. The disorders caused by poisonous substances and the treatment of these disorders are dealt with. The purification and killing of tuber poisons are described, followed by rules about the medicinal uses of poisonous substances. The chapter ends with poisons of animal origin, especially snake venom.

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⁴ text of the note

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Chapter eight (330–360) gives an account of the minor poisons (upaviṣa), their purification and uses (330–351); the thirteen minor poisons (of vegetable origin) are: snuhī, arka, lāṅgalī, guñjā, karavīra, viṣamuṣṭi, dhāttūra, jayapāla, bhallātaka, nirviṣā, ativiṣā, ahiphena, and jayā (= bhaṅgā).⁵ The second part of the chapter is concerned with the treatment of disorders caused by upaviṣas (351–357), the purification of a number of seeds, guggulu, and leeches (357–360).

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⁵ text of the note

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Chapter nine (361–369) is about the extraction of oil (tailapātana) from a number of seeds.

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Chapter ten (370–383) describes fermented fluids (samdhāna), which are divided into three groups: (1) alcoholic, (2) non-alcoholic, medicated, (3) non-alcoholic and non-medicated. The first group (madya) consists of gauḍī, mādhvī, paiṣṭī, kādambarī, vāruṇī, mādhūkī, maireyī, and mārdvīka; the second group consists of the āsavas and ariṣṭas; the third group consists of sīdhu, śukta, dhānyāmla, kāñjika, guḍaśukta, cukra, tuṣāmbu, sauvīra, āranāla, and śiṇḍākī.

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Chapter eleven (384–390) contains definitions of śulvanāga, varaloha, ghoṣā-kṛṣṭatāmra, cullakā, patangirāga, āvāpa, abhiṣeka, nirvāpa, śuddhāvarta, bījāvarta, svāngaśītala, and bahiḥśīta. The chapter ends with a list of thirty-seven Rasasiddhas.

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Volume IV consists of six chapters, preceded by a maṅgala and prayer to the author’s iṣṭadeva.

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Chapter one (3–35) is about rules regarding diet and behaviour, followed by general rules about the taking of medicines, in particular rasayogas. Chapters two to six deal with a number of diseases, their aetiology, symptoms and treatment, in particular the treatment with rasas.

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Volume V begins with a maṅgala again, followed by a large number of adhikāras, devoted to the aetiology, symptoms and treatment, in particular the treatment with rasas, of many diseases.

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Authorities, referred to in the Rasajalanidhi, are: Ādima (III, 65),⁶ Bhāluki (II, 207), Brahmajyotis (III, 181),⁷ Candrasena (III, 183⁸ and 245),⁹ Nandin (I, 265 and 271; II, 147), Lakṣmīśvara (II, 245),¹⁰ Rāmacandra (III, 4–5),¹¹ Śambhu (I, 280), Somadeva (III, 156),¹² Śukra (III, 65),¹³ and Suśruta (III, 279).

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The list of thirty-seven Rasasiddhas (III, 389–390) consists of: Ādima, Anantadevasūri,¹⁴ Bhāskara, Bhūdeva,¹⁵ Brahmā, Brahmajyotis,¹⁶ Candrasena, Daṇḍin,¹⁷ Gomukha, Govinda, Hari, Indrada, Kambali, Kāpālika, Kāpālin, Khaṇḍa, Lambaka, Laṅkeśa, Māṇḍavya, Manthānabhairava, Matta, Nāgabodhi, Nāgārjuna, Nandirāja, Naravāhana, Nityanātha,¹⁸ Rāma,¹⁹ Ratnakośa, Śambhu, Sāttvika, Somadeva,²⁰ Śukrācārya,²¹ Surānanda, Śūrasenaka, Vāgbhaṭa,²² Vyāḍi, and Yaśodhara.

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Apart from the authorities referred to, sources are not indicated by the author. Some of the texts from which verses were borrowed are: Rasacintāmaṇi,²³ Rasaratna,²⁴ Rasaratnākara,²⁵ Rasaratnasamuccaya,²⁶ Rasārṇava,²⁷ Rasasāra,²⁸ Rasendracintāmaṇi,²⁹ Rasendracūḍāmaṇi,³⁰ and Rasendrasārasaṃgraha.³¹

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The Rasajalanidhi is one of the sources of the Rasavidyāmahārṇava.

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Hariprapanna is mentioned in Hazārīlāl Sukul’s commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya.

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The eighteen saṃskāras are: śodhana, svedana, mardana, uddhṛti, pātana, rodhana, niyāmana, dīpana, anuvāsana, grāsana, mūrchana, saṃcāraṇa, garbhadṛuti, jāraṇa, māraṇa, bhasmīkaraṇa, rañjana, and vedhana (I, 39).³² A type of vedha, added to those borrowed from the Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (4.107cd–111), is sparśavedha (I, 248–249).

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The svedanī- and kaṇḍukayantra are regarded as identical (I, 251).³³ The same applies to the vidyādhara- and pātanāyantra (I, 251–252).³⁴ Yantras added to the series found in the Rasaratnasamuccaya are: khalacarīyantra (I, 268), jalayantra (I, 272–273), ṭaṅkaṇayantra (I, 279), pātālayantra (I, 279–280), tejoyantra (I, 280), gaurīyantra (I, 282), cakrayantra (I, 283), nāḍikāyantra (I, 284), and vāruṇīyantra (I, 285). The hiṅgulākṛṣṭiyantra and valabhīyantra of the Rasaratnasamuccaya are absent.

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Two series of plants and some other substances which are helpful in killing mica are enumerated (II, 29 and 37).

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Mākṣika is said to be found along the river Tāpī, in Kirāta, Cīna and Kānyakubja (II, 61); three varieties are mentioned: svarṇamākṣika, yellow in colour, vimala, red in colour, and tāramākṣika, white in colour; dependent on its shape, four varieties are distinguished (II, 62–63).

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A kind of copper, called nāgatāmra, can be extracted from peacock’s feathers; a ring, made from this material, cures śūla and overcomes all sorts of poison (II, 108–110).

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Four varieties of kāsīsa are described: (a) vālukākāsīsa, white in colour; (b) puṣpa- or padmakāsīsa, yellow in colour; (c) dhātu- or muktakāsīsa, black in colour; (d) a green variety (II, 149–150). Two varieties of kāṅkṣī, tuvarī or saurāṣṭrī are distinguished: piṭikā and phullikā or phullatuvarī; gopīcandana is one of the names of kāṅkṣī (II, 152); the essence of tuvarī is called sphaṭikā (II, 154). Haritāla is of four kinds: pattra- and piṇḍaharitāla, godanta, vakadāla (II, 155). Manaḥśilā is of three kinds: śyāmāṅgī, kaṇavirakā and khaṇḍākhyā (II, 196). Añjana is of six kinds: sauvīrāñjana, nīlāñjana, rasāñjana, sroto’ñjana, kulatthāñjana and puṣpāñjana (II, 201); three types of rasāñjana are distinguished (II, 203). Gaurīpāṣāṇa is also called dārumūṣaka, mūṣaka and sambala; a red, yellow and white variety are distinguished (II, 213). A varāṭī or kapardī is killed by means of an apparatus called pāṇikāyantra (II, 219). Girisindūra is regarded as an upadhātu of lead; two varieties are distinguished: girisindūra and nāgasindūra (II, 222–223).³⁵

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King Rāmacandra is said to have distinguished eight kinds of iron: sāmānya, krauñca, kāliṅga, bhadra, vajra, pāṇḍi, nīrava and kānta (III, 4–5). The three usual types of iron are described: muṇḍa, tīkṣṇa and kānta. The three varieties of muṇḍa are mṛdu, kuṇṭha and kaḍāra (III, 6); the six varieties of tīkṣṇa are khara, sāra, hṛnnāla, tārāpaṭṭa, vajraka and kālalauha (III, 7); the five varieties of kānta are bhrāmaka, cumbaka, karṣaka, drāvaka and romakānta (III, 14–15). Curved lines on the surface of steel are called pogara (III, 8–9). Plants helpful in the killing of iron are gaṇḍinikā (also called sālahañcī, haritaparṇī and martakalambukā), kuṭhāracinna, vikaṅkata and raktamāriṣa (III, 63–64). One method of killing iron, resulting in a product called sudhāsāgaralauha, has to be continued for 4,380 days and requires the juice of 4,380 different plants (III, An apparatus called bhṛṣṭayantra is employed in one of the operations leading to the killing of lead (III, 132). Rītikā (brass) is of two varieties: rājarītikā, consisting of two parts of copper and one part of zinc, and brahmārīti or kākatuṇḍī, an alloy of copper, zinc, and lead (III, 141). The alloy called triloha is composed of twenty-five parts of gold, sixteen parts of silver, and ten parts of copper (III, 152).

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A particular gem, called bhallāta, is said to resemble an emerald (III, 201). Three kinds of sphaṭika are described: mandakāntika (found in the Vindhyas), a black kind (found in Sri Lanka), and jyotīrasa; the last kind is of three varieties: rājāvarta, rājamaya and brahmamaya (III, 236). Upala is of three kinds: marmarāśman (chalcedony), varopala (opal) and rudhirapālaṅka (agate); a white marmarāśman is called karpūramaṇi; a black variety of upala is called bhramaramaṇi (III, 257–258).

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Treatment with duly purified poison is said to cure the eight types of kuṣṭha; the unusual series of eight kuṣṭhas consists of puṇḍarīka, visphoṭa, śveta, audumbara, chinnabhinna, kāpālākhya, klinnāhva and śavagandhi (III, 319).

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The chapter on upaviṣas (III, 330–360) enumerates many names of the poisonous plants described; five varieties of karavīra are distinguished (III, 337) and four varieties of opium (III, 348); the resin from the flowers of hemp (i.e., hashish) is called gañjārasa (III, 351).

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A fermented fluid not known from other texts is jāli (III, 381).³⁶

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The order of the diseases in volumes IV and V does not agree with any of the current arrangements.³⁷

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The author and his date

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The name of the author is Bhūdeva Devaśarman Mukhopādhyāya. He was a brāhmaṇa of Bhāradvājagotra, a son of Harilāla and Nistāriṇī, and was born in Bengal, in a village called Hastiśāla on the banks of the river Mayūrākṣī, in the year 1885. The author mentions Śrīharṣa, who composed the Naiṣadhacarita, as one of his forefathers.³⁸

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Bhūdeva Mukhopādhyāya (Bhudeb Mookerjee) was a practising āyurvedic physician in Calcutta.

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The Rasakāmadhenu

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The Rasakāmadhenu by Cūḍāmaṇi¹ is a compilation, based on earlier texts devoted to alchemy and iatrochemistry.

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Contents²

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The Rasakāmadhenu consists of four sections: upakaraṇapāda (seven chapters), dhātusamgrahapāda (five chapters), sūtakriyāpāda (nine chapters), and cikitsāpāda (fifty-nine chapters). Sections one to three comprise 5,566 verses, interspersed with comments in prose. The verses are borrowed from a large number of sources, mostly mentioned by name; the prose is added by the author.

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The subjects of the chapters (adhikāra) of the upakaraṇapāda are: (1) the alchemical apparatus, implements, etc. (yantra; 179 verses); (2) the fire place (culhī), fuel, puṭas, weights and measures, vessels, etc. (culhyādiprakīrṇa; 73 verses); (3) plants used in alchemical operations (vanauṣadhi; 138 verses); (4) major and minor poisons (viṣa and upaviṣa), substances of animal origin (jaṅgamavarga), oils (taila), various groups of substances, salts and caustics, bidas, and rañjana (viṣajaṅgamavasā-pittatailamalamūtraṣāralavaṇabīḍarāga; 311 1/2 verses); (5) the preparation of bījas (bījasādhana; 141 1/2 verses); (6) the making of mixtures (dvandvamelana), krāmaṇa and rañjana (dvandvamelakrāmaṇarañjana; 182 verses); (7) the teacher, the sādhaka and his female companion, the initiation (dīkṣā), the rasaliṅga and its worship, behavioural rules (ācāra) (rasasādhanopāyakathana; 170 verses).

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The subjects of the chapters of the dhātusamgrahapāda are: (1) the metals, their purification, killing, uses, etc. (sarvalohavidhāna; 923 verses); (2) the gems (maṇi or ratna), their purification, killing, liquefaction (druti), etc. (maṇiratnaśaṅkhavarāṭikādividhana; 167 verses); (3) the mahārasas, their purification, the extraction of their sattvas, their killing, etc. (mahārasāṣṭakavidhāna; 384 verses); (4) the uparasas, their purification, the extraction of their sattvas, their uses, etc. (uparasavidhāna; 273 verses); (5) salts and caustics (lavaṇakṣāra; 50 verses).

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The subjects of the chapters of the sūtakriyāpāda are: (1) the names of mercury, its eulogy, origin and varieties, a māhātmya devoted to mercury, the blemishes of mercury and the disorders caused by them (rasanāmabhedamāhātmyaguṇadoṣanirūpaṇa; 78 verses); (2) the saṃskāras, their number, short descriptions of the saṃskāras (rasasaṃskāravivekalakṣaṇasaṃsepakathana; 99 verses); (3) śodhana, svedana, mardana, mūrchana, pātana, nirodhana, niyamana, and dīpana (rasarājāṣṭasaṃskārakathana;

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190 verses); (4) jāraṇa and related subjects (sūtajāraṇa; 372 verses); (5) additional information on the divine herbs (divyauṣadhi) and their uses (496 1/2 verses); (6) jāraṇa of gems (ratna) for the purpose of rañjana (ratnādijāraṇa; 108 verses); (7) the types of bandha (baddhajāraṇa; 692 verses); (8) the preparation of various pills (guṭikā; 210 verses); (9) sāraṇa, māraṇa, vedha, sevā (sāraṇādi; 329 verses).

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The subjects of the chapters of the cikitsāpāda are: the nidāna and therapy of (1) jvara, (2) dāha, (3) tṛṣṇā, (4) mūrchā, (5) apasmāra, (6) unmāda, (7) madātyaya, (8) pāṇḍurogādi, (9) raktapitta, (10) chardi, (11) amlapitta, (12) arocaka, (13) agniroga, (14) saṃgrahaṇī, (15) atisāra, (16) ānāha, (17) udāvarta, (18) urograha, (19) hṛdroga, (20) kṛmi, (21) śūla, pariṇāmaśūla, annadravapittaśūla, jaratpittaśūla, (22) gulma, (23) udara, (24) śotha, (25) ślīpada, (26) aṇḍavṛddhi, (27) galagaṇḍa, gaṇḍamālā, apacī, arbuda, (28) medoroga, (29) prameha and pramehapiḍakā, (30) mūtrakṛcchra, (31) mūtrāghāta and aśmarī, (32) kṣayaroga and rājayakṣman, (33) kāsa, (34) śvāsa, (35) hikkā, (36) svarabheda, (37) vātavyādhi, (38) āmavāta, (39) vātarakta, (40) kuṣṭha, (41) śitapitta, udarda, koṭha (42) kodrava and masūrikā, (43) kṣudraroga, (44) śūkaroga, (45) upadamśa, (46) arśas, (47) bhagandara, (50) vidradhi, (51) śarīravraṇa, (52) āgantukavraṇa, (53) nāḍīvraṇa, (54) dagdhavraṇa and snāyuroga, (55) netraroga, (56) ūrdhvajatrugataroga, (57) strīroga and somaroga, (58) bālaroga, (59) viṣa, (60) sāmānyavidhividhāna.³

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The last chapter deals with general subjects: the doṣas, their excitation, general remedial measures (sveda, virecana, vamana, raktamokṣa, laṅghana, dhūma, nasya, vraṇopakrama, śastrakarman, etc.).

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The works and authorities quoted or referred to are:⁴ the author's own Abhidhānākāmadhenu (I.4.5–6, 167–172, 175cd–182ab; II.1.65cd–69ab, 162–167ab, 690–695ab; 4.4–5), also quoted as Kāmadhenu (II.2.1–2 and 6–7; 3.218, 261, 276, 282, 319–321ab; 4.16–17ab, 173cd–175ab, 189, 194–197ab, 239–240; 5.1–9ab; III.1.1–2), Ajīrṇamañjarī (I.4.166),⁵ Ayurvedaprakāśa (II.1.168–170; 4.241–242),⁶ Bhāluki (II.4.220), the author's own Bhāvacintāmaṇi (I.4.4 and 145; II.1.197–198, 666–671, 695–699, 720; 2.8 and 35–39; 3.72; 4.20, 175–176, 201–203, 211–212, 238; III.1.34–37), Candrajñānatantra (mantras between I.7.141 and 142),⁷ Caraka (prose between II.1.689 and 690;⁸ 3.332–333, prose between 342 and 343), Devanāthamīśra (II.4.31–34; III.2.38),⁹ Devendragiri (I.1.69 and 157–158; 4.201cd–203ab; 5.30; 6.26–34; prose between 7.46 and 47; II.1.132–133ab and 576–580; 3.84–85; prose between III.4.39cd and 40; 7.472cd–489ab; 9.212), Devendragiri's Rasāyanasārasaṃgraha (I.5.136–141; II.1.256–267ab),¹⁰ Devendragirisamgraha (II.1.46, 498–505, 735–736; 3.67–68ab and 124–127; 4.26cd–29; III.7.32cd–36, 78–80ab, 112cd–119, 125cd–151, 249cd–252ab, 302–308; 8.55–68 and 73–117; 9.39cd–50 and 97–100ab),¹¹ Devīyāmala (1.66–69ab; 2.1–4; 4.311; 5.136cd; II.1.874–879; 3.149–157ab; 4.57–60ab and 230–231ab; III.2.36 and 39–47; 9.74–78),¹² Dhanvantariya (II.1.98),¹³ Gorakṣamata (II.3.362–367), Hemacandra (prose between IV.9.242 and 243), Kakṣāpuṭi (III.5.316),¹⁴ Lohapaddhati (II.1.78–79, 668–675ab, 685–687, prose between 690 and 690, 699–702, 719, 723–724, 758–807; 3.69–71 and 80–82),¹⁵ Lohasāstra (II.1.675–685ab), Manthānabhairava (I.3.54), Nāgārjuna (II.3.287), Nighaṇṭurāja (I.4.149),¹⁶ Purandararahasya (II.3.360–361), Rasacintāmaṇi

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(I.4.240–256ab; II.1.81–83, 109–111ab, 317–318, 320–321, 349–403, 428–456, 478–482, 495–497, 519cd–521, 533–575, 610–647, 752–754, 852–860, 911–915; 2.125–127 and 133–137; 3.162–167ab, 246cd–248, 307cd–310; 4.104–173ab, 218, 252–254, 273; III.3.147–150ab and 160cd–163; 4.7–20, 37–40ab, 169cd–177ab, 264–268; 7.120–122, 212ab–220, 319–363, 431–454ab; 8.37cd–49ab and 118–131ab),¹⁷ Rasadarpaṇa (I.1.61–62ab; II.1.101–108; 3.383; III.1.44; 3.59), Rasahṛdaya (often), Rasālaṃkāra (III.5.287cd–291), Rasamañjarī (often), Rasamārtaṇḍa (I.4.2–3ab, 83–84, 174cd–175ab, 239, 300cd–304ab; 7.45–46; II.2.31cd–35ab; 3.311–312; III.2.20–22; 3.2 and 5cd–7ab; 9.313–328), Rasāmṛta (II.1.4–5ab, 20, 74, 889–897ab), Rasapaddhati (often), Rasapaddhatiṭīkā (often), Rasapradīpa (II.1.506), Rasarahasya (III.5.280cd–287ab), Rasarājahamsa (II.4.21–22; III.4.177cd–178ab), Rasarājalakṣmī (I.4.150–158ab, 191–197, 203cd–211; II.1.34–43ab; 3.2cd–4ab; prose between 3.4 and 5, 24cd–26ab, 221, 265cd–270ab; 4.3; III.1.40; 3.7cd–9ab; 4.113–139 and 312–325ab; 7.204–205), Rasaratna (II.1.111cd–116), Rasaratnadīpikā (III.3.1; 8.49cd–54), Rasaratnākara (often), Rasaratnapradīpa (II.1.518cd–519ab; III.4.198–200; 7.203), Rasaratnapradīpikā (I.5.21–22; II.1.918–923; 4.30; III.1.55; 3.25cd–27, 80cd–81, 103–104; 4.187cd–189ab and 211–214; 5.343–344), Rasaratnasamuccaya (I.1.25–29ab), Rasārṇava (often), Rasasamketakalikā (I.4.51–52ab, 62cd–63, 74cd–75ab, 77cd–80ab; II.1.73cd, 117–119, 171, 308–309, 314, 322–326, 465, 689, 866–870ab; 3.135 and 215; III.1.12cd–15), Rasasāra (often), Rasavāgbhaṭa (I.1.130cd–131; III.4.164cd–169ab), Rasāyanasārasamgraha (II.1.599cd–601ab; III.7.182cd–202),¹⁸ Rasendracintāmaṇi (often), Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (often), Rudrayāmala (III.3.165cd–185; 4.236–241), Śaivālābhakṣya(mata) (I.1.133–144; II.3.359), Somadeva (I.3.54),¹⁹ Somanāthasamgraha (II.1.344cd–347),²⁰ Suśruta (I.4.9; prose between 4.35 and 36; II.5.17; prose between 5.29 and 30), Trilocana (prose between I.2.40 and 41), Vāgbhaṭa (prose between II.3.342 and 343), Vaidyakalpadruma (II.1.472cd–477, 511cd–514ab, 885cd–888; 3.170cd–174, 233, 335cd–338ab, prose between 377 and 378; 4.69cd–72ab and 215–216), Vaidyakalpataru (II.1.182–184ab), and Yāmala (I.1.161–164; II.4.190–192ab).

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Some quotations are from a source not mentioned by name.²¹ Variants of verses quoted are occasionally referred to in the comments of Cūḍāmaṇi.²²

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The Rasakāmadhenu is, in spite of its compilatory character, an interesting and valuable work. The quotations abound in readings which may profitably be compared with those of the manuscripts and editions of the works cited.²³ The Rasakāmadhenu also contains numerous passages from less well-known treatises.

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Particularly interesting are the quotations from the Abhidhānākāmadhenu and Bhāvacintāmaṇi, written by Cūḍāmaṇi himself, and those from the Rasāyanasārasamgraha or Devendragirisamgraha by Devendragiri. The Abhidhānākāmadhenu is one of the sources of the Pāradasamhitā; it is quoted in one of the pariśiṣṭas of the Ānandakanda.²⁴ The Bhāvacintāmaṇi is cited in Hāzarīlāl Sukul's commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya. Devendragiri and his Rasāyanasārasamgraha are quoted in Gulrājśarmamiśra's commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa.

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The passages from the Abhidhānākāmadhenu show that it was an alchemical nighaṇṭu in verse, dealing with the origin, names and varieties of many substances employed in alchemical operations. Distinctive features of the Abhidhānakāmadhenu are, for example: sixteen poisons of vegetable origin, which constitute an unusual series: viṣa, hālāhala, brahmaputra, saurāṣṭrakāhvaya, pradīpana, dārādākhya, kākola, śauktikeyaka, ahicchattra, meṣaśṛṅga, kuṣṭha, haimavata, pippala, pātāla, malina, and kambala (I.4. 5–6); groups of kṣāras, consisting of up to ten items (4.175cd–179); twelve varieties of tīkṣṇaloha: khara, yogala or yogara, vājara, honnāla, pāraśava, sāndra, sāra, auṇḍra, kāliṅga, bhadra, pāṇḍya, and kṛṣṇāyas (II.1.690–695ab); some of the names of rasaka: jasada, caura, śīśakākāra, kharpara, kharparikā, kiṭibha, hematāraja (I.4.282); the series of uparasas: gandha, tāla, śīla, saumya, 25 añjana, 26 tuttha, abdhiphenaka, khaga (= kāsīsa), sindūra, girija, khaṭī, aśman, kācamṛttikā, sphaṭikā, goja, kaṅkuṣṭha, rājāvarta, the salts and the caustics (II.4.4–5).

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The Bhāvacintāmaṇi was concerned with the merits and defects (guṇas and doṣas) of these substances. This work also listed the items belonging to some groups of substances; an example is the vidvarga (I.4.145).

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Devendragiri’s Rasāyanasārasaṃgraha was, as appears from the quotations, a complete alchemical treatise in verse, containing independent descriptions of many processes; Devendragiri’s views deviated in some respects from those of earlier authorities. 27

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The Rasakāmadhenu is quoted in the prakīrṇaka pariśiṣṭa of the Ānandakanda, Gulrājśarmamiśra’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa, the Āyurvedīya Khanijavijñāna, Hazārīlāl Sukul’s commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya, Narendranātha’s Capalanirṇaya, incorporated in the Rasataraṅgiṇī, and in the Rasatattvavivecana. It was one of the sources of the Bheṣajasamhitā, Devasimha Viṭṭhal’s Bṛhadasavāriṣṭasaṃgraha, Harīśaraṇānanda’s Kūpīpakvavasanirmāṇavijñāna, the Pāradasamhitā, Rasadhātuprakāśa, Rasayogasāgara, Rasendrasambhava, Rasoddhāratantra, and Somadevasarman’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa.

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Cūḍāmaṇi is quoted in Gulrājśarmamiśra’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa and Hazārīlāl Sukul’s commentary on the Rasaratnasamuccaya.

Special features

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Cūḍāmaṇi’s very systematic treatise usually gives the opinions of a number of authorities on a particular subject, without making a choice. He is not even biased when quoting the views of his teacher, Devendragiri. Incidentally, he makes a personal statement. 28 Occasionally, he rejects statements made in particular works. 29

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Cūḍāmaṇi adds a large number of valuable glosses to his quotations. He gives information on the uses of the yantras 30 and explains which terms are synonymous. 31 Technical terms are frequently elucidated. 32

v3.c49.s2.3

Cūḍāmaṇi’s comments are concise in most cases, but, sometimes, they are elaborate and detailed. 33

v3.c49.s2.4

The remarks on the identity of plants are useful: alaka (II.1.11: = devadālī), cakrī (I.3.24: = cakriṇīlatā and cakramarda), cāṇḍālī (I.3.23: = bhūmyāmalakī and a divyauṣadhi), daṣuṇa (I.4.235: = raktaśāka), dhāvanī (III.3.59: = pṛśniparṇī), gaṇḍanikā (II.1.760: = gaṇḍadūrvā), gartakalambukā (II.1.761: = nākulī), haritparṇī (II.1.761: = kumā-

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rī), hima (II.3.115: = kaṭphala), kāmācī (II.3.188: = kākamācī), maurvī (II.3.193: = bhūrjapatra), raktasnuhi (I.3.24: = śātalā and a climber which resembles sehuṇḍa), raktaśṛṅgī (I.3.24: = a variety of śāka and some climber), raktavarṇa (I.3.26: = citraka and eraṇḍa), ratnapuṣpā (I.1.139: = atasī), śālāhañcī (II.1.761: = mañjiṣṭhā), śimāriṇī (III.3.59: = matsyākṣī or vacā), śṛgālī (III.3.59: = śāliparṇī), stokā (II.1.760: = balāmoṭā), uccaṭā (I.3.26: = śvetaguñjā and some climber), vanaka (II.1.895: = tumbaru), vanamākṣika (II.1.763: = vanamadhūka), vegā (II.3.196: = jyotiṣmatī), vīrā (III.7.226: = vidārī), vraṇaghnī (III.3.27: = kumārī), vyāghrī (I.3.27: = kaṇṭakārikā and some climber).

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The lists of plants used in alchemical operations are quoted from several sources. Some lists are from the Rasārṇava (I.3.12cd–22 and 38cd–43), 34 Rasasāra (I.3.34–36 35 and 3.124–138), 36 and Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (I.3.54–123). 37 A list, quoted from an unknown source, enumerates the following plants called mūlikā: ādityabhaktā, aṅkulī, apāmārga, avākpuṣpī, bhārṅgī, bhekaparṇī, candravallī, citraka, devadālī, eraṇḍa, gavākṣikā, goḍumbā, 38 gopālakarkaṭī, halinī, harikrāntā, indrā, kāṇḍavallī, karkoṭī, kokamā, kṣīrakandaka, kuḍahāṇī, kuṭṭāra, mūṣakakarṇī, nākulī, punarnavā, rudantī, śaṅkā, śaṅkhapuṣpikā, śarapuṅkhā, śikhīśikhā, snuhī, tridhārā, 39 tridhāraka, ūrdhvapuṅkhikā, vajrakanda, and vajrī (I.3.7cd–12ab). 40

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The list said to be from the Rasaratnākara cannot be traced in that treatise; 41 it consists of the following plants called rasamūlikā: adrikaṛṇikā, ākhukarṇikā, amṛtākanda, bhṛṅga, brahmadaṇḍī, bhūkanda, cakramarda, citraka, dhattūra, dūrvā, grīṣmasundara, haridrā, hastiśuṇḍī, iṣupuṅkhikā, jāyantī, jātī, kākajaṅghā, kākamācī, kañcukī, kaṭutumbikā, kośātakī, kṣīriṇī, kusumbhaka, lajjālu, lāṅgalī, mahārāṣṭrī, maṇḍūkaparṇī, matsyākṣī, mūrvā, nīrākaṇā, pātālī, raktāṅgariṅguṇḍī, rambhā, rasāṅkuśā, śairyaka, śaṅkhapuṣpikā, sarpākṣī, śatāvarī, śīgru, śikhīśikhā, śimbikā, śrīdevī, suradālikā, sūryāvarta, śvetārka, tilaparṇikā, utpala, vajrakanda, vajralatā, vandhyā, vārāhī, and varṣābhū (I.3.1–7ab).

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The arrangement of the diseases in the Cikitsāpāda is unusual and does not conform to a recognized pattern. Most of the nidāna verses of this section are from the Mādhavanidāna. Diseases added to those described by Mādhava are urograha (18), 42 snāyuroga (54), and somaroga (57). 43

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The chapter on jvara mentions several series of saṃnipāta fevers, without describing them: (1) viṣhāraka, śīghrakārin, puṣpaṇa, vidhura, makarin, phalgu, vaidārin, karṇaka, karkoṭaka, saṃmoha, yāmya, krakaca, pālaka, kūṭapālaka (1.168–169); 44 (2) sandhiga, jihvaka, pralāpaka, tandrika, rugdāha, śītagātra, karṇaka, cittavibhrama, raktaṣṭhīvin, kaṇṭhakubja, bhugnanetra, abhinyāsa, saṃnyāsa, hataujas (1.170–174); 45 (3) antardāha, daṇḍapāta, antaka, kumbhīpāka, prorṇunāva, pralāpin, eṇīdāha, bhūtahāsa, ajaghoṣa, hāridra, saṃśoṣin, yantrāpīḍa, saṃnyāsa (1.175–179).

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The total number of irregular fevers (viṣamajvara) is said to be thirty-five. Apart from the well-known types, some other fevers belonging to this group are: saptāhasam-tata, daśāhasamṭata, dvādaśāhasamṭata, pañcadinajvara, ṣaḍdinajvara, vātabalāsaka, tṛṇapuṣpaka, ojonirodhajavara, and rātri- or velājvara (1.611–622).

v3.c49.s2.11

The treatments described are not restricted to rasayogas, but comprise more traditional āyurvedic measures and prescriptions as well.

v3.c49.s2.12

Cūḍāmaṇi was a grandson of the physician Balabhadramiśra, who was a Śākadvīpīya brāhmaṇa, and a son of Harirāma. 46

v3.c49.s2.13

Cūḍāmaṇi was a pupil of Devanāthamiśra; some verses from an alchemical treatise by the latter are quoted in the Rasakāmadhenu.

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P.K. Gode 47 tentatively identified this Devanātha with the father of the Vāsudeva who wrote a commentary, called Bhuvanacandrikā or Bhuvanārthacandrikā, on Suba-ndhu's Vāsavadattā. 48 Vāsudeva's references to himself as a Śākadvīpīya made P.K. Gode advance this hypothesis. The provisional identification was supported by evidence, discovered somewhat later by P.K. Gode, after studying a MS of Vāsudeva's commentary. 49 Vāsudeva, who calls his father Devanātha an eminent physician and a second Dhanvantari, refers to and quotes from a work on rasaśāstra, called Rasamu-ktāvalī, written by him.

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The relationship between Cūḍāmaṇi and Devendragiri, author of the repeatedly quoted Rasāyanasārasamgraha, remains to be elucidated.

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Date Cūḍāmaṇi's chronological position can be deduced from his acquaintance with Mā-dhava Upādhyāya's Āyurvedaprakāśa. 50 His posterity to Mādhava Upādhyāya implies that he lived after the second half of the seventeenth century. 51 This date is confirmed by the quotation from Kāśinātha's Ajīrṇamañjarī, the earliest MS of which was com-pleted in A.D. 1617.

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The Rasakaumudī The Rasakaumudī by Jñānacandraśarman 52 is a treatise that can be divided into an al-chemical (chapters one to three) and an iatrochemical part (chapter four). The work is written in a defective language and style. 53

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Contents Chapter one (rasotpattyadhikāra; 20 verses) has five introductory verses, followed by an account of the origin of mercury (1.6–20). Chapter two (rasendraśuddhyadhikāra; 30 1/2 verses) is concerned with nine defects (doṣa) of mercury (2.3–4ab), the disorders they give rise to (2.4cd–6), and nine saṃskāras and their effects (7–30 1/2). Chapter three (96 verses) is concerned with the purification (śuddhi) of all the lohas and pāṣāṇas (3.1–5ab), 54 the purification of gandhaka and abhraka (3.5cd–8), sattvapātana of all the pāṣāṇas (3.9–15ab), druti of pāṣāṇas, vajra, loha and abhraka (3.15cd–21ab), māraṇa of triloha, i.e., nāga, vaṅga and rasaka (3.21cd–23ab), māraṇa of all the lohas (3.23cd–26), two types of māraṇa of abhraka (3.27–31ab), māraṇa of vajra (3.31cd–34ab), two types of māraṇa of mercury (3.34cd–37), four varieties of rasabhasman and their medicinal properties (3.38–43), a ritual (siddhapūjāvidhi) to pay homage to the eight Siddhas, nine Nāthasiddhas and their spouses, and the nine Durgās 55 (3.44–53ab), the preparation of iṣṭārthasiddhiguṭikā (3.53cd–67), 56 rasadīpana (3.68–71ab), grāsapradāna (3.71cd–78ab), rasamukhabandha (3.78cd–89), vedāmukharasa

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(3.90–93), and dhūmavedhirasa (3.94–96). Chapter four (132 verses) describes thirteen rasayogas. The treatise ends with the formula of trailokyacintāmaṇirasa.

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Sources are not referred to. 57 Three formulae are attributed to Śaṃkara, 58 Ṣaṇmukha 59 and Viśvāmitra 60 respectively.

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Jñānacandra's Rasakaumudī is one of the sources of the Rasayogasāgara.

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Special features The account of the origin of mercury (rasotpatti) in chapter one differs from the ver-sions found in other texts. 61 The nine doṣas of mercury described in the Rasakaumudī are: uḍḍīnatva, 62 kauṭilya, anāvarta, 63 saṃkara, ṣaṇḍatva, vahnikāritva, samalatva, gu-rutva, and saviṣa (2.3–4ab). 64 The disorders brought about by these defects are: (1) śūla, (2) kapālaruj, (3) bhramodvega, (4) doṣasamcaya, (5) asaṃtāna (infertility), (6) kuṣṭha, (7) vānti, mūrchā and mahodara, (8) jādya and mūrchā, and (9) gātrakṣaya (2. 4cd–6). The kañcukas are left unmentioned.

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The nine saṃskāras, leading to a product able to bring about deha- and lohasiddhi are: 65 mardana, utthāpana, (adhah)pātana, dīpana, 66 jāraṇa, sāraṇa, 67 grāsapradāna, 68 rañjana, and krāmaṇa (2.7–30 1/2). The term triloha is used to designate lead, tin and rasaka (3.21cd–23ab). 69 The second type of māraṇa of mercury (3.36–37) does not re-sult in māraṇa, but in mūrchana. 70 Four varieties of rasabhasman are described: kṛṣṇa, pīta, śyāma and karbura in colour (3.38–41); 71 these substances are medicinally valu-able; the kṛṣṇa variety leads to dehasiddhi, the yellow (pīta) one removes kuṣṭha, the śyāma variety removes all the doṣas, the karbura variety has aphrodisiac properties; an added fifth variety, red in colour, abolishes the three doṣas (3.42–43). Eight lohas are referred to (4.1).

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Interesting terms occurring in the Rasakaumudī are: aṣṭaśūla (4.46 and 74), pañcamitraka (3.17), maṇḍala (4.22, 23, 31, 100, 123, 129), 72 raktagrahaṇī (4.66), 73 raktagrahiṇīkā (4.58 and 66), sindūra (4.27), 74 takrameha (4.17), 75 vajratuṇḍījantu (3.32), and vṛścikavāta (4.11).

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Noteworthy plant names are: bhūdantī (4.13 and 119), bhūguñjā (4.70), bhūśigru (4.70), dvijihvā (4.119), dvikaṇṭikā (4.119), gorakṣikā (2.28), 76 kaḍukanda (3.11), ka-ṇḍūkī (3.9), kṛṣṇacitraka (4.93), kṛṣṇamālaka (4.93), kṣīrakarṇī (3.9), kurūṭikā (3.9), mātaṅga (4.55), nīlabhṛṅgī (4.12), nīlaśṛṅgī (3.38), and śvetagandhārī (4.119).

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The author Jñānacandra was a brāhmaṇa and a son of the physician Sarvajñacandra of Candra-śekhara lineage. 77

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Date The period to which the author belonged cannot be determined with accuracy. The ref-erences to the nine Nāthasiddhas and to a group of eight metals (aṣṭaloha) imply that it is not an early work. 78

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An anonymous Rasakaumudī An anonymous Rasakaumudī 79 deals with the purification of mercury, a number of twenty-seven rasayogas⁸⁰ and how to administer them, antidotes (viṣaśānti), signs pointing to health (svasthāriṣṭa) and signs pointing to a bad prognosis (ariṣṭa).

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The Rasamañjarī

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The Rasamañjarī by Śālinātha⁸¹ is an alchemical and iatrochemical treatise in 867 verses,⁸² arranged in twelve chapters (adhyāya).⁸³ The work is in the form of a conversation between Śiva and Pārvatī.⁸⁴

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Contents⁸⁵ Chapter one (rasaśodhanaprakāra; 39 verses) deals with introductory matter (1–4), the praise of mercury (5–8), the teacher and his pupil (9–13), the names and varieties of mercury (14–15), the doṣas of mercury and the disorders arising from them (16–19), and some methods of purifying (śodhana) mercury (20–39).

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Chapter two (rasajāraṇamāraṇādi; 64 verses) describes the jāraṇa of several substances by mercury (1–11), several types of māraṇa of mercury (12–16), several methods of preparing rasasindūra (17–41) and rasakarpūra (42–45), mūrchana (46–51), bandha (52–58), and rules concerning the use of mercurial products (59–64).⁸⁶

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Chapter three (uparasaśodhanamāraṇa; 101 verses) is about the uparasas (1–3ab); its subjects are the origin of sulphur (3cd–5ab), its varieties (5cd–6), the disorders caused by impure sulphur (7), its purification (8–13), the preparation of gandhakataila (14–15); the varieties, characteristics and properties of diamonds (vajra; 16–21),⁸⁷ disorders caused by impure diamonds (22), their purification (23–25ab) and māraṇa (25cd–30), the varieties, properties and māraṇa of vaikrānta (31–34), the varieties of mica (abhraka) and their properties (35–38), the preparation of dhānyābhraka (39–43ab), māraṇa of mica (43cd–56), the śodhana and māraṇa of tāla (57–61), the śodhana of manaḥśilā, rasaka, tuttha, vimala, mākṣika, kāsīsa, kāntapāṣāṇa, vārāṭikā, hinguḷa, and śilājatu (62–83), the śodhana of the remaining uparasas (84), the preparation of bhūnāga-, vaikrānta- and abhrakasattva (85–91), the fusing (drāvaṇa) of mica (92), the extraction of various sattvas (93–96), and śodhana and māraṇa of gems (maṇi; 97–101).

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Chapter four (viṣalakṣaṇasevāparihāra; 31 verses) describes eighteen plants with poisonous bulbs or tubers (kanda) (1–10), their māraṇa (11–13), the way to employ them medicinally, together with the dosages (14–21), the seven stages (vega) of intoxication (22–25), a mantra preventing intoxication (26) and the way to use it (27–28), prescriptions against poisoning (29–31).

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Chapter five (svarṇādyaṣṭadhātuśodhanamāraṇasevana; 71 verses) is concerned with the śodhana and māraṇa of the eight metals: gold (3cd–17ab), silver (17cd–24ab), copper (24cd–36), rājarīti (= pittala) and ghoṣa (= kāṃsya (37), lead and tin (38–48), and iron (49–67); the medicinal properties of the products obtained are described; the chapter ends with the properties of lohakīṭa (= maṇḍūra; 68–71).

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Chapter six (rasayojanabhakṣaṇa; 307 verses)⁸⁸ contains formulae of rasayogas. Chapter seven (rasāyanaguṭikā; 60 verses)⁸⁹ is about rasāyana formulae. Chapter eight (netrāñjanakeśarañjana; 28 verses) is devoted to recipes against eye diseases and

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premature greyness of the hair. Chapter nine (vīryastambhanādikautūhalanirūpaṇa; 78 verses)⁹⁰ describes subjects usually dealt with in Tantric treatises about ṣaṭkarman. Chapter ten (bālatantra; 32 verses) reproduces a Bālatantra. Chapter eleven (kālajñāna; 44 verses) is about ariṣṭas. Chapter twelve (chāyāpuruṣalakṣaṇa; 12 verses) describes ariṣṭas connected with one’s shadow (chāyā), as taught by Śambhu.

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Sources are not referred to.⁹¹ One recipe is ascribed to Nāgārjuna.⁹² A Mālātimata is also mentioned.⁹³

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The Rasamañjarī is quoted or referred to in the paribhāṣā pariśiṣṭa of the Ānandakanda, the Āyurvedaprakāśa, Caturbhuja’s commentary on the Rasaḥṛdaya, the Dhātumaṛaṇa,⁹⁴ Harisaraṇānanda’s Kūpīpakvarasanirmāṇavijñāna, Meghamuni’s Meghavinoda,⁹⁵ Nidhi’s Yogasamuccaya, the Pāradasaṃhitā, Rasakāmadhenu, Rasasaṃgrahasasiddhānta by Govindarāma,⁹⁶ Rasasārāmṛta by Rāmasena,⁹⁷ Rasāyanasaṃgraha,⁹⁸ Rasayogasāgara, Rasendrasambhava, Rasendrasārasaṃgraha by Gopālakṛṣṇa, Somadevaśarman’s commentary on the Āyurvedaprakāśa, the Yogaratnākara,⁹⁹ the Yogatarangiṇī¹⁰⁰ and Bṛhadyogatarangiṇī¹⁰¹ of Trimalla, and the Sukhabodha of Vaidyarāja.

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Commentaries on the Rasamañjarī were written by Harinābha,¹⁰² Rāmanātha,¹⁰³ and Samaratha.

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Samaratha was a Śvetāmbara Jain of the Sāgaracandrasūri branch of the Kharataragaccha, and a pupil of Matiratna or Sumatiratna. He lived in Bīkāner. Samaratha’s name was changed into Samayamāṇikya after his ordination. Samaratha composed his Hindī commentary on the Rasamañjarī in A.D. 1707. He also wrote a Sanskrit commentary on Keśavadāsa’s Rasikapriyā, composed in Brajbhāṣā; this commentary was completed in A.D. 1698.¹⁰⁴

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Special features Eight doṣas of mercury are enumerated: nāga, vaṅga, agni, cāñcalya, asahyatva, viṣa, giri and mala; the disorders they bring about are jāḍya, kuṣṭha, mahādāha, vīryanāśa, mūrchanā, mṛtyu, sphoṭa and rogapuñja (1.17–18). A second series of five doṣas, consisting of śiloccaya, mṛdbhava, atimalina, nāga and vaṅga leads to kuṣṭha, jāḍya, atyantavāta, galagaṇḍa and gulma (1.19).¹⁰⁵ The uparasas distinguished are gandhaka, vajra, vaikrānta, gagana (= abhraka), tālaka, śilā, kharpara, śikhituttha, vimalā, hemamākṣika, kāsīsa, kāntapāṣāṇa, varāṭa, añjana, hinguḷa, kaṅkuṣṭha, śaṅkha, bhūnāga, ṭaṅkaṇa, and śilājatu (3.1–3ab).¹⁰⁶ Four varieties of sulphur (gandhaka) are mentioned: red, yellow, white and black, useful for making gold (hemakriyā), for rasāyana purposes and in ointments on ulcers respectively; the black variety is the best one (3.5–6). Diamonds (vajra) are white, red, yellow and black; these varieties are called brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra; they are suitable to rasāyana purposes, to curing diseases, to vāda (i.e., alchemy) and to vayahstambha (i.e., rasāyana) purposes; diamonds are also male, female or neuter and fit for vedha and rasabandha, dehasiddhi, and krāmaṇa (3.16–21). Eight types of vaikrānta are mentioned: white, red, yellow, grey (pārāvatacchavi), śyāmala, black, and karbura (3.32).¹⁰⁷

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The usual four varieties of mica (abhraka) are enumerated: piṇāka, dardura, nāga and vajra (3.35). Poisonous plants are eighteen in number: kālakūṭa, mayūrākhya, binduka, saktuka, vāluka, vatsanābha, śaṅkhanābha, sumaṅgala, śṛṅgī, markaṭaka, musta, kardama, puṣkara, śikhī, hāridra, harita, cakra, and hālāhala (4.1–3ab). Eight stages of poisoning are distinguished, characterized by udvega, vepathu, ghoradāha, patana, phena, vikalatā, jaḍatā, and mṛtyu (death) (4.23–25).

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Chapter five does not mention zinc as one of the metals.

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The majority of the formulae of chapter six are well known and found in many rasaśāstra texts. Some of them may be rare or even restricted to the Rasamañjarī. 108

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The rasāyana formulae of chapter seven are partly frequent, partly rare or peculiar to the author of the Rasamañjarī. 109

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Chapter nine is a collection of prescriptions; they are meant to prevent or delay ejaculation (vīryastambha; 1–11), to increase the size of the penis (12), to cause impotence (13–15), to cure it (16–17), to increase potency (21–24), and to cure a series of diseases (25–29). The remaining part of the chapter contains recipes that ensure impregnation (30), that are suitable to vaśīkaraṇa (31–37ab), to tightening of the vagina (37c–f), removal of the pubic hair (38–39), etc. (40–78).

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Chapter ten contains a Bālatantra, related to Rāvaṇa’s Kumāratantra and other such texts. 110 It enumerates sixteen Yoginīs who attack a child on the first day, month or year of its life, the second day, etc., up to the sixteenth. The symptoms of the illnesses are mentioned, together with the rituals that are appropriate to appease the beings causing them.

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The names of these malignant beings are: Nandā, Āryā, Pūtanā, Bhīṣaṇāsyā, Biḍālī, Śakunī, Śuṣkā, Ṛmbhīkā, Acintyā, Kāpālikā, Lipsitā (or Nandikā), Pītalī, Bhadrakālī, Tārā, Śarvarī (or Sumukhī), and Kumārī.

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Some noteworthy terms employed in the Rasamañjarī are āgala (2.26), pāṣaṇapatikā (2.25), 111 and sphaṭikī (2.24). 112

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The eight kakāras consist of kūṣmāṇḍa, karkaṭī, kaliṅga, kāravellaka, kusumbhika, karkoṭī, kadalī, and kākamācikā (2.59–60).

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*The author*

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Śālīnātha was a son of Vaidyanātha. 113

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*Date*

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The earliest MS of the Rasamañjarī was completed in A.D. 1546/47, 114 which indicates that the Rasamañjarī is earlier than the middle of the sixteenth century. 115 The reference to the author of the Rasamañjarī in Gopālakṛṣṇa’s Rasendrasārasaṃgraha makes it possible to push back the terminus ante quem to a period anterior to the last quarter of the fifteenth century. The upper limit cannot be ascertained. 116

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*The Rasamitra*

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The Rasamitra by Tryambakanātha Śarmā 117 is a treatise that lays emphasis on the medicinal uses of alchemical products.

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*Contents*

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The Rasamitra is a work in six chapters (raśmi), dealing with generalities and technical terms (1), mercury (2), the mahārasas and uparasas (3), the dhātus (4), the ratnas and uparatnas (5), the viṣas and upaviṣas (6).

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Chapter one (sāmānyavijñānīya) describes, after a maṅgala to Śiva and some introductory verses, the subjects of rasaśāstra, the teacher and his student, the laboratory (rasaśālā; 4–6), technical terms (paribhāṣā; 7–12), weights and measures (parimāṇa; 13–14), 118 the yantras (15–24), 119 and the puṭas (24–28). 120 Chapter two (rasavijñānīya) gives an account of mercury and its doṣas (29–35), its purification (36–37), the first eight saṃskāras (37–44), the preparation of mercury from cinnabar (44), jāraṇa and mūrchanā (44–46), the preparation of mugdharasa, rasapuṣpa and rasakarpūra (47–48), some formulae (49–56), 121 and some rules concerning the use of mercurial medicines (57–58). Chapter three (uparasavijñānīya) is about the mahārasas, their names, characteristics, purification, sometimes their killing, the properties and actions of the products obtained, their uses, dangers involved in their use, and the treatment of disorders caused by the use of impure products (59–84); the second part of the chapter (84–95) is devoted to a description of the uparasas, their purification and the neutralization of the effects of impurities; the third and last part is about the sādhāraṇarasas (95–105). Chapter four (dhātuvijñānīya; 106–130) is concerned with the dhātus, their purification, killing, and the medicinal properties of the products obtained. Chapter five (ratnoparatnavijñānīya; 131–177) gives a similar exposition on the ratnas, uparatnas and some other stones. Chapter six (viṣaviṣaviṣavijñānīya) describes the viṣas, their purification, and their uses in medicine (178–208); the second part of the chapter is about the upaviṣas (208–244) and animal poisons, their purification and their uses (245–248).

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Sources referred to in the Sanskrit text are the Rasaratnasamuccaya (209), Rasasaṃketakalikā (208), Rasasāra (281), and Rasendracūḍāmaṇi (282).

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*Special features*

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Twelve doṣas of mercury are distinguished: three naisargikadoṣas (natural blemishes): viṣa, vahni, mala; two yaugikadoṣas (adulterants): nāga (lead) and vaṅga (tin); seven aupādhikadoṣas or kañcukas (blemishes due to the environment): parpaṭī (bhūmijā), pāṭalī (girijā), bhedī (vārijā), drāvī and malakarī (nāgajā), andhakārī and dhvāṅkṣī (vaṅgajā) (29–35). The eight saṃskāras described are svedana, mardana, mūrchana, utthāpana, pātana, bodhana, niyāmana, and dīpana (37–44). Six types of mūrchanā are mentioned (46). 122

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The group of mahārasas consists of abhraka, vaikrānta, mākṣika, vimala, adrija (= śilājatu), sasyaka, capala, and rasaka (59). 123 The group of uparasas is composed of gandhaka, gairika, kāsīsa, kāṅkṣī (= tuvarī), (hari)tāla, (manaḥ)śilā, añjana, and kaṅkuṣṭha (84). The group of sādhāraṇarasas is made up of kampilla, gaurīpāṣāṇa, navasādara, kaparda, vahnijāra (= agnijāra), girisindūra, hiṅgula, and mṛddāraśṛṅga (95). The seven dhātus are gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, tin and lead (106); three alloys are mentioned: pittala, kāṃsya and varta (106). Three varieties of iron are referred to: muṇḍa, tīkṣṇa and kānta (117).

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