A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c52.778

v3.c52.778

SUVARṆATANTRA or Svarṇatantra. 1222 This text was revealed by Śiva to Paraśurāma, who, rendered destitute after donating all his worldly possessions to Kaśyapa, acquired from Śiva the means of transforming mercury into gold. 1223 The introductory verses mention that, earlier already, Śiva transmitted to Paraśurāma the Ratnatantra, the knowledge about 2,000 guṭikās, 600 forms of dhātukalpas, and the dhātuyogākhyakalpa. 1224 The Suvarṇatantra contains the kākarī-, aṅgāra- and śvetabhṛtī-kalpas, 1225 and describes five varieties of (śaṅkha)drāva and their uses. 1226 A plant that is regarded as an essential ingredient of a mercurial preparation is called tailakaṇḍa. 1227 The Suvarṇatantra is regarded as posterior to the sixteenth century. 1228