Yantras or Mechanical Contrivances in Ancient India c2.162

c2.162

Bhoja then discusses whether *Sūta* or mercury, which is an indispensable ingredient, is to be held as one of the *Bījas* along with Earth, Water, etc. Some earlier writers had counted it separately as a *Bīja*. Bhoja says that mercury is essentially *Pārthiva*, *i.e.*, to be brought under Earth, though one might find it in the liquid state and also possessing a property causing motion, like wind. (6-8).