A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c12.t2.8

v1.c12.t2.8

(3) For the definition of the term Rasáyana in the Charaka, see p. 32; cf. also “रसायनञ्च तज्ज्ञेयं यज्जराव्याधिनाशनम्” Sarngadhara. Cf. also : “Dies Wort (rasa) nämlich hat nicht nur der rasagnána, d. i. Kenntniss der Säfte, einem Kapitel der Medicin, sondern einer Benennung der Alchemie, rasasástra, dann rasasiddhi, durch Quecksilber erlangte Vollkommenheit, das Vertrautsein mit der Alchemie, sowie desgl. rasendradarsana (wortl. Untersuchung des Säfte-Herrschers d. i. Quecksilbers), Lehre der Alchemisten (dieser heisst Rasáyana) seinen Namen geliehen und ausserdam in Compositen einer Menge chemischer Substanzen.”—Pott : “Chemie order Chymie?” “Zeit. deut. Morg. Ges.” xxx. 7 “Rasasiddhipradāyaka” (1-5), which is derivied from rasa, mercury, siddhi, accomplishment and pradāyaka, giver or bestower, *i.e.* lit. giver of accomplishment in mercury *i.e.* an expert on alchemy. Wilson in his Dictionary thus happily renders Rasasiddhi: “The knowledge of alchemy, the possession of peculiar familiarity with mercury obtained by the performance of chemical operations conjoined with certain mystical and magical rites and the securing thence to the adept of happiness, health and wealth ; the power of transmuting metals and the art of prolonging life.”