A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c12.t9: Book IX. On Apparatus (The Yantras)

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v1.c12.t9

Language: English

Book IX. On Apparatus (The Yantras)

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Somadeva will now give a brief account of the apparatus after having consulted innumerable works on chemistry.²

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² This chapter also is evidently quoted from the work of Somadeva.

Dolā *yantram* : a pot is half-filled with a liquid and a rod placed across its mouth from which is suspended the medicine tied in a piece of cloth. The liquid is allowed to boil and a second pot³ inverted over the first.

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³ Unless otherwise stated earthen pots are meant.

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Svedanī Yantram

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Svedanī yantram: a pot with boiling water has its mouth covered with a piece of cloth and the substance to be steamed is placed on it and a second pot arranged in an inverted position over the rim of the first. 5

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Pātanā Yantram

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Pātanā yantram [lit. apparatus for sublimation and distillation] : two vessels are adjusted so that the neck of the one fits into that of the other. The junction of the necks is luted with a composition made of lime, raw sugar, rust of iron and buffalo's milk. [Tedious details are given as to the exact measurement of the vessels.] 6-8

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Adhaspātanā Yantram

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Adhaspātanā yantram: a modification of the above apparatus in which the bottom of the upper vessel is smeared with the substance, the vapour or essence thereof condensing into the water of the lower one. Heat is applied on the top of the upper vessel by means of the fire of dried cow-dung cakes. 9

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Dhekī Yantram

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Dhekī *yantram* : below the neck of the pot is a hole into which is introduced the upper end of a bamboo tube, the lower end of it fitting into a brass vessel filled with water and made of two hemispherical halves. Mercury mixed with the proper ingredients is subjected to distillation till the receiver gets sufficiently heated. 11-14

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Vālukā Yantram (Sand-Bath)

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Vālukā *yantram* (sand-bath : a glass flask with a long neck containing mercurials, is wrapped with several folds of cloth smeared with clay and then dried in the sun. The flask is buried up to three-fourths of its length in sand and placed in an earthen pot whilst another pot is inverted over it, the rims of both being luted with clay. Heat is now applied till a straw placed on its top gets burnt. 34-36

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Lavana Yantram

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If in the above apparatus salt is substituted for sand, it is called lavana *yantram* (salt-bath). 38

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Nālikā Yantram

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If in the above an iron tube be substituted for the glass flask, it is called nālikā yantram. 41

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Place the crucible containing chemicals inside a mass of sand and apply heat by means of cow-dung cakes. This is known as the Bhūdhara yantram.

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Tiryakpātanā Yantram

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Tiryakpātanā yantram (lit. distillation per descensum) : place the chemicals in a vessel provided with a long tube, inserted in an inclined position, which enters the interior of another vessel arranged as receiver. The mouths of the vessels and the joints should be luted with clay. Now urge a strong fire at the bottom of the vessel containing the chemicals, whilst in the other vessel place cold water. This (process) is known as tiryakpātanām. 48-50

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Vidyādhara Yantram

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Vidyādhara yantram is for the extraction of mercury from cinnabar. [Two earthen pots are arranged as in the illustration. The upper one contains cold water and the mercury condenses at its bottom.] 57-58

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Dhūpa Yantram

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Dhūpa yantram (lit. fumigating apparatus) : bars of iron are laid in a slanting position a little below the mouth of the lower vessel and gold-leaves are placed over them and at the bottom of the vessel is deposited a mixture of sulphur, realgar, orpiment, etc., A second vessel, with its convexity turned upwards, covers the mouth of the lower one and the rims are luted with clay. Heat is now applied from below. This is called fumigation of gold-leaves. Silver may also be similarly treated. 70-74

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[This chapter concludes with a detailed description of mortars and pestles—their sizes, measurements, &c.]

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BOOK X

Linked texts (1)

Rasendracūḍāmaṇi — Somadeva (alchemist), Sanskrit