A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c28: Preface

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c28

Language: English

Preface

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The second and concluding volume of the *History of Hindu Chemistry* is now presented to the public.

When the first volume was under preparation, it was feared that many valuable works on Hindu Chemistry referred to in *Rasārnava*, *Rasaratnasamuchchaya*, etc., had been lost for ever. Pandit Navakānta Kavibhūshana was deputed to Benares to make a searching enquiry and his labours have been rewarded by the discovery of several rare MSS., including one of *Rasahridaya*. This last-named work is of surpassing interest considering its comprehensiveness and antiquity. Two more transcripts of it have also been procured from the Libraries of the India Office, London, and of the Darbár, Nepal. A copy of *Rasendrachūdāmani* obtained from the Library of the Deccan College, Poona, has also been of signal help. A critical study of the new materials throws a flood of light on the dark recesses of the history of Indian Chemistry. As a halo of literary and scientific activity including the pursuit of alchemy circles round the prominent figure of Nágárjuna, considerable space has been devoted to a discussion of his age in the Historical Introduction.

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It was with diffidence and hesitation that I placed the remotest limit of alchemical *Tantras* in the 12th century A. D. It now transpires that this date is to be pushed back by several centuries.

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A *History of Hindu Chemistry* would be rightly regarded as incomplete which did not deal with the constitution of matter and the various hypotheses in regard to it. The European historian of chemistry has always turned his eyes to Greece as the perennial fountain of knowledge on this as on other subjects. And it is but natural that he should do so.[*] The Hindu atomistic school has not hitherto, I am afraid, found an interpreter who could do full justice to it. Colebrooke's presentation of it with which I had to content myself in the first volume is masterly so far as it goes, but is fragmentary. Not feeling myself equal to the task I applied for help to Mr. Brajendra Náth Seal, Principal, Victoria College, Kuch Behar. Principal Seal has kindly responded to my appeal with alacrity. It is to be hoped that a long-felt *desideratum* has at last been supplied.

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The frequent references which have been made to the first volume must be taken to mean the second edition of it. Those who happen to possess copies of the first edition will not, however, be put to any serious inconvenience.

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∗ Vide Vol. I, Intro. xliii.

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I avail myself of this opportunity to express my cordial thanks to Pandit Harischandra Kaviratna, late Professor of Sanskrit, Presidency College, and my collaborator in the editing of the text of Rasārnava in the *Bibliotheca Indica* series.

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In the preface to the first volume I presumed to narrate the circumstances under which I undertook the composition of my History. The great chemist and savant, whose inspiration has been my guiding principle throughout the arduous task and whose lengthy and appreciative review of the first instalment has been a stimulus in the continuation of it, is no more. Marcellin Berthelot breathed his last on March 18, 1907, leaving the world of science poor indeed. It was with the view of coming into personal contact with the illustrious scientist that the author made a pilgrimage to Paris in March, 1905. The long interview which he had with M. Berthelot and the reception which was accorded to him at a meeting of the Academy of Sciences by its late Perpetual Secretary, as also by its President, M. Troost, made a deep and lasting impression on his mind.

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Alas, for the vanity of human wishes! These pages will no longer be greeted by the eager and indulgent eyes of M. Berthelot. All that now remains for me is to dedicate this volume to his sacred memory.

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It is with mingled feelings that I mark the hour of my final deliverance from a self-imposed task which has occupied all my spare time during the last 15 years and more—feelings not unlike those which overpowered the Historian of the Roman Empire. The reader will, I hope, forgive me if I venture to give expression to them in the words of Edmund Gibbon himself. "I will not dissemble the first emotions of joy on the recovery of my freedom. * * * * But my pride was soon humbled, and a sober melancholy was spread over my mind, by the idea that I had taken an everlasting leave of an old and agreeable companion."

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The Hindu nation with its glorious past and vast latent potentialities may yet look forward to a still more glorious future, and, if the perusal of these pages will have the effect of stimulating my countrymen to strive for regaining their old position in the intellectual hierarchy of nations, I shall not have laboured in vain.

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PRESIDENCY COLLEGE. *June 1, 1909.* } **P. C. RAY.**

Linked texts (4)

Rasaratnasamuccaya — Vāgbhaṭa (alchemist), Sanskrit
Rasārṇava — Sanskrit
Rasendracūḍāmaṇi — Somadeva (alchemist), Sanskrit
Rasahṛdaya — Govinda, Sanskrit