A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c28.2

v2.c28.2

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.