A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s14: Chemistry in Dhatukriya or Dhatumanjari (Rudrayamala Tantra)

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s14

Language: English

Chemistry in Dhatukriya or Dhatumanjari (Rudrayamala Tantra)

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Tin, iron and copper are to be classed among the superior metals.

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In general a metal being alloyed with silver is improved in quality. Sattvaja metal (*i. e.* an alloy of tin and copper, *vide* below couplet 15) is of middle quality. 12-14

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Synonyms of zinc : Jāsatva, Yasadāyaka,* rūpyabhrātā (lit. brother to silver), charmaka, kharpara, rasaka, &c. 50-51

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∗ Yasada is the name commonly given to the metal extracted from calamine. *Vide* Vol. i, p. 156.

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Pittala is an alloy of copper and zinc. 63 Kāmsyaka is an alloy of tin and copper. 65 Zinc being amalgamated with mercury gives rise to rasaka. 68

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[*N.B.*—Rasaka and kharpara are the names generally applied to the mineral calamine (*vide* Vol. i, p. 158), but here they stand for the metal (zinc) or its amalgam.]

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Lead being killed with the aid of gentle heat gives rise to minium (red lead). 69

Copper in combination with the "burning water" gives rise to tuttha (green vitriol).—Thus manifold operations are performed with the aid of *mantras* and apparatus: all these belong to the province of Chemistry. 70-71

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Synonyms of haritāla (orpiment): Orpiment is a consumer of mercury and also a clipper of its wings.* 79

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Synonyms of realgar, cinnabar, mica, &c. 81-89

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Synonyms of pearls, coral, tortoise-shell, conchshell, tusk of elephants, the tail of the peacock. 90-108

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∗ The sulphide of arsenic on being rubbed with mercury and gently heated converts the latter itself into the sulphide. The mercury is thereby killed and *fixed*, *i. e.* deprived of its volatility (clipped of its wings—the Hindu alchemist's favourite figure).

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Localities for different metals. 113-121

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[ The information is very commonplace.}

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Localities for copper specified : Nepāl, Kāmarūpa (the eastern portion of Assam), Baṅgala,† the country of the Mlechchhas, Rūma and the country of the Phiraṅgas, &c. 143-145

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† This isthe name given to Bengal in many Tantras.

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Localities for zinc : Kāmboja, Rūma, Balkh, &c. 146

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Metals in combination with mercury and sulphur become fit for administration as medicine. 153

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Process of roasting a substance in a stout glass-vessel using goat-and-cow-dung-cakes and husks of paddy grains as fuel. 9-10

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One part of gold and four parts of zinc are to be melted together and the alloy roasted in a closed crucible . . . . the process repeated with the addition of alkalies . . . . gold of a reddish yellow colour will thus be generated. 11-17

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∗ All these have been placed under the category of (हीन inferior dhátu. Though the term dhátu generally means a metal, it is often applied to a mineral ; here, however, it covers a much wider field.

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A process for making factitious cinnabar by pouring mercury into its own weight of molten sulphur and then adding three-fourths its weight of orpiment . . . . .. The mass to be rubbed in a mortar and subjected to sublimation. 23-30

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By using the *augmented* gold as a means of exchange one can amass wealth. 52

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Tin is to be melted and one-hundredth part its weight of mercury to be amalgamated with it. This [ fraudulent substitute for ] silver can be used for purposes of exchange, and one can thus amass wealth. 85-86

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Pure gold is to be alloyed with one hundred times its weight of copper and this [ imitation ] gold will resemble native gold. 88

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Lead and copper being alloyed together will give rise to gold. 97-98

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Colophon : Here ends the Chapter on the extolling of gold in Rudra-yāmala.

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∗ Cf. footnote, p. 2.