[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902) › v2.c32.s14 # 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) ### [v2.c32.s14.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.1) \*Sans. texts, pp. 98 et seq.\* ### [v2.c32.s14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.2) Tin, iron and copper are to be classed among the superior metals. ### [v2.c32.s14.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.3) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.4) Synonyms of the different metals. 39-49 ### [v2.c32.s14.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.5) Synonyms of zinc : Jāsatva, Yasadāyaka,\* rūpyabhrātā (lit. brother to silver), charmaka, kharpara, rasaka, &c. 50-51 ### [v2.c32.s14.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.6) ∗ Yasada is the name commonly given to the metal extracted from calamine. \*Vide\* Vol. i, p. 156. ### [v2.c32.s14.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.7) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.8) \[\*N.B.\*—Rasaka and kharpara are the names generally applied to the mineral calamine (\*vide\* Vol. i, p. 158), but here they stand for the metal (zinc) or its amalgam.\] ### [v2.c32.s14.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.9) Lead being killed with the aid of gentle heat gives rise to minium (red lead). 69 ### [v2.c32.s14.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.10) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.11) Synonyms of haritāla (orpiment): Orpiment is a consumer of mercury and also a clipper of its wings.\* 79 ### [v2.c32.s14.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.12) Synonyms of realgar, cinnabar, mica, &c. 81-89 ### [v2.c32.s14.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.13) Synonyms of pearls, coral, tortoise-shell, conchshell, tusk of elephants, the tail of the peacock. 90-108 ### [v2.c32.s14.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.14) ∗ 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). ### [v2.c32.s14.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.15) Localities for different metals. 113-121 ### [v2.c32.s14.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.16) \[ The information is very commonplace.} ### [v2.c32.s14.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.17) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.18) † This isthe name given to Bengal in many Tantras. ### [v2.c32.s14.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.19) Localities for zinc : Kāmboja, Rūma, Balkh, &c. 146 ### [v2.c32.s14.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.20) Metals in combination with mercury and sulphur become fit for administration as medicine. 153 ### [v2.c32.s14.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.21) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.22) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.23) ∗ 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. ### [v2.c32.s14.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.24) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.25) By using the \*augmented\* gold as a means of exchange one can amass wealth. 52 ### [v2.c32.s14.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.26) 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 ### [v2.c32.s14.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.27) Pure gold is to be alloyed with one hundred times its weight of copper and this \[ imitation \] gold will resemble native gold. 88 ### [v2.c32.s14.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.28) Lead and copper being alloyed together will give rise to gold. 97-98 ### [v2.c32.s14.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.29) Colophon : Here ends the Chapter on the extolling of gold in Rudra-yāmala. ### [v2.c32.s14.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14.30) ∗ Cf. footnote, p. 2. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s14) · Pramāṇa