A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s6: Chemistry in Rasaprakasa-sudhakara of Yasodhara

A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s6

Language: English

Chemistry in Rasaprakasa-sudhakara of Yasodhara

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Preparation of karpūrarasa (lit. camphor of mercury, i. e. calomel) : practically the same process as given in Vol. i, pp. 250-51.

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[Note. Calomel is prescribed here only as an aphrodisiac and a specific for leprosy but not as a remedy for syphilis.]

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Rasaka (calamine): the author of R. R. S. has evidently borrowed his description of this mineral from the present work. Cf. Vol. i, p. 87.

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[The process agrees almost word for word with what is given in R. R. S. The essence possessing the lustre of lead runs out of the crucible.*]

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Saurāṣṭrī or tuvarī (alum-earth) almost identical with R. R. S. Cf. Vol. i, p. 91.

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* * * The essence extracted from the alums (i.e. oil of vitriol) is to be used for operations with metals and not as medicine.

[Descriptions of various kinds of pits for calcining and roasting purposes are given ; as also their dimensions with the number of cowdung-cakes to be used as fuel &c. Cf. the typical roasting pit in Vol. i, p. 127.]

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Here ends Chapter X of Rasaprakāsasudhākara by Yasodhara, son of Padmanābha.

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∗ In R. R. S. we have "the essence possessing the lustre of tin."

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Hemakriyā or process for the fabrication of gold : "I shall now speak of some curiosities of metals, partly from my own experience and partly from the classics on the subject. Calamine, cinnabar, copper pyrites and realgar are to be rubbed with the milky juice of *Euphorbia neriifolia* for 7 days together and then to be digested another 3 days. Melted copper or silver or lead, being alloyed with the aforesaid mixture, acquires the power of converting 100 times its weight of base metal into gold."* Cf. *ante, p. 2.*

Linked texts (2)

Rasaratnasamuccaya — Vāgbhaṭa (alchemist), Sanskrit
Rasaprakāśasudhākara — Yaśodhara (alchemist), Sanskrit