[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.s8 # A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s8: Chemistry in Rasakalpa (Rudra-yamala Tantra) A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.s8 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [v2.c32.s8.t1 Chapter I](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1) — 19 parts ### Chemistry in Rasakalpa (Rudra-yamala Tantra) ### [v2.c32.s8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.1) Bowing to Siva, the lord of mercury, and also the feet of Chandikā, I write this Rasakalpa, the depository of mercurial lore. ### Chapter I ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.1) Tests for killed mercury :— ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.2) Killed mercury is that which is devoid of (metallic) lustre, not so ponderous, white,\[\*\] destroyer of metals, divested of fluidity and non-volatile when stirred over a fire. 40 Cf. tests in Rasārnava in Vol. i, p. 74; as also in Rasaratnākara, ante, p. 9. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.3) ∗ The author previously refers to the red, black, white and even yellow ash (calx) of mercury ; it is not clear why he should here ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.4) Purified mercury should be preserved in the hollow of a tooth or gem or bamboo. 42 ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.5) Gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and iron—these are the 6 metals; vartaloha, &c., (Vol. i, p. 114) are simply alloys. 1 ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.6) Honest readers! I beseech you with folded arms to favour my book with your merciful glance. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.7) The mahārasas are 8 in number; e. g. mercury, cinnabar, sasyaka, rasaka, &c. ... ... ... the rasas are mica, green vitriol and rājāvarta, &c. ... ... ... sulphur, orpiment and realgar, &c. are the uparasas as regarded by learned teachers. Cf. Vol. i, pp. 79 and 89. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.8) There are 4 kinds of sulphur:—white, black, yellow and red. Cf. Vol. i, p. 90. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.9) restrict himself to the white variety only. Chloride or sulphide of mercury, when treated with a metal and heated, kills (i. e. parts with its chlorine or sulphur to) the latter and in that sense it is a destroyer of metals लोहहा. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.10) The saurāṣṭrīs (alums) are of various kinds; the kāsīsas (vitriols) are of 3 kinds,—namely, kāsīsa proper, pushpa kāsīsa and hīrakāsīsa.\* Cf. Vol. i, p. 91. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.11) Gairika is stated to be of 2 varieties,—the one of golden hue, the other red; Kaṅkuṣṭha and other rasas are also described by certain teachers; but these, however, are not referred to here, as we are treading in the footsteps of sages of old.† Sans. texts, pp. 75-78. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.12) † Evidently Charaka and Susruta, who mention only a few commonly occurring minerals. Vide Vol. i, pp. 29 and 44. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.13) For the purification of mercury this process is recommended by Svachchhandabhairava and Govinda. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.14) Chūlikalavana (Sal-ammoniac), sulphur and the ash of ginger, &c., digested one hundred times with cow's urine, ... ... ... make a vida for killing gold. Cf. Vol. i, p. 72. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.15) This process for killing \[metals\] was revealed by Siva and has been transmitted by successive schools of adepts. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.16) ∗ Hīrákasa is the name by which green vitriol is known throughout India; Royle supposes that this word is derived from the Persian hura green, and Sans. kāsīsa. (Antiq. Hindu Med.) There is no necessity for looking upon hīrákasa as a hybrid term, seeing that it occurs in the present work in which Mahommedan influence is nowhere traceable. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.17) Extraction of the essence of copper pyrites. Cf. Vol. i, pp. 70 and 84. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.18) The process is practically the same as given in R. R. S. Cf. Vol. i, pp. 87 88. ### [v2.c32.s8.t1.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8.t1.19) I have performed the \[aforesaid\] experiments with my own hands and have seen them with my own eyes. They are not recorded from mere hearsay or from the dictation of a teacher. These are being promulgated for the benefit of mankind. ## Linked texts (5) - [Carakasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.samhita.caraka) — Agniveśa (Āyurveda) & Caraka, Sanskrit - [Suśrutasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.samhita.susruta) — Suśruta & Nāgārjuna (siddha/alchemist), Sanskrit - [Rasaratnasamuccaya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.rasaratnasamuccaya) — Vāgbhaṭa (alchemist), Sanskrit - [Rasaratnākara](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.rasaratnakara) — Nityanātha Siddha, Sanskrit - [Rasārṇava](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.siddha.rasarnava) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c32.s8) · Pramāṇa