A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c32.t1.1

v2.c32.t1.1

The existence of a vast ancient Tantric literature with alchemy as a component part has now been placed beyond doubt, thanks to the searching examination of the Mahárájá's collection of valuable MSS. of Nepal by the eminent scholars Bendall, H. P. Sástrí and S. Lévi. Of surpassing interest is the discovery of a Tantra belonging to the extinct school Kubjikámata, written in Gupta character and copied about the sixth century A. D. This school, though itself very ancient, presupposes the existence of other schools and we have distinct mention of the Maháyána.[*] We now learn that the gradual fusion and amalgamation of Sivaite and Buddhist Tantras had begun even anterior to the sixth century. The Kubjiká-tantra was evidently composed outside India proper, probably in Nepal. The Goddess Párvatí encourages her consort to proceed to the continent for the spread of the tenets propounded by it.[†] In one place we come across a passage[‡] in which Siva himself speaks of párada (mercury) as his generative prin-