History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.4

c15.4

In the Atharvaveda, which deals with recipes for longevity and cure of diseases, we find the empirical basis or seeds of alchemy and medicine. These along with other practical arts were increasingly developed in the following ages. For instance, there is a passage in Samyutta-Nikaya (pt. III, p. 152) where Buddha is described to refer incidentally to a number of vegetable substances used by the dyers or painters for preparing dyes and colours. These are:—(*a*) resin (*rajana*), (*b*) lac (*lakha*), (*c*) turmeric (*halidda*), (*d*) indigo (*nili*) and (*e*) maddar (*manjutthi*).