History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c25: Chapter Xi. Chemistry In Rasakalpa (Rudrayamala Tantra)

History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c25

Language: English

Chapter Xi. Chemistry In Rasakalpa (Rudrayamala Tantra)

c25.1

Bowing to Siva, the lord of mercury, and also to the feet of Chandika, I write this Rasakalpa, the depository of mercurial lore.

Tests for *killed* mercury:—*Killed* mercury is that which is devoid of (metallic) lustre, not so ponderous, white (calomel is probably meant by this), destroyer of metals, divested of fluidity and non-volatile when stirred over a fire. 40

c25.4

Purified mercury should be preserved in the hollow of a tooth, or gem, or bamboo 42

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II.

c25.6

Gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and iron—these are the six metals; *vartaloha*, etc., are simply alloys 1

c25.7

Honest readers! I beseech you with folded hands to favour my book with your merciful glance.

c25.8

The *maharasas* are eight in number; e.g., mercury, cinnabar, *sasyaka*, *rasaka*, *chapala*, etc.... The *rasas* are mica, green vitriol, *rajavarta* (*lapis lazuli*), collyrium, *vaikranta*, borax, etc. Sulphur, orpiment, realgar, etc., are the *uparasas* as regarded by learned teachers.

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There are four kinds of sulphur:—white, black, yellow and red.

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The *saurashtris* (alums) are of various kinds; the *kasisas* (vitriols) are of three kinds,—namely, *kasisa* proper, *pushpa kasisa* and *hirakasisa* (green vitriol).

c25.11

*Gairika* is stated to be of two varieties,—the one of golden hue, the other red; *kamkushtha* 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.

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For the purification of mercury this process is recommended by Svachchhandabhairava and Govinda.

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*Chulikalavana* (sal-ammoniac), sulphur and the ash of ginger, etc., digested one hundred times with cow's urine,... make a *vida* for killing gold. This process for killing (metals) was revealed by Siva and has been transmitted by successive schools of adepts

c25.14

*Extraction of the Essence of Copper Pyrites:*—*Makshikam* (pyrites), digested hundred times with juice of plaintain leaves, and then steeped for three days in oil, clarified butter and honey, and then heated strongly in a crucible yields its essence.

c25.15

*Extraction of Zinc from Calamine:*—Calamine, enclosed in fourfold pieces of cloth is heated in steam in a vessel for five months Then it is powdered in a mortar and then mixed with treacle, soot, etc. The mixture is then made into balls. These are enclosed in a crucible and strongly heated. The essence possessing the lustre of tin is thereby obtained.

c25.16

I have performed the (aforesaid) experiments with my own hands and have seen them with my own eyes. They are not recorded from mere heresay or from the dictation of a teacher. These are being promulgated for the benefit of mankind.