History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c27.2

c27.2

In the older works *rasayana* (derived from *rasa*, juice, and *ayana*, way) means a medicine preventing old age and prolonging life—the *elixir vitae*. Later on *rasayana* was almost exclusively applied to the employment of mercury and other metals in medicine, and at present it means also alchemy (chemistry). The author of Rasaratnasamuchchaya uses the term "Rasasiddhipradayaka", which is derived from *rasa*, mercury, *siddhi*, accomplishment, and *pradayaka*, giver or bestower, i.e. lit. giver of accomplishment in mercury; in other words, an expert on alchemy. Wilson in his Sanskrit-English dictionary thus happily renders *rasasiddhi*: "The knowledge of alchemy, the possession of peculiar familiarity with mercury obtained by the performance of chemical operations conjoined with certain mystical and magical rites and the securing thence to the adept of happiness, health and wealth; the power of transmuting metals and the art of prolonging life."