[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956) › c27 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c27: Book Ii. The Rasas History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c27 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [c27.s1 Abhra](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1) — 49 parts ### Book Ii. The Rasas ### [c27.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.1) In the Hindu Materia Medica the mineral kingdom is broadly divided into the \*rasas\*, the \*uparasas\*, the \*ratnas\* (gems) and the \*lohas\* (metals). The term \*rasa\* is in general reserved for mercury, though it is equally applicable to a mineral or metallic salt. In the oldest medical works, e g the Charaka and the Susruta, \*rasa\* has the literal meaning of juice or fluid of the body, which, according to the notions of humoral pathology, engenders blood, serum, sweat, etc \*Rasakriya\* in the Susruta means fluid extract or concentrated decoction. As mercurial and metallic preparations gradually came into vogue and even began to supplant the vegetable drugs, the term \*rasa\* began to be substituted for quicksilver on account of its semi-fluid character and its supposed miraculous therapeutical action on the juices or humours of the body In the Bhavaprakasa we find \*rasa\* used in a twofold sense,—ancient and comparatively modern. ### [c27.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.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." ### [c27.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.3) Abhra (mica), \*vaikranta\*, \*makshika\* (pyrites), \*vimala\*, \*adrija\* (bitumen), \*sasyaka\*, \*chapala\*, and \*rasaka\*: these 8 \*rasas\* are to be identified and collected. ### Abhra ### [c27.s1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.1) There are three varieties of mica, namely, \*pinakam\*, \*nagamandukam\* and \*vajram\*, and each of these again are of four different colours—white, red, yellow and black. ### [c27.s1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.2) Mica, the layers of which can be easily detached, is preferred. Mica, which is as bright as the moon and which has the lustre of the rust of iron, does not take up or combine with (lit. swallow) mercury. That which has taken up mercury can alone be used with the metals and administered in medicine. Mica, which has been killed, is prescribed in the treatment of various diseases. The variety, which has the lustre of the moon, if taken internally, brings on dyspepsia and urinary disorders. ### [c27.s1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.3) Mica, heated seven times and plunged into sour gruel, or cow's urine, or decoction of the chebulic myrobalans, or cow's milk, is freed from all impurities. ### [c27.s1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.4) Mica, mixed with paddy grains and reduced to powder, tied in a piece of cloth and suspended in sour gruel, and then passed through linen, is known as \*dhanyabhram\* (lit. mica in combination with paddy). \*Dhanyabhram\*, rubbed with the juice of \*Cassia sophera\* and roasted ten times in a closed crucible, is killed thereby 24 ### [c27.s1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.5) VAIKRANTA ### [c27.s1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.6) \*Vaikranta\* has eight faces and six angles, is slippery and heavy and of uniform or mixed tint. It has 8 different colours, viz., white, red, yellow, blue, with the shades met with in the down of the pigeon, grass-green, black, and variegated. 55-56 ### [c27.s1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.7) \*Vaikranta\* is a powerful tonic and reckoned among the sovereign medicines It is a destroyer of all disorders and is employed in the place of diamond. 57-58 ### [c27.s1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.8) \*Vaikranta\* is purified by being heated three days with the salts and the alkalies, or by digestion with the acids, urines or decoction of \*Dolichos biflorus\* and the plantain, or of \*Paspalum scrobiculatum\*. It is killed by being roasted in a covered crucible eight times in combination with sulphur, lemon juice and \*Paspalum scrobiculatum\*. 67-68 ### [c27.s1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.9) \*Vaikranta\*, after being heated and plunged into the urine of the horse, ought to be repeatedly roasted and then reduced to ashes 69 ### [c27.s1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.10) \*Vaikranta\* after incineration is substituted for diamond. 70 ### [c27.s1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.11) Macerated in the ashes of \*Schrebera swietenioides\*, \*Butea monosperma\* and cow's urine, and mixed with the powdered root of \*Euphorbia antiquorum\*., turmeric. borax, powdered lac, and made into balls with the milky juice of \*Asclepias geminata\* and honey, and strongly heated in a closed crucible, \*vaikranta\* yields its essence. Of this, there is no doubt 71-72 ### [c27.s1.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.12) COPPER PYRITES ### [c27.s1.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.13) \*Makshikam\* is born of mountains yielding gold ......and is produced in the bed of the river Tapt and in the lands of the Kiratas, the Chinese and the Yavanas. 77 ### [c27.s1.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.14) Pyrites is of two kinds—golden and silvery : the former is a native of Kanouj and is of golden yellow colour. The silvery pyrites is associated with stones and is of inferior quality ### [c27.s1.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.15) Rubbed with the juice of lemons and sulphur, and roasted in a closed crucible it is killed. ### [c27.s1.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.16) \*Mākshika\*, repeatedly steeped in honey, oil of the seeds of \*Ricinus communis\*, urine of the cow, clarified butter and the extract of the bulbous root of \*Musa sapientum\*, and gently roasted in a crucible, yields an essence in the shape of copper. ### [c27.s1.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.17) (These verses occur both in Rasaratnakara by Nagarjuna as well as in Rasarnava ; see pp. 130 and 137.) ### [c27.s1.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.18) VIMALA ### [c27.s1.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.19) \*Vimala\* is described as of three kinds according as it has the lustre of gold, silver and brass respectively ### [c27.s1.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.20) It is rounded and is also endowed with angles and faces. ### [c27.s1.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.21) It is killed by being roasted ten times with sulphur, bitumen, \*Artocarpus lakoocha\* and the acids. ### [c27.s1.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.22) \*Vimala\*, rubbed with borax, the juice of \*Artocarpus lakoocha\* and the ash of \*Schrebera swietenioides\*, and roasted in a covered crucible, yields an essence of the appearance of gold. ### [c27.s1.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.23) \*Vimala\* digested with alum, green vitriol, borax and the watery liquid expressed from \*Moringa oleifera\*, \*Musa sapientum\* and finally roasted in a covered crucible in combination with the ashes of \*Schrebera swietenioides\*, yields an essence in the shape of \*chandrarka\* (lit. copper of gold-like lustre) ### [c27.s1.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.24) (These two couplets occur both in Rasaratnakara by Nagarjuna as well as in Rasarnava ; see pp. 131 and 137.) ### [c27.s1.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.25) SILAJATU ### [c27.s1.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.26) \*Silajatu\* (bitumen) is of two kinds,—one having the smell of cow's urine, the other resembling camphor. It oozes out in the heat of the sun at the foot of the Himalayas from the bowels of gold, silver and copper respectively 109-111 ### [c27.s1.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.27) SASYAKA ### [c27.s1.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.28) \*Sasyaka\* (blue vitriol)... has the play of colour in the throat of the peacock (i e has blue tint). \*Mayuratuttham\* is an emetic, an antidote to poisons and a destroyer of the whiteness of the skin 127-129 ### [c27.s1.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.29) It is killed by being roasted in a covered crucible with the juice of \*Artocarpus lakoocha\*, sulphur, bitumen and borax. 132 ### [c27.s1.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.30) \*Extraction of Copper\*:—Take blue vitriol and one-fourth its weight of borax and soak the mixture in the oil expressed from the seeds of \*Pongamia glabra\* for one day only and then place it in a covered crucible and heat in the charcoal fire,—by this process an essence is obtained from it of the beautiful appearance of coccinella insect 133-134 ### [c27.s1.31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.31) (These two couplets have been borrowed almost verbatim from Rasarnava.) ### [c27.s1.32](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.32) Or, enclosed in a crucible with borax and the juice of lemons and strongly heated, it yields an essence in the shape of copper 135 ### [c27.s1.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.33) Pure blue vitriol, of the colour of pea-cock, in combination with the aforesaid drugs and by the application of various processes, gives up its essence 136 ### [c27.s1.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.34) CHAPALA ### [c27.s1.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.35) There are four varieties of it—yellow, white, red and black. That which has the lustre of gold or silver is most appropriate for the fixation of mercury. The last two are indifferent and readily melt like lac and are useless. \*Chapala\* melts like tin when heated over fire—hence the name. 143-144 ### [c27.s1.36](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.36) \*Chapala\* has six faces and the lustre of a crystal. 146 ### [c27.s1.37](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.37) ( \*Chapala\* is possibly a sulphidic mineral; its radical meaning is mobile or fickle, hence it is a name often given to quicksilver.) ### [c27.s1.38](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.38) (Slokas 143-146 are evidently borrowed with slight modifications from Rasarnava; see p. 137.) ### [c27.s1.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.39) RASAKA ### [c27.s1.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.40) \*Rasaka\* (calamine) is of two kinds: the one of laminated structure is known as \*dardura\*, the other non-laminated is called \*karavellaka\* 149 ### [c27.s1.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.41) Calamine is to be heated and plunged seven times into the juice expressed from the seeds of lemon, or immersed in the urine of man or of horse, or in sour gruel or sour milk, and thus purified. 154-155 ### [c27.s1.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.42) (Slokas 149, 154-155 are borrowed from Rasaprakasasudhakara of Yosadhara; see p. 153 ) ### [c27.s1.43](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.43) \*\*Extraction of Zinc:\*\*—Rub calamine with turmeric, the chebulic myrobalans, resin, the salts, soot, borax, and one-fourth its weight of \*Semicarpus anacardium\*, and the acid juices. Smear the inside of a tubular crucible with the above mixture and dry it in the sun and close its mouth with another inverted over it, and apply heat; when the flame issuing from the molten calamine changes from blue to white, the crucible is caught hold of by means of a pair of tongs and its mouth held downwards and it is thrown on the ground, care being taken not to break its tubular end. The essence possessing the lustre of tin, which is dropped, is collected for use. 157-161 ### [c27.s1.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.44) (The flame of bluish tint issuing from the mouth of the crucible indicates the combustion of carbon monoxide, so often observed in metallurgical operations. This agrees almost word for word with what is given in Rasaprakasasudhakara of Yosodhara ) ### [c27.s1.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.45) Calamine is to be powdered with lac, treacle, white mustard, the myrobalans, natron and borax, and the mixture boiled with milk and clarified butter and made into balls These are to be enclosed in a crucible and strongly heated. The contents are then poured on a slab of stone—the essence of calamine of the beautiful appearance of tin ( thus obtained ) is to be used 163-164 ### [c27.s1.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.46) Or, a vessel filled with water is to be placed inside a \*koshthi\* apparatus and a perforated cup or saucer placed over it, a crucible charged as above is to be fixed in an inverted position over the saucer and strongly heated by means of the fire of \*jujube\* (\*Zizyphus jujuba\*) charcoal. the essence which drops into the water should be applied in medicine 165-166 ### [c27.s1.47](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.47) ( This is a case of distillation \*per descensum\*.) ### [c27.s1.48](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.48) This essence is to be mixed with orpiment and thrown over an earthen dish and rubbed with an iron rod till it is reduced to ashes ( Obviously the operation is to be performed over fire.) 167-168 ### [c27.s1.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27.s1.49) BOOK III ## Linked texts (7) - [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 - [Rasaprakāśasudhākara](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.rasaprakasasudhakara) — Yaśodhara (alchemist), Sanskrit - [Bhāvaprakāśa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.sangraha.bhavaprakasa) — Bhāvamiśra 1550, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c27) · Pramāṇa