History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c28.s2: The Anjanas
History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c28.s2
- Language
- English
The Anjanas
c28.s2.1
The *Anjanas* (collyriums).—Of these there are *sauvīranjana*, *rasanjana*, *srotonjana*, *pushpānjana* and *nīlanjana*; their properties are described below. 97-98
c28.s2.2
*Nīlanjana* is a *killer* of gold (*cf.* the *killing* of gold, silver, iron and copper in Vagbhata, p. 71) and induces softness in iron, i e. renders it easily pulverizable. (This is due to the fact that iron becomes impregnated with brittle sulphide of iron.) 104
c28.s2.3
The essence of the anjanas is to be extracted like that of realgar.
c28.s2.4
(These five varieties of *anjanas* are used as cosmetics for the eyes. *Anjana* literally means collyrium or medicine for the eyes. *Sauvīranjana* is mostly galena or sulphide of lead, though it is usually translated as sulphide of antimony. It is said to be obtained from the mountains of Sauvīra, a country along the Indus, whence it derives its name.)
c28.s2.5
*Srotonjana* is evidently stibnite or the native sulphide of antimony The word literally means ‘produced from a river’, especially from the Yamuna.
c28.s2.6
*Nīlanjana* is undoubtedly stibnite or antimony sulphide.
c28.s2.7
*Pushpānjana* is described as an alkaline substance. It is rather unidentifiable.
c28.s2.8
*Rasanjana* is the extract of the wood of *Berberis asiatica*
c28.s2.9
*Kankushtham* is produced at the foot of the Himalayas . . . . Some are of opinion that it is the excrement of a new born elephant ..... it is of white and yellow colour, and is a strong purgative. 109-112
Linked texts (1)
- Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā — Vāgbhaṭa, Sanskrit