[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) › c28.s2 # 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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c28.s2.3) The essence of the anjanas is to be extracted like that of realgar. ### [c28.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c28.s2.6) \*Nīlanjana\* is undoubtedly stibnite or antimony sulphide. ### [c28.s2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c28.s2.7) \*Pushpānjana\* is described as an alkaline substance. It is rather unidentifiable. ### [c28.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c28.s2.8) \*Rasanjana\* is the extract of the wood of \*Berberis asiatica\* ### [c28.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.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](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.samhita.astangahrdaya) — Vāgbhaṭa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c28.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c28.s2) · Pramāṇa