[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) › c34 # History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c34: Book Ix. On Apparatus (Yantras) History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c34 - **Language:** English ### Book Ix. On Apparatus (Yantras) ### [c34.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.1) (This chapter also is evidently quoted from the work of Somadeva.) ### [c34.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.2) Somadeva will now give a brief account of the apparatuses after having considered innumerable works on chemistry. 1 ### [c34.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.3) \*Dola Yantram\* :—A pot is half-filled with a liquid and a rod placed across its mouth from which is suspended the medicine tied in a piece of cloth. The liquid is allowed to boil and a second pot inverted over the first (\*cf.\* Rasarnava, p. 135 and see Fig. 30 C). 3-4 ### [c34.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.4) \*Svedani Yantram\* :—A pot with boiling water has its mouth covered with a piece of cloth and the substance to be steamed is placed on it, and a second pot is arranged in an inverted position over the rim of the first (Fig. 30 C). 5 ### [c34.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.5) \*Patana Yantram\* (lit. apparatus for sublimation and distillation) :—Two vessels are adjusted so that the neck of the one fits into that of the other. The junction of the necks is luted with a composition made of lime, raw sugar, rust of iron, and buffalo's milk (\*cf.\* \*Dipika Yantram\* of Rasahridaya, p 147). 6-8 ### [c34.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.6) \*Adhaspatana Yantram\* :—A modification of the above apparatus in which the bottom of the upper vessel is smeared with the substance, the vapour or essence thereof condensing into the water of the lower one. Heat is applied on the top of the upper vessel by means of the fire of dried cow-dung cakes (Fig. 30 B). ### [c34.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.7) \*Dheki Yantram.\*—Below the neck of the pot is a hole into which is introduced the upper end of a bamboo tube, the lower end of it fitting into a brass vessel filled with water and made of two hemispherical halves Mercury mixed with the proper ingredients is subjected to distillation till the receiver gets sufficiently heated (Fig. 30 D). ### [c34.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.8) \*Valuka Yantram\* (sand-bath):—A glass flask with a long neck containing mercurials is wrapped with several folds of cloth smeared with clay, and then dried in the sun The flask is buried up to three-fourths of its length in sand placed in an earthen pot, whilst another pot is inverted over it, the rims of both being luted with clay. Heat is now applied till a straw placed on its top gets burnt (Fig. 30 D). ### [c34.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.9) \*Lavana Yantram\* :—If in the above apparatus salt is substituted for sand, it is called lavana yantram (salt-bath) ### [c34.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.10) \*Nalika Yantram\* —If in the above an iron tube be substituted for the glass flask, it is called nalika yantram. ### [c34.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.11) Place the crucible containing chemicals inside a mass of sand and apply heat by means of cow-dung cakes. This is known as the \*Bhudhara Yantram.\* ### [c34.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.12) \*Tiryakpatana Yantram\* (lit. distillation \*per descensum\*).—Place the chemicals in a vessel provided with a long tube, inserted in an inclined position, which enters the interior of another vessel arranged as receiver. The mouths of the vessels and the joints should be luted with clay Now urge a strong fire at the bottom of the vessel containing the chemicals, whilst in the other vessel place cold water. This (process) is known as \*tiryakpatanam\* (Fig. 30 E). ### [c34.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.13) \*Vidyadhara Yantram\* :—Vidyadhara yantram is for the extraction of mercury from cinnabar. Two earthen pots are arranged one above the other. Place cold water in the upper vessel and heat the lower one by burning fire from below. ### [c34.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.14) Patana yantram. ### [c34.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.15) Fig. 30b. Adhaspatana yantram ### [c34.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.16) Valuka yantram. ### [c34.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.17) Dhekı yantram ### [c34.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.18) Vidyadhara yantram. ### [c34.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.19) Tiryakpatana yantram. ### [c34.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.20) Dhupa yantram Page 191 ### [c34.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.21) Fig 30a. Koshthi apparatus Page 172 ### [c34.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.22) Cinnabar is placed in the lower vessel, and mercury condenses at the bottom of the upper vessel (Fig. 30 E). 57-58 ### [c34.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.23) \*Dhūpa Yantram\* (lit. fumigating apparatus) :—Bars of iron are laid in a slanting position a little below the mouth of the lower vessel and gold-leaves are placed over them, and at the bottom of the vessel is deposited a mixture of sulphur, realgar, orpiment, etc. A second vessel, with its convexity turned upwards, covers the mouth of the lower one, and the rims are luted with clay. Heat is now applied from below. This is called fumigation of gold-leaves. Silver may also be similarly treated (Fig 30 A). 70-74 ### [c34.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.24) This chapter concludes with a detailed description of mortars and pestles—their sizes, measurements, etc. ### [c34.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34.25) BOOK X ## Linked texts (2) - [Rasārṇava](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.siddha.rasarnava) — Sanskrit - [Rasahṛdaya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.rasa.parada.rasahrdaya) — Govinda, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1956.c34) · Pramāṇa