Hindu Achievements in Exact Science: A Study in the History of Scientific Development c16.3

c16.3

Leaving aside the chemists or druggists in the medical schools of India, two great specialists in chemistry *as such* were Patanjali (second century b.c.) and Nagarjuna (early Christian era). Patanjali was also a philologist, his commentary on the famous grammar of Panini is well known. His "science of iron" (*loha-shastra*) was a pioneer work on metallurgy. Nagarjuna's genius also was versatile. He is the patron-saint of alchemists. He is credited with having founded or rather systematized the philosophy of *rasa* (mercury).