Abrief History of Indian Alchemy Covering
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Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI PP 11 TO 38 A BRIEF HISTORY OF INDIAN ALCHEMY COVERING TRANSI- TIONAL AND TANTRIC PERIODS (Circa 800 A.D. - 1300 A. D) MOMIN AU* ABSTRACT A brief history of Indian alchemy covering the pre-vedic, vedic and Ayurvedic periods (Circa 4000 B.C. to 800 A.D.) was given in one of the previous issues of this Bulletin, i.e. Volume 23, NO.2, July, 1993, pp. 151-166. In continuation ofthe same, this article is presented here, giving an account of the development of the chemical knowledge in India during transitional and tantric periods (circa 800 A. D. to 1300 A. D.) Transitional Period: (Circa 800 AD - 1100 AD): This period determines the parting stance, everlasting in form and ever ways or represents a transition in the growing in function which makes syn- progress of Ayurveda with regard to the thetic gold ferment gOld. Sulphur and nature and composition of drugs. Upto mercury, in their qualities were like fire 800 AD, mainly herbs and simples and and water, constituted of all the four a few readily available products of min- cosmic qualities, viz. heat, cold, mois- erai kingdom were used. Progress in ture and dryness. In ideal ratio the the use of metallic preparations had sulphur-mercury complex became the started since the time of Vagbhata and soul or creative energy of an everlasting from the 10th century A.D. onwards metal, better conceived as seed ofgold. almost every Ayurvedic work is found This inoculated in a base metal donated more or less mentioning metallic life or the power of growth to perfection, compounds,which can only be prepared which made it fire proof or gold. The synthetlcalty.' sulpho-mercurial complex becomes the According to Mahdihassan, the ferment of gold. But the resultant gold, progress of alchemy depends upon two incorporating,6he ferment was also fer- theories. The first concerns five cosmic ment of gold, and a drug of immortality .. elements explaining the origion of life, The case was similar to some curd health and disease. The other one re- being mixed with milk which becomes fers to the origion of metals. Then the curd and incorporates the original ln- exploitation of these two theories en- oculum as well. When ordinary gold is abled alehemy to imitate creation, by mixed with mercury an amalgam is producing gold DE NOVO as living sub- formed and on the other hand when • Assistant Director & Incharge Indian Institute of History of Medicine, OMC, Putlibooli, - Hyderabad - 500195 (India) 1. "History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India" Ray.P. (1956), Pub.by Indian Chemical Society 92 Upper Circular Road, Calcutta-9,P.No.108. 12 A Brief History OF Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali alchemical gold is seeded into mercury treatises of this period. Both Vrinda - the entire mass becomes gold again. and Chakrapani have mentioned Briefly synthetic gold is all three live Nagarjuna as an authority, who was a gold, or gold as ferment, gold ferment or celebrated Indian alchemist and unani- ferment of gold and a drug of immortal- mously -looked upon as the inventor of ity. So, the sulphomercurial complex the processes of distillation and calcina- became the seed of all metals, including tion andwho also wrote many standard that of gOld.2 treatises on Indian alchemy viz. During the 8th century A.D. and Kakshaputatantra, Rasaratnakara and onwards, the ancient scholars encour- Arogyamanjari etc. The author of aged the use of mineral drugs in the Rasaratnasamuchchaya in the opening Ayuvedic therapeutics. Due to specific lines, has invoked Nagarjuna as one of and quick effects in small doses, palat- the 27 alchemists, and in the chapter-on able tests and long shelf life, these drugs minerals quoted him as an authority. So became very popular. As a result, more does the author of Rasendrachinta- and more effective and stable rasayana mani as Chakrapani, also while describ- drugs were evolved and the use of the ing the process of roasting iron. drugs of mineral origin as rasayana Nagarjuna was the first to introduce the became more frequent than the use of preparation known as kajjali (black drugs of herbal oriqin". From the 5th to sulphide of mercury) according to both the 11th century A.D. the colleges in vrinda and Chakrapani. Dalhana makes connection with the monasteries of him the redactor of the Sushruta. The Pataliputra, Nalanda Vikramashila, mention of Nagarjuna by all these au- Udandapura etc. were the great seat of thoritieswould not remove him far from learning as the temples attached to the the 8th or the 9th century A.D. a date pyramids in ancient Egypt and alchemy which is also confirmed by Alberuni, was included in the curricula of studies. who lived in India from 1017-1030 A.D. In this way at the time of vrinda (9th Acording to other scholars , cent.A.D) and Chakrapani Datta (11th Nagarjuna lived in the 1st century A.D. cent.A.D) the metallic preparations had while Kalhana Misra is of the opinion - so fully established their claims that, that he flourished 150 years after they could no longer be ignored. Sakyasimha had taken himself to as- Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna, ceticism, i.e. he lived in the last quarter Siddhayoga of Vrinda and Chakradatta of the 4th and 1st quarter .of the 3rd of Chakrapani Datta are the notable century B.C. It is doubtful, however, if 2. "The Base of Alchemy", Mahdihassan,S.Pub.in the Journal, "Studies in History of Medicine", Vol.l, (1977) ,Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research, New Delhi-11 0 062 P. Nos.49,57 ,60-62. 3. Rasaratnasamuchchaya •. Joshi 0, Pub. in the Indian Journal of History of SCience, Vol.22, No.2, April, 1987, Indian National Science Academy, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-11 0002. Introduction P. Nos.1-3. Bull. Ind. tnst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 13 Nagarjuna, the philosopher, is the same processes are discussed in the form of as Nagarjuna, the alchemist, consider- a dialogue between Shalivahana, ing that, there is no reference whatever Nagarjuna, Ratnaghosha and Mandav- tothe processes of distillation, sublima- ya. These last two names are held tion etc. in the Charaka, the Sushruta, equally in veneration with Naqarjuna and the Vagbhata, though it must be and grateful acknowledgements to admitted that, Nagarjuna, the alche- their services occur in some later mist can lay claim to superior chemical chemical treatises such as knowledge. He is said to have been a Rasaratnasamuchchaya. On the basis great friend of king De-Chye(Samkara) of internal evidences it can be said that, of South India also, who flourished in the it is one of the earliest works extent on 8th 9th century A.D. whom, Nagarjuna the Indian alchemy, belonging to about converted to Buddhism. It is said that 7th or 8th century A.D. Nagarjuna was born and brought up in This work contains: Methods of purifi- the Brahminical faith but was after- cation of the maharasas (important wards converted to Buddhism and was minerals). The methods of purification an celebrated alchemist also. Thus it is with regard to - rajavrata (lapis lazuli), clear from various records that he was gandhaka (sulphur), rasaka (calamine), not only the originator of the madhya- dardaa(cinnabar), makshika (pyrites), mika philosophy but also an adept in hema(gold), tara(silver) and magic, conjuration and alchemy and shulva(copper), killing of diamond and that even so early as the 7th century the metals, methods of extraction of the A.D. However, the exact time during essence of minerals like Vaikranta (tour- which he flourished is a matter of con- maline?/black oxide of manganese), troversy. He is generally regarded as a makshika and tapya (varieties of the contemporary of Kanishka. One can pyrites), rasaka (calamine), darada (cin- not go far wrong in assigning circa 150 nabar) and abhraka(mica) etc. alongwith A.D. asthedate of his succeeding tothe dissolution of gems (pearls etc). by Patriarchate. digestion in vegetable acids, e.g. sour Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna : gruel (impure vinegar) and the juice of It is a Tantra of the Mahayanist certain acid plants and the process of school and as such its invocations are fixation of mercury etc. addressed to all the Buddhas and in one Recipe for an elixir; "Mercury is to place there is a pointed reference to be rubbed with its equal weight of gold Prajnaparamit (Perfection of wisdom) and then(the amalgam) further admixed appearing before Nagarjuna in a dream with sulphur, borax etc. The mixture is and revealing to him the ingredients of then to be transferred to a crucible and a recipe (consistinq of steel, copper, its lid put on, and then submitted to mica, pyrites etc. ) A noteworthy fea- gentle roasting. By partaking of this ture of this work is that some chemical elixir (i.e .the sublimate) the devotee 14 A Brief History OF Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali acquires a body not liable to decay" narayana yantram, jalika yantram, and a recipe for Kajjali or Aethiops charana yantram ( detailed account of mineral etc. most of these will be found in later Kakshaputa: treatises like Rasarnava and particu- There isa tantra, which goes by this larly in Rasaratnasamuchchaya. name, the reputed author of which is Vrinda and Chakrapani have fol- Nagarjuna. The most important part, lowed closely Charaka, Sushruta and from an historical point of view, is the Vagbhata, but at the same time both of mentioning of Srishaila, where Nagar- them are amenable to the influences juna was residing and the dialogue be- brought to bear upon medicine by the tween Nagarjuna, King Shalivahana and Tantras.