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 , 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 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. Ratnaghosha, Vrinda follows closely the order and the pathology of the Nidana of Tests for killed mercury : Madhavkara, which was composed one The first two couplets are almost the or two centuries before him. He was a same as in Rasarnava. well established authority atleast as When the mercury assumes di- many centuries before the time of verse colours after having given up its Chakrapani. fluidity, it is known as swooned. Killed Since the lower most limit of the mercury is that which does not show period of existence of the Nidana is signs of fluidity, mobility and . believed to be as the 8th century A.D. When the mercury, which has ac- the period of Vrinda is supposed to be quired the colour and the lustre of the 900 A.D. rising sun, stands the test of fire (i.e. Chakrapanidatta, himself a learned not readily volatilised), then it is to be commentator of both the Charaka and regarded as fixed. Sushruta, wrote the famous medical Then follows a list of apparatus bor- treatise in the year about 1050 A.D. rowed from Rasendramangala. which bears his name. He distinctly Shila yantram, pashana yantram, mentions that he has modelled his work bhudhara yantram, bansa yantram, on the Siddhayoga of Vrinda and that, nalika yantram, gajadanta yantram, dola he draws largely upon the Charaka, the . yantram, adhaspatana yantram, Sushruta and the Vagbhata, all of whom bhuvaspatana yantram, patana he quotes verbatim and at length. yantram, niyamaka yantram, gamana Siddhayoga: yantram, tula yantram, kachchapa Preparations in which sulphide of yantram, chaaki yantram, valuka copper and aethiops mineral figure: yantram, agnisoma yantram, gandhaka "Sulphur, Copper and the pyrites are to trahika yantram, musha yantram, be pounded together with mercury and handika yantram, kambhajana yantram, subjected to roasting in a closed cru- ghona yantram, gudabhraka yantram, cible and the product thus obtained to BUll. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 15

be administered with honey. This is "Mercury rubbed repeatedly in the known as "Parpati tamram". (Sulphides juice of 5esbania aculeate, Ricinus of copper and mercury are obviously communis, Zingiber officina/e and 50- produced by this operation). lanum nigrum, becomes purified". Takeone part ofsulpherand half its "Take one part of mercury and one weight of mercury (The components to part of sulphur, rub the two together in be rubbed together) ...The same to be a mortar and thus prepare Kajjali or administered with honey and clarified rasaparpati'(black sulphide of mercury butter. This is called "rasarnrita or Aethiop's mineral). Chakrapani him- churnam" (Sulphide of mercury consti- self claims its discovery or atany rate its tutes the main ingred ient of this prepa- introduction. Vrinda has also described ration). a similar prep~ration under the name of A Collyriurrr. rasamrita chuma. Compound of 14 ingredients Tamrayoga (lit. Powder of copper amongst which occur the belleric my- compound: robalans, rock-salt, killed copper and "Take athin leaf of Nepalese copper .blue vitriol-all in the powdered form. This and embed it in powdered sulphur. The very preparation in identical recension substances are to be placed inside a occurs in Chakrapani underthe name of saucer-shaped earthen-ware vessel and "Nagarjuna Varti". covered with another. The rims are A process of killing iron: luted with sugar or powdered rice-paste. A process of killing of iron has been The apparatus is heated in a sand-bath given by Vrinda. Forthis purpose,. iron for three hours. The copper thus pre- is to be first ignited in the fire and then pared is pounded and administered - macerated in the juice of the emblic with other drugs". The product of the myrobalan and Trewia nuditlore and reaction is obviously a sulphide of cop- exposed to the sun, and again to be per. Process of Killing iron: Killing of macerated in the juice of certain other iron has been described in this work as plants and then to be rubbed in a promulgated by the sage Nagarjuna, mortar(The process obviously gives rise which is as under: to oxides of iron). A bar of iron is to be rubbed with the Mercury has been mentioned as a levigated powderofthe various vegatable constituent of medicine to be applied products like belleric myrobalans, externally for killing lice, which has to be Clitoria ternatea. Vitis quadrangu/aris, prepared by rubbing quick silverwith the Boharhaavia diffusa and verbesina juice of Dhatura metal or piper betle. ca/end It is then strongly heated to the Chakradatta: fusion point and plunged into the decoc- Black sulphide of mercury (Kajjali) tion otttie myrobalans. The iron is then or Aethiops mineral: The first process powdered by being beaten with an iron consists in the purification of mercury. hammer. The powder is then digested 16 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali

in the decoction of the myrobalans and adequate light on the alchemical or roasted repeatedly in a crucible. The iatro-chemical thoughts and practices final product resulting from these op- in existence in India in about the 11th erations is evidently an oxide of iron in century AD. a finely divided form. From the point of view of the contents, Mandura or rust of iron: arrangement and presentation of mat- Rust of iron is prescribed in combina- ter in terms of Kalpas, as also frequent tion with other drugs. references to even profane tantrik rites, Receipt for a soap to be used as depila- thiswork appearsto fie midway between tory: the Rasaratnakara and the Rasarnava. The ashes of Schrebera The tantric elements described in it are swietenioides and Cassia fistula are Brahmanical (as against the Buddhist to be mixed with lime from burnt shells Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna) and in and lixiviated with the urine of the ass. tune with those mentioned in the The lye is then to be boiled with a Rasarnava. So, the probable date ofthe definite weight of mustard pil, for its Rasarnavakalpa may be taken to lie. preparation (The plant ashes, compo- between the 10th and 12 th century i.e. sed mainly of potash carbonate, on about 11th century A.D. treatment with lime invariably produced The different kalpas incorporated in caustic alkali. The latter, when boiled it are, in the main, concentrated upon with mustard oil, gives rise to a potash the powers of different substances for soap). bringing about perfection in the form of Preparation of caustic alkali:The transmutation of base meta is like cop- process of preparation of caustic alkali, peror lead into gold or silver, and in the being practically identical with that, as bestowal of psychic power on human given in the Sushruta Samhita, has beings, by which they are capable of been decribed by Chakrapani in this attaining material immortality, viz. un- work. usual prolongation of life, possession of Calx of Silver: perenni al youth and beauty, any form of In a preparation named "Yogaraja" life at will, acquisition of immense ru pyamala or calx of silver (probably in strength especially virile power, assum- the form of sulphide) figures as a com- ing invisibility, moving in the air etc. ponent 4. According to this work the Rasamavakalpa: Kayasadhana or dehasiddhi, can be . This work contains quite consider- attained effectively by the use of a able material on alchemical receipes number of processed mineral and and mercurial preparations, throwing vegatable compositions.

4. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C. (1903), Vol.l, The Bengal Chemical & pharmaceutical works, Ltd, 91, upper circular Road, Calcutta, Introduction p.nos. liv-lix, xci-xcv and 58-63 and Vol.II (1909), p.nos, xix, xx, xxi, xxxix, xl, xli, xlii, 1-3 and 4-9. Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 17

Generally a brief description of the rasaka (calamine), Shila (realgaQ, Shulva origin of the substances is given first (copper), talaka (orpiment), tankana and then sequentially their properties (borax), tapya (iron-pyrites), tuttha (cop- and uses. Two of the kalpas are with per sulphate). 5 sulphur and arsenic sulphide. Twenty All the above mentioned recipes one Kalpas are devoted to the plants, refer to the floating mass of traditions and the other six relate to certain types current during the transitional period on of efficacious soil and water. The whole the transmutation of the base metals work can broadly be divided into three into gold. As they are quite laconic, and parts (i). rasayanotpatti, dealing are of a fragmentary and disjointed withcertain beneficial tantric practices character, the meaning is not always based on the preparation and use of the clear. The various ingenious methods rasayanas, (ii) rasaprakriya - dealing have been resorted to, fordebasing gold with mercurial operations, transmuta- or making an alloy, which would mimic tions and the like; and (iii) kalpaprabhaga the appearance of this metal. Silver, - enumerating the properties and uses copper, lead, zinc and mercury were of a number of plants, minerals and often made into an amalgam, and the metals. The text especially speaks of latter rendered compact and coloured rasayana and rasavidya, which has the yellow with the aid of talaka (orpiment). twin objectives centuring round mer- As regards alchemy in India in the cury. 11th century SirP.C.Ray has quoted in In addition, it also states that, mer- extenso Alberuni, as his main author- curial preparations possess some magi- ity. cal and some miraculous powers such "The Hindus do not pay particular as the levitation and invisibility. The text attention to alchemy, but no nation is describes the process of extracting mer- entirely free from it, and one nation has cury from cinnabar. One of the impor- more bias for it than another, which tant processes concerning mercury, must not be construed as proving intel- which the text describes elaborately is ligence or ignorance, for we find that vedhana samskara. many intelligent people are entirely - Of the chemical substances de- given to alchemy, whilst ignorant people scribed in the Rasarnavakalpa, the fol- ridicule the art and its adepts. Those lowing deserve special mention: abhra intelligent people, though exulting bois- (mica), gandhaka (sulphur), hingula (cin- terously over their make-believe sci- nabar), kanta (Ioadsstone), makshika ence, are not to be blamed for occupy- (gold-pyrites), narasara (sal-ammo- ing themselves with alchemy for their niac), naga (lead), rasa (mercury), motive is simply excessive eagerness

5. Rasarnavakalpa, edited & trans. by Roy, Mira, subbarayappa, B.V., 1976, pub. by Indian National Science I Academy, Bhadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110001, Preface & Introduction, P.nos. 1 - 4&7. 18 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali for acquiring fortune and for avoiding in India, and overlooks alchemy and misfortune .... The adepts in this art try mercurials as medicine or even gOld- to keep it concealed, and shrink back making. He speaks of Nagarjuna who from intercourse with those who do not occupies a position in Indian alchemy belong to them. Therefore, I have not comparable to that of Jabir Ibn Hayyan been able to learn from the Hindus, in that of Islamic alchemy. Mention of which methods they follow in this sci- Nagarjuna by name and cursorily refer- ence and what element they principally ring to 'minerological alchemy' merely use, whether a mineral or an animal or shows that rasayanas, as existing then, a vegetable one. I only heard them were mostly the same as in the Caraka's speaking ofthe process of sublimation, age, and the mercurial orherbo-mercu- of calcination, of analysis, and of the rial preparations and the art of gold- waxing of talc,- which they call in their making were not yet popular about 1000 language 'talaka' and so I guess that A.D. But later, these preparations as- they incline towards the minerological sumed very much importance and popu- method of alchemy. larity, and since then rasayana was They have a science similar to al- almost exclusively applied to the em- chemy which is quite peculiar to them. ployment of mercury and other metals They call it rasavana a word composed in medicine. Thus Indian medicine is with rasa i.e. gold. Itmeansan artwhich unique in recognizing rejuvenation. 7 is restricted to certain operations, drugs, The Tantric Period: andcompound medicines, most ofwhich (Circe 1100 A.D. -1300 A.D.) are taken from plants. Its principles Tantric cult came as a popular philo- restore the health of those who were ill sophical and religious movement since beyond hope, and give back youth to the decline of Buddhism in India, from fading oldage, so that people become the 8th century downwards and exer- again what they were in the age near cised a considerable influence on the puberty; white hair becomes black - society till the middle ages, i.e. 1300 again, the keeness of the senses is A.D. The development ofTantrism is a restored as well as the capacity for feature that Buddhism and in juvenile agility, and even for cohabita- their later phase have in common. tion, and the life of the people in this Indian alchemy, which is closely world is even extended to a long pe- associated with the religious cult of the riod" 6 Tantrism, is very largely derived its It is not surprising then, if Alberuni colour, flavour and infact its nourish- speaks of it as awell recogn ised system ment from the Tantric cult, which is

6. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C., Vol. I pg.nos. lix-Ixi and vol. II p.no.2.

7. Indian Alchemy or Rasayana, Mahadihasan, S. (1979), Vikas publishing House, Pvt.Ltd, 5, Ansari Road, ' New Delhi - 110002, p.nos. 52,53,70.72, and 118. Bull. Ind. Inst. His!. Med. Vol. XXVI 19 characterised by a curious admixture of tween a pair of opposite sexes and as alchemical processes on one hand, and generating "creative force" to be as- grotesque, obscene and sometimes similated by the male member. Later revolting rites on the other - all centred on, the opposites became ShivalParvati round the worship of and his or Hara/Gauri, and Union projected to consort . that between Mercury/Mice. As quoted The Tantras dealing with mercurial by P.C.Ray (Vol.I,P.lxxiii) mercury is preparations have their origin some- produced by the creative ( - reproduc- times about the 11th to 12th century tive) conjunction of Hara (Shiva) and A.D, though the Tantric process had Gauri (Parvati), and mica is produced started long before this time, but they from Gauri, "Mica (sulphur) is the seed had not acquire sufficient importance to of Gauri and mercury is the seed of force the attention of the physicians. It Hara". was during the Tantric period that, In- Inthisway, Indian mythologyspeci- dian alchemy reached its highest devel- fies mercury as semen of Shiva (the opment. creator), conceived as part of the cre- In the Tantric literature philosophy ator becomes creative power -The of mercury is the main out come, where prime Matter' what semen is to the in mercury is regarded as the genera- alchemical products. In harmony with tive principle of Shiva and directions are such a conception the alchemist is ad- given for making a mercurial phallus of vised to make 'a phallus' of mercury and Shiva.8 place it in the East' (P.C.Ray, The founder of the Tantric cult intro- Vol.l,p.117). The phallus is the emblem duced in India the "Gymnastics in sexual of procreative-cum-creative power, and intercourse". Some Indian temple sculp- mercury as semen is its real content,and ture depicts scenes of such sexual gym- the nature of the content can be de- nastics. Obviously they do not reveal duced from that of its contained and increasing sexual pleasure, but have to vice versa. This myhthological concep- be interpreted as exploiting ejaculated tion of Shiva, who personifies immortali- semen to be absorbed within the body, ty and as such has a due place in the thereby strengthening it and increasing Hindu Trinity, must be a very late and life. Later, mercurials were compared certainly post Vedic invention by Shivites with semen and thereby considered as who are the pioneers of alchemy in life-prolonging drugs. lndia.? In the Tantric system of "Sexual In the absence of more definite gymnastics" it has to be seen that, information it is very difficult task to union of opposites here is actually be- present the various treatises of the

8. in Ancient and Mediavallndia, Ray, P. (1956), Indian Chemical Society, Calcutta, P.nos.113-114, 9. "Indian Alchemy & Rasayana", Mahdihassan, S.Vikas, Publishing House, Pvt.Ud., 5 Ansari Road, New Delhi - 110 002, P.Nos. 45,46,81 & 90. 20 A Brief His/ory of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali tantric penod in their exact chronologi- good, has taken her abode tor the ben- cal sequence. It is to be regretted that, efit of mankind, who can restore to the of the several works quoted by Acharya disfigured patient afflicted with leprosy, Madhava in his 'Sarvadarshana the healthy comeliness and lustre of samgraha' under the heading of youth, Bhikshu Govinda, well-versed in Raseshvaradarshana,and also by chemical operations and loaded the various other authorities. with honours by the king of Kirata, Rasahridayatantra is one of the few composed this Tantra entitled works, which seems to have survived to "Rasahridays". present period. This Tantra is written by Govinda, Rasahridayatantra: the grandson of Mangalavishnu and - There is controversy among au- son of Sumanavishnu. thorities of the subject with regard to May Tathagata pronounce his bless- identity of the author of Rasahridays ings. tantra. It is believed that, this work was In the above account of himself composed somewhere between 7th or given by the author, it is clearly stated 8th century A.D. by Shrimad Govind that, he work underthe auspices of the Bhagwatpadacharya, who was also King ofthe Kiratas and even throws out the celebrated teacher of Sri a hint that he was a Buddhist, which is Shankaracharya. But, according to Sir not be found either in the Indian office P.C.Ray, if there be any historical - or Nepal manuscript, due to reason not base for such belief, the author of the known. Thus, SirP.C.Ray is inclined to Rasahridayatantra should no doubt be put the author of this work in 11th placed in the said period, apart altoge- century A.D. 10. Which is also accept- ther from the question whether at such able to vaidya Vasudev Mulshankar an early period the advancement in Dwivedi. Indian alchemy asfound inthisworkhad There are nineteen avabodhas been achieved? Further, he quotes - (chapters) in Rasahridayatantra, out of the colophon given at the end of the which first chapter deals mainly with the Banaras manuscript ofthis work, which importance of mercury and science of also tells against such hypothesis. The mercury along with other related gen- colophon giving an account of the au- eral topics. Second chapter contains thoristhat, "Madanaratha, King of Kirata eighteen treatments (samskaras) of mer- (lands adjoining modern Bhotan), cury alongwith definition and proce- teacher of mercurial lore, in whom the dures of the first eight treatments. In Goddess of the science of mercury and this way abhraka grasa process in - minerals (chemistry), the source of all third, varieties of abhraka and process of getting its essence in fourth,

10. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C. (1909) Vol.lI, the Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceutical works Ltd., Calcutta, P.Nos.ii, iii, (Introduction), 12 & 58. Bull. Ind. Inst. Htst. Med. Vol. XXVI 21 garbhadruti in fifth, jarana in sixth, vida the elaborate description in the vidhana in seventh, process of colouring Sushruta. mercury in eighth, bijavidhana in nineth, ...... , Blue vitriol- all these process of getting essence of vaikranta severally or collectively are said to be etc. intenth, process of bijanirvahana in useful for coloring quicksilver (The text eleventh, dwandva melapana process in is not very intelligible. The other ingre- twelfth, sanskarabija process in thir- dients mentioned are tikshana and kanta, teenth, sanakarabija jarana process in these being varieties of iron, but iron will fourteenth, bahyadruti in fifteenth, not amalgamate with mercury. Tikshana sarana process in sixteenth, kramana may also mean a kind of saline earth. process in seventheeth, vedha vidhana The old alchemists racked their brains process in eighteenth, and proceedure in devising ingenious process for rob- of using mercury internally after purifi- bing mercury of its fluidity and impart- cation of body, along with many formu- ing to it various colours). lations such as Khechari gutika etc. with Experts (on the properties) of met- their exaggerated qualities have been als are of opinion that, tin gives strength, described in nineteenth chapter. 11. tikshana colour, lead unctuousness, The chemistry as found in this work copper all these qualities (to mercury). is: - Quicksilverdigested with sour gruel The purport of the text here, seems and then subjected t6distillation is freed to be that, when mercury is rubbed with from the impurities of lead and tin. certain sulphides, e.g. orpiment, py- A description of the apparatus for rites etc, and sublimed, it assumes the the purification of mercury by sublima- colour of lac or Coccinella insect (a tion and distillation is given which agrees poetical and figurative way of expres- almost literally with that given in sion for red colour) in the shape of the Rasaratnasamuchchaya. It consists of red crystalline sulphide. two vessels placed one over the other- Vaikranta (a mineral resembling- mouth to mouth, the neck of the upper diamond, spinel?) Kanta (a variety of one sliding over that of the lower with iron), sasyaka (blue vitriol), makshika their junctions luted with a composition (pyrites), vim ala (a variety of pyrites), of suitable materials. This is known as adri (bitumen?) darada (cinnabar), Dipika Yantram. rasaka (calamine) - these are men- Ingredients for making a vida for tioned as the eight rasas and their killing materials (very similar to those essences are said to be well suited for described in Rasarnava). chemical operations. Preparation of mildalkali from the Sulphur, gairika (red ochre), Kshiti ashes of plants has been described, (rocky earth). Khechara (mica). anjana which is rathera poorone, compared to

11. Parada Vigyaniyam, Dwivedi, V.M.(1976), Shri Sharma Ayurveda Mandir, Datiya (M.P)p.nos. 294 - 296. 22 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin All

(sulphide) of lead and antimony), 2. Mardana : Grinding or trituration or Kankushtha (a medical earth - possibly rubbing steamed mercury in a mortar magnesium or sodium sulphate) - all with vegetable and acidic substances - these have been mentioned as the this process is said to remove some uparasas (subsidiary rasas). more impurities and thus confer good Gold and silver are said to be the qualities on mercury. noble metals. 3. Murchana: Swooning or making mer- Copper, brass, tikshana and kanta cury lose its own character and form by (varieties of iron) are the essential or rubbing it in a mortar with another set of substantial metals; lead and tin emit vegetable substancesto remove itssev- foetid odours (lead and brass are said to eral unwanted impurities. emit an offensive odour. Silver isdistin- 4. Utthaapana:Revival of form of the guished from tin by its absence offoetid mercury bysteaming it again in alkalies, odour). salts, the three myrobalans and alum The six salts are :- Sauvarchala etc, and then rubbing in sunlight so that (saltpetre),saindhava (rock-salt),chulika the characteristics of mercury are (sal-ammoniac), samudra (sea-salt), brought into play again. romaka (probably salt imported from 5. Paatana : sublimation or distillation outside), and vida (black-salt). of mercury after rubbing it with alkalies The alkalies are :- Sarjikakshara and salts etc. There are three types of (natron), yavakshara (potash) and bo- the Paatana,viz. Urdhva (upwards)adha rax. (downwards) and tiryak (sideways). A cupel made of bone-ash (goat's) 6. Rodhana: potentiation by mixing the and lined internally with borax, etc .... 12. distilled mercury with saline water in a Mercury has to undergo the eigh- closed pot - this process is believed to teen treatments (samakaras) if it is to restore its 'Vigour' or potency. exhibit its supreme powers not only as 7. Niyamana: restraining by continua- a trusted promotor of long and prosper- tion of the process by steaming mer- ous life but also to convert base metals cury for three days with a number of into noble one. The eighteen treat- plant products, alum, borax, iron ments are as under: sulphate etc. - this process is said to 1. Svedana : Steaming or heating restrain the mobility of mercury. mercury using a water bath with a 8. Dipana : stimulation or kindling by number of vegetable and mineral steaming the mercury with alum, black substances including some salts and Peper, sourgruel, alkali and some veg- alkalies- this process issaid to remove etable substances - this process is to the undesirable impurities present in "Kindle" the desire of mercury to attain mercury.

12. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray. P.C. (1909) Vol. II. The Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceu tical Works, Ltd, P.No. 9-11 Bull. Ind. Ins!. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 23 the power of consumption. possess the transmuting powers. 9. Gra'samaana:fixation of the desired 17. Vedha: acutal transformation or degree of the "essence"of mica for lts transmutation through rubbing the consumption. treated mercury with oil and a few other 10. Chaarana: amalgamation, i.e. boil- materials so that it results in actual ing mercury with sour gruel, leaves of transmutation. some kinds of cereal plants, alum etc, for a week - by this process mercury is 18. Bhakshana: procedure to intake of made to consume mica. mercury. It is believed by the experts in 11 .Garbhadruti: liquefaction - internal this field that, mercury after it has i.e. treating mercury with other metallic undergone sequentially the seventeen substances so thatthe "essence" of the processes, has all the powers of trans- latter become liquefied and thus they mutation. At this stage it should be may pass through a piece of cloth. tested for its powers and, if the test is 12. Jaarana : digestion or assimilation, positive, it should be used forthe eigh- by heating mercury with the desired teenth process leading to its assimila- minerals or metals, alkalies and salts so tion into and rejuvenation of the body. that they are digested and assimilated. Most of the important texts on In- 13. Bahyadruti: liquefaction - external, dian alchemy refer invariably to the i.e. the "essences" of the minerals or above mentioned treatments metallic substances to be consumed, (samakaras) of mercury in one way or becoming molten externally. the other. It is indeed very difficult to 14.Ranjana : colouration by a complex read exact scientific meanings into the process involving the treatment of mer- processes, which are clearly motivated cury with gold, silver, copper, sulphur, by an infinite belief in the divine poten- mica and salts in such a way that the tialities of mercury. what merits atten- former attains different colours, like tion, however, isthat, mercurywould be yellow etc. subjected to a series of methodical 15. Saarana : blending or preparation of processes to make it eminently fit for mercury for transformation by diges- internal use. However, mercury from ting it with gold, silveretc, in an oil-base cinnabar is considered to be of good so as to increase its ability for the quality, and the first sight of the afore- transformation. mentioned eighteen processes are not 16. Kraamana: acquiring poweroftrans- deemed necessary for it." formation, by smearing mercury with a Rasarnava: number of plant extracts, mineral sub- Rasarnava (lit.sea of mercury) is- stances, human milk, etc. and then an anonymous work of the Tantric pe- heating with a view to enabling it to riod. The work is very informative about

13. A concise History of Science in India, Bose, D.M. atel (1971) Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi,P.Nos.320-322. 24 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali

the chemical knowledge in India at about fire in the same chapter are: the period of 12th century A.D. to which "Copper yields a blue flame that of probably it belongs. This work must be tin is pigeon - coloured, that of lead is drachintamani. Although this work di- pale-tinted ... that of the iron is vided into 18 patalas (chapters), pre- tawny, ... that of the "peacock: are tends to have been revealsd by the- (sasyaka) is red" (sasyaka being blue God Shiva himself, its author, whoever vitriol (a copper mineral) cannot impart he may be, now and then gives hints, red colour to the flame. The reading in which clearly prove it to have been the manuscript seems, therefore, to be complied from pre-existing works, for defective). instances, it has not hesitated to bor- Further, a test of a pure metal as row copiously from Rasaratnakara at- given is: tributed to the renowned alchemist " A pure metal is that, which, when Nagarjuna. melted in a crucible, does not give off In Rasamava, as in all otherTantras, sparks nor bubbles, nor spurts, nor knowledge is lmparteo in the shape of a amits any sound, nor shows any line on dialogue between Bhairava (Shiva) and the surface, but is tranquil like a gem (or his consort parvati. This is a Tantra of in modern pharseology shows "signs of the shiva cult, which embody much tranwuil fusion)". valuable information on chemistry. The necesary materials to be col- The definition of Koshthi apparatus as lected before starting chemical opera- given here is :"For extracting the es- tions, as mentioned in the fourth chap- sence of metals a koshthi apparatus is ter of this Tantra are: preferred, which is 16 digits in width and "The rasas(mercury and some im- 2 cubits in length". portant minerals), the uparasas (infe- The colophon to the fourth chapter rior minerals), the metals, a piece of is: "Here ends chapter fourth of cloth, vidam(preparation for killing met- Rasaranava, which treats of apparatus, als), a pair of bellows, iron implements, crucibles and the colour of flames". stone pestles and mortars, the appara- The three alkalies and the standard tus known as Koshthi, mouth blow pipe, plant ashes as mentioned infifth chapter cow-dung, substantial wood ( as fuel), are:"Tankanakshara (borax), various kinds of earthen apparatus (e.g. yavakshara (carbonate of potash) and crucibles, etc), a pair of tongs, earthen Sarjikshara (trona/natron). and iron vessels, weights and balances, Ths ashes of tila (sesamum), bamboo and iron pipes, the fats, the apamarga (Achyranthes aspara), kadali acids, the salts and the alkalies and the (Musa sapientum), palasha (Butea poisons". Monosperma), Shigru (Moringa The various colours of the flames ptarygospeima), Machika (Schrebera produced on heating different metals in swistenioides) mulaka (Raphanus Buli. Ind. Inst. His!. Med. Vol. XXVI 25 setivus), ardraka (zingiber officinale), . yellow, white, red and black. That and chincha (Tamarindus indica)': which has the lustre of gold or silver is The maharasas, method of extract- most appropriate for the fixation of ing copper from the pyrites and the mercury. The last two are indifferent essence of vimala and the varieties of and readily melt like lac and are useless. Chapala etc. have been described in Chapala metls like tin when heated over seventh chapter, which are: fire - hence the name". The Maharasas: Brass from calamine and copper "Makshika (copper pyrites) ,vimala mistaken for gold: (a variety of pyrites), shila (mineral "Rasaka" - There are three kinds of pitch) chapala (possibly some sulphur it, namely, of yellow colour, of the ap- containing mineral), rasaka (calamine), pearance of treacle. and ofthe colour of sasyaka (blue vitriol), darada (cinna- stones. What wonder is it that rasaka bar) and srotonjana (stibnite) - these mixed with certain matters (organic) are the eight maharasas" and roasted three times with copper Copper from the pyrites: co nverts the latter into qold?", "Makshika, repeatedly soaked in Extraction of Zinc from calamine: Kshaudra (honey), taila (oil "Rasaka" mixed with wool, lac, of Ricinus communis), gomutra (urine Tarminalia Chebula and borax and of cow), ghrita (clarified butter) and roasted in a covered crucible, yields an kadali kanda sara (the extract of the essence of the appearance oftin; ofthis bulbous root of Musa sapientum) and there is no doubt". heated in a crucible, yields an essence Extraction of copper from sasyaka: in the shape of copper". "Take sasyaka (blue vitriol) and one- Method of extracting the essence fourth its weight of saubhagya (borax) . of vimala: and soak the mixture in karanja tails- "Vimala, digested with Kankshi (the oil expressed from the seeds of (alum), Kasisa (Green Vitriol), tankana Pongamia glabra) for one day only and (borax), the suranakanda then place it in a covered crucible and (Amorphophallue campanulatus) and heat in the charcoal fire- by this process the watery liquid expressed from shigru an essence is obtained from it of the (moringa oleifera) and kadali (Musa beautiful appearance of Indragopa sapientum) and finally roasted in a cov- (coccinella insect), i.e. red, in the ered crucible in combination with the Charaka Samhita, blood is described as ashes of moksaka (Schrebera having the colour of the coccinalla in- swietenioides), yields an essence in the sect). shape of chandrika (copperofgold-like Distillation of Saurashtri: lustre)". "Saurashtri" (alum) is to be macer- Varieties of chapala: ated in the bile of the ox one-hundred There are four varieties of chapala 26 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin At! times and then its essence is to be "Quicksilver, made into a paste by extracted by distillation - a very secret being rubbed with copper and sub- process, not to be divulged". jected to distillation, leaves behind tin The metals: and lead (with which they are often "Suvarna (gold), rajata (silver), adulterated) and becomes pure". tamra (copper), tikshana (iron), vanga Descriptions pertaining to killing of (tin) and bhujanga (lead), these are the mercury and gold etc. as given in the six metals and their resistance to waste eleventh chapter are: (i.e. rusting) is in the order in which they Killing of mercury: have been mentioned". " Kasisa(green-vitriol), tuvari Preparation of different "Vidas" to (alum) sindhu(salt), tankana(borax), kill the metals as given in the nineth mixed with the aforesaid vegetable drugs chapter are as follows: (vide original text) kill mercury in an The Killing of metals - -Vida-: instant (in the shape of calomel)". "Kasisa (Green vitriol), saindhava Killing of gold:

(rack-salt), Kankshi (alum), sauvira u •.••• saovarchala (salt-petre), kasisa (stibnits), the aggregats or the three (greeen vitriol), samudra (sea-salt), spices, viz. black pepper, long pepper saindhava(rock-salt)Asuri and dry ginger (or abhraka i.e. mica), (mustard),tankana(borax), gandhaka (sulphur), sauvarchala nevasara (salammoniac), karpura- (saltpetrs), sarjikshara (trona/natran) (camphor), makshika(the pyrites)- all and the juice expressed from malati these are to be taken in equal parts.- (Echites caryophyl/ata) - all these moist- The crucible is to be smeared with the ened with shigrumularasa (the juice of milky juice of Euphorbia neriifolia and the root of Moringa oleifera), makes a Asclepias gignatea, then, having ad- "Vida" which would kill all (the metals)". ded the powderof the aforesaid "Vida", Jwalamukha Vida: the gold is to be killed .... ". "Gandha (sulphur), talaka Test for killed mercury: (orpiment), sindhuttha (see-salt), chuli "When the mercury assumes (sal-ammoniac), tankana (borax) and Nag avarna (diverse colours) after hav- bhukhaga (earth-worm) - these digested ing given up its fluidity, it is known as with the ashes of the alkalies and the swooned, killed mercury is that which urines, give rise to another kind of "vida " does not show signs of fluidity, mobility known as jwalamukha". and lustres. The methods of purification of mer- Colouring of metals has been de- cury have been given in the tenth chap- scribed in the following way in the twelfth , ter, such as "Quicksilver rubbed with fourteenth and seventeenth chapters: the juice of the aforesaid plants(vide "Tikshna (iron) , naga(lead) and original text) and distilled seven times, tamra(copper) are coloured by means becomes pure" of rasaka (calamine)- the whole turns BUll. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 27

into gold"(XI1.51). Somadeva. It is adrnmed in this work At one place in this chapter, it is that, it has culled all its materials from said about the mercury that, "mercury pre-exhisting alchemical treatises. Many is composed of the five elements and Indian alchemists of 12-13th century represents Shiva himself(XI1.83). A.D. havequotedthisworkofsomadeva, "Take one pala of the ash of mer- such as in 9th chapter of cury (prepared as perthe above method, "Rasaprakashasudhakara"by vide the text) and rub it with the same yashodhara, in Bth and 9th chapters of weight of sulphur and roast the mixture "Rasaratnasamuchchaya" by in a covered crucible: Thus we get Vagbhata, who has taken a lot of mate- vermilion of the colour of the rising rial from Rasendrachudamani in his sun".(XVI.B4). work. This indicates that, in 13th cen- tury A.D. Rasendrachudamani might "Take Mayuragriva tuttha (the vit- have been regarded as most authentic riol which is of the colourofthethroat of and standard work of Indian alchemy. the peacock, i.e. blue vitriol), kumkum The topics covered in this book are in 16 (saffron), rasaka (calamine), asalsothe chapters viz. mercury, chemical labo- bala vatsa purisha (excrement of a young ratory, definitions, apparatuses, calf), visha (Aconitum chasmenthum), uparasas, sadharanarasas, gems, and halahala visha, and rakta chitraka chuma their rasayanas etc. 15. The worth men- (powdered P/umbagoZey/anica), all in tioning alchemical details as given in equal proportions, rub them with this work are: -Tests for killed iron madhyam amla (the moderate acids) (rouge): - Killed iron (or in general a and dry in the shade. Having added killed metal) is that, which in the shape madhu (honey) to the above mixture, of impalpable powder floats on water smear it on a thin sheet of naga (lead). and when rubbed between the thumb When roasted in a covered crucible, the and the forefingerenters the lines, which lead in coloured in no time, the lead on being mixed with treacle, Abrus which is now of beautiful colour is fit for precatorius, honey and ghee and bedacking the persons of the Gods" heated, does not cevert to the natural (XVII. 75-77). state, which floats on water like a duck (This process gives rise to probably the and does not sink down even when gold-like alloy, of copper, zinc and lead, heavy things like paddy grains are placed used by watch-makers). 14 over it. Rasendrachudamani: The killed iron is that which on being This work was composed by heated with silverdoes not mix (or alloy)

14. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C. (1903) Vol.l, published by The Bengal chemical & pharmaceutical work, Ltd., p.nos. 64-75.

15. Rasendrachudamani, translated by Dr.Siddhinandan Mishra (1984) published by Chaukhamba Orientalia, P.B. No. 1032, Varanasi - 221 001 (India). P.nos. 8,9 and 15-29 (Preface and contents). 28 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali with it. and roasted. This essence of the weight Take lead of the weight of 30 of 2 nishkas (8 G) is then to be fused with palas (1.440 kgs.) and rub it with the 80 times its weight of lead This milky juice of Calotropis gigantea and essence is also termed chapala. (The calcine it till its weight is reduced to a process obviously gives rise to a brass- karsa (12 G.) this residue, even if it be like alloy of copper, tin, zinc and lead. calcined a thousand times, will not un- Mercury is volatilized during roasting dergo further decay (i.e. diminution in and fusion.). weight). Metallurgists call this residue When quicksilver has been deprived derived from lead chapala (This possi- of its physical properties i.e. lustre, bly refers to lead derived from Argentif- fluidity etc. it is known as nashtapishta erousgalena. The lead, beingcupelled or killed mercury. off in the shape of litharge, will leave a Not much is known about the per- button of silver, which will not undergo sonal history of Somadeva except that, oxidation). he was the ruler of a city named Tin also similarly treated will yield a Karavalabhairavapur. Dandi, chapala,which, on merely being touched Munishvara and the saga Brahmahjyoti with the hand, kills (fixes) mercury. This are also spoken of as sources of inspi- mercury is recommended formetllurgical ration for him. and not for chemical purposes. On the basis of above facts, its date 1 pala (48G.) of tin should be taken may be put down between the 12th and and rubbed with 10 nishkas (40 gms) of 13th centuries A.D. 16. mercury and made into a cake with the Rasaprakashasudhakara: addition of Zinc, it is then to be digested This book was written by yashod- with the decoction of certain herbs and hara son of Padmanabha of Junagadh plants and warm vinegar and afterwards (Gujarat), as perthe colophon given at once more rubbed with half a pala (24 G) the end of its each chapter. The topics of blue vitriol and the juice of Abras covered in it in 13 chapters are: Mer- pracatorius. The mass is then to be cury and its 18 treatments (samskaras), divided intosmall pills, these should then fixation of mercury, metals, mahara- be put into a crucible with lid on and the sas, uparasas, sadharanarasas, fire to be urged by means of bellows. game, mercurial preparations, The essence is then to be taken out of apparatuses, 20 methods of prepar- the crucible. This essence of the weight ing artificial gold and 17 of 10 shanas (40 G) is then to be methods of preparing silver and other enclosed in a mixture of ashes and salts related alchemical matters etc. 17. 16. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C. (1909) Vol.ll, The Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceutical works, Ltd, Calcutta, p.nos. liv-iv and 14-16.

17.. Rasaprakashasudhakara, Translated by Dr. Siddhinandana Mishra (1983), published by Chaukhamba Orlentalia, P.o.Chaukhamba, Post Box No. 32, Varanasi - p.nos.6-16, (preface and contents). Bull. Ind. tnst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 29

The author of Calamine isto be heated and plunged Rasaratnasa muchchaya in the seven times into the juice expressed opening lines mentions the names of 27 from the seeds of lemon or immeressed alchemists to whom he is beholden, in the urine of man or of horse or in sour among which occurs that of yasho- gruel of sour milk and thus purified. dhara. It now transpires- that the credit Extraction of zinc from calamine: for the accurate observations on the The process given is almost metallurqy of Zinc really belongs to identical with that described in yashodhara. While the author of Rasaratnasamuchchaya, which is as Rasaratnasamuchchaya always scru- follows: Rub calamine with turmeric, the pulously admits that his work is a mere chebulic myrobalans, resin, the salts, compilation, yashodhara, on the other soot, borax and one fourth its weight of hand, isanxiousto lettheworld knowthat Semicarpus anacardium, and the acid the processes he describes have been juices. Smear the inside of a tubulated verified by experiments performed with crucible with the above mixture and dry his own hands. Among the authorities it in the sun and close its mouth with cited in this work are Nagarjuna, another inverted over it, and apply heat. Devishastra (probably Rasarnava), When the flame issuing from the molten Nandi,Somadeva, Svachchandab- calamine changes from blue to white, hairava and Manthanabhairava. As the crucible is caught hold of by means yashodhara has quoted here Somadeva, of a pair of tongs and its mouth held he must have been posteriorto the latter downards and it is thrown on the - by at least a hundred years and he ground, care being taken notto break its should therefore be placed in the 13th tubulure. The essence possessing the century A.D. lustre of lead runs outofthe crucible. (In A number of chemical informations Rasaratnasamuchchaya the essence is as found in the Rasaprakashasudharaka described as possessing the lustre of are: - tin). Preparation of karpurarasa from Saurashtfi or tuvafi (alum-earth): common salt, alum, borax and some - Found in ~uratdyes cloth and fixes the vegetable drugs mixed with mercury and colour of maddar A variety of it is then heating the mixture in a closed pot. slightly yellow and is called phullika or (lit camphor of mercury, i.e. calomel phataki. Another variety is white and which is prescribed here only as an acid in taste and known as phulla tuvari, aphrodisiac and a specific for leprosy iron changes to copper by the process but not as a remedy for syphilis). of lapa (The author seems to convey the Rasaka (calamine) is of two kinds: idea that alum plays an important part in the one of laminated structure is known this process). as dardura, the other, non-laminated is Alum is astringent, acid, beneficial called karavellaka. to the eye, it can remove pimples and kill 30 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali mercury .... The essence extracted solely to a description of the metals, from the (i.e. oil of vitriol) is to be minerals and the processes of "killing" used for operations with metals and not them with the agency of various appa- as medicine. ratus and has not gone into the treat- Descriptions of various kinds of pits ment of diseases with the aid of mineral for calcining and roasting purposes are preparations he has been able to con- given, as also their dimentions with the dense much important information - number of cow-dung cakes to be used within the narrow compass of a few as fuel, etc .... short chapters. Tests for killed mercury The Hemakriya or process for the as given in first chapter are: - Killed fabrication of gold as given here is: I mercury is that which is devoid of (me- shall now speak of some curiousities of tallic) lustre, not so ponderous, white, metals, partly from my own experience (the author previously refers tothe red, and partly from the classics on the black, white and even yellow ash (calx) subject. Calamine, cinnabar, copper of mercury, it is not clear why he should pyrites and realgar are to be rubbed with here restrict hi mself to the white variety the milky juice of Euphoribia neriifolia only. Chloride or sulphide of mercury, for 7 days together and then to be when treated with a metal and heated, digested another 3 days. Melted copper kills i.e. parts with its orsulphur or silver or lead, being alloyed with the to, the latterand in that sense it is a aforesaid mixture, acquires the power destroyer of metals metals destroyerof of converting 100 times its weight of metals, divested of fluidity and non base metal into gold. ". volatile when stirred over a fire. Rasakalpa (Rudrayamala Tantra) : Purified mercury should be pre- The colophon at the end of each served in the hollow of a tooth, or gem, ullasa (chapter) of the Rasakalpa claims or bamboo. the work to be a part and parcel of The second chapter deals with met- Rudrayamala Trantra; at the same time als, alloys and maharasas etc. which ar due acknowledgement is made to the as under: contributions of Govinda, the author of Gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and Rasahridaya, Svachchandabhairava iron - these are the 6 metals; vartalaha and other adepts. Towards, the end, the etc. are simply alloys. author says: "The processes described The maharasas are eight in number have all been verified by me and not e.g. mercury, cinnabar, sasyaka, borrowed at second-hand from my rasaka, etc .... the rasas are mica, teachers". green vitriol and rajavarta(lapis lazuli), From internal evidence it is abundantly collyrium, vaikranta, borax etc, the clear that it could not have been com- uparasas are sulphur, orpiment and posed earlier than the 13th century A.D. realgar etc,. There are 4 kinds of As the author has confined himself sulphur: - White, black, yellow and red. Bul/. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. VO/. XXVI 31

The saurashtris (alums) are of vari- a compilation and epitome based upon ous kinds, the Kasisa (vitriols) are of 3 standard works on the subject and the kinds - namely, kasisa proper, pushpa contributions of the adepts. kasisa and hirakasisa (green vitriol). Some idea of the date of Rasasara Gairika is stated to be of2 varieties, may be formed from the fact that there the one of golden hue, the other red; is mention of opium in it. (But the author karnkustha and other rasas are also was evidently quite in dark as to the described by certain teachers, but these, origin of opium, which he believed to be however, are not referred to here, tread- derived from foam of 4 different kinds ing in the footsteps Of sages of old. of poisonous sea-fish or snakes (the (Evidently charaka and sushruta, who word for opium," aphiphena," mention only a fewcommonly occuring lit. foam of the snakes.) It is however, minerals). doubtful if the narcotic drug is really Forthe purification ot mercury this alluded to here. However on the basis of process is recommended by the use ofthisterm, tntswo-k may safely Svachchandabhairava and Govinda. be placed in the 13th century A.D. Chulikalavana (Sal-ammoniac), sul- Rasaratnakara: phur and the ash of ginger, etc, di- Nityanatha, sonofParvati, who wrote gested one hundred times with cow's this treatise of Indian alchemy, has urine, .... make a vida for killing gold. given the sources of his information and Methods of extraction of the es- explained the object of his compilation sence of copper pyrites and extraction in the following words. of Zinc from Calamine are also given in ••Whatever has been revealed by it. Shiva in Rasarnava under the prepara- Rasasara: tions of mercury; the Dipika of It is a comprehensive but purely Rasamangala on mercury; all that has chemical work dealing with 18 opera- been said by Nagarjuna forthe benefit tions on mercury and various chemical of people afflicted with diseases, as also processes, incidentally described, a by Siddha Charpati, by Vagbhata and good many of which, however, overlap Sushruta - all these and many other each other. There does not seem to be treatises on mercury and minerals be- any justification for coining a multiplic- ing consulted, I have, after rejecting the ity of technical jargons to connote each drugs and medicaments which have of these. But prolixity was never re- become rare and difficult to procure, garded in the light of a vice by the put together (in my work) the essential alchemical writers of the middle ages features thereof .... All that I have learned either in India or in Europe. from my teacher and have been in a The author, Govindacharya, begins position to subject to practical tests with his adoration of Shiva and have been incorporated into my work for and tells at the outset that his treatise is the benefit of mankind". 32 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin AN

In addition to the authorities cited known as the commentator of Panini, above, Nityanatha quotes from authority of Lohashastra or the "Sci- Chakrapani and Rasendrachudamani. ence of Iron" and the redactor of The Rasaratnakara of Nityanatha Charaka, has given in his treaties on must be earlier than the Metallurgy "Lohashastra", elaborate Rasaratnasamuchchaya, as the directions for many metallurgic and author of the Rasaratnasamuch - chemical processes, specially the chaya has quoted Nityanatha. It isalso preperations ofthe metallic salts, alloys said that, the Rasaratnakara of and ama Igams and the extraction, puri- Nityanatha was composed when the fication and assaying of metals. Prob- Unani system of medicine was fully ably it was Patanjali, who discovered- established in India. Thus, the period of the use of the mixtures called Vidas, this work, may therefore be about potentially containning mineral acids 13th century A.D. according to Dwivedi, aqua regia, sulphuric acid, hydrochlo- V.M. (parada vigyaniya, P.301). ric acid etc. Unfortunately Patanjali's This Rasaratnakara has five magnum opus appears to have been khandas (divisions), viz. Rasakhanda, lost, but extract from it are frequently Rasendra Khanda, Rasayana Khanda, found in medieval works on Medicine Vadikhanda and Mantra Khanda ,out of and Rasayana, which have no doubt as which the Rasa, Rasendra and to its remarkable scientific value. The Rasayana Khandas deal with medicine metallurgist Nagarjuna advanced the in general and Indian alchemy in par- knowledge of chemical compounds by ticular. his preparations of mercury. Test for killed mercury as given by Early in the 6th century, Siddha Nityanatha is: when the sub- Varahamihira in the Vrihat Samhita - stance, being heated over a fire of gives several preparations of cements paddy husks, does not further dec- or powders called Vaj ra - lepa ( cements rease in weight, it should be considered strong as the thunderbolt). He also al- as reduced to a calx. The purified mer- ludes to the professional experts in the cury, has to be stored according to the composition of dyes and cosmetics. author, in the hollow of a tooth or horn Varahamihira has also given various or bamboo and directions for making recipes for artificial imitations of natur- factitious cinnabar(Makaradhwaja etc. al flower scents as of the essence of- have also been given in this work. Bakula, Ufpala, Champaka and Thus it can be said that, the knowl- Atimukfaka, etc. edge of chemical compounds and of The Vasavadatta and the their preparations continued to make Dasakumara Charita in the 6th century progress in the Charaka and Sushruta allude to the preparation of a mass of schools. The great metallurgist Patanjali fixed or coagulated mercury, a chemi- (circa 2nd century B.C) who is better cal powder, the inhalation of which- Bull. Ind. Ins!. His!. Med. Vol. XXVI 33 would bring on deep sleep or stupor, a me acquainted with large varieties of chemically prepared stick or which for acids, alkalies and salts as well as of producing light without fire, and a pow- mica, pyrits, quartz, sulphur, and ores der which like aneasthetic drugs or of iron, copper, lead and zinc etc. They curare to alleviate suffering by relieveing were also familiar with the bio-chemical paralysis and stimulating the sensory alteration products ofsulphates such as and motor organs. Vrinda (circa 950 alum, ferrous sulphate, coppersulphate A.D) notices the preparation of sulphide etc, and their properties as mordants of mercury (Rasamrita churna) com- and colouring aqents." posed of one part of sulphur, and half its It is very interesting to note that the weight of mercury, and also of cuprous knowledge in practical chemistry preva- sulphide (Parpati Tamram) Chakrapani lent in India in the 13th century and (circa 1050 A.D) mentions the prepara- perhaps earlier is distinctly in advance tion of the black sulphide of mercury," of that of the same period in Europe. by taking equal parts of mercury and Contemporary with the authors sulphur". The Rasaranava (circa 1200 Rasarnava and Rasaratnasamuch- A.D) notices the colours of metallic chayawereRogerBacon(d.1294),Aler- flames probably after Patanjali, e.g.. tus Maguns, Raymond Lully, and Copper gives blue flame, tin- pigeon AmaldusVillanovanus. coloured, lead- pale, iron- tawny, blue Roger Baconm does not hesitate to vitriol- red and regards mercury as a asert that the philosopher's stone was penta - Bhautic substance." lt may be able to transform a million times its noted that the mixtures called Vidas weight of base metal into gold. The which potentially contained dilute min- above mentioned alchemists are also eral acids, were regularly employed not unanimous in regarding it as a universal only in killing the metals (forming their medicine, and according to Meyer- "it oxides and chlorides) but what is of was no unusual asertion that, adepts, fundamental importance - for the pur- the fortunate possessors of the pana- poses of chemical decomposition of cea, were able to prolong their lives to metalic salts, etc. and the extraction 400 years and more" and purification of metals. Up till the time to pseudo-Basil This indicates that, a vast mass of Valentine (c. 1600 A.D.) very little sci- chemical knowledge was acumulated entific progress was achieved in Eu- during the Tantric period and by 13th rope. The doctrines of Aristotle and of century A.D.lndian alche~sts beca- theArabianalchemistsheldtheground

18. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C. (1903) veu. P.Nos. XCV, 70, 87,8/8 and VoLiI (1909), P.Nos. lvi-lxii, lxv-lxix, and 16-23, 134-135

19. "Rasaratnasamuchchaya and mineral processing state of art in the 13th century India", Biswas, A.K. (1987), published in Indian Journal of History of Science,212 (1) P.No.34. 34 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momln All there. Regarding the progress of chem- of iatro - chemistry or medical chemis- istry in Europe in the 16th century, Prof. try. Both contributed chiefly to the de- Schorlemmer remarks - "up to the 16th velopment of inorganic chemistry .... in century almost the sole object of chemi- opposition to the school of Galen and cal research had been to find the Avicenna, Paracelsus and his followers philosopher'sstone. But now chemistry chiefly employed metallic preparations began to develop itself on two new and as medicines". In this way, it may be different paths, opened by two distin- found that, there is much in common guished men - Agricola, the father of between the Indian alchemists and their metallurgy, and Paracelsus., the found! contemporary European alchemists 20.

20. A History of Hindu Chemistry, Ray, P.C. (1903), VoLl, P,Nos.,xcvi, xcviii, c &ci. BUll. Ind. Ins!. Hist. Med. Vol. XXVI 35

REFERENCES

1. Biswas, A.K. 1987 "Rasaratnasamuchchaya and Min eral Processing state of art in The13th Century India," published in Indian Journal of History of Science 22(1).

2.Bose, D.M.Etal 1971 "A concise History of Science in- India", pub. by Indian National- Science Academy, New Delhi

3. Dwivedi, V.M. 1978 "Parada Vigyaniyarn "pub.by Shri Sharma Ayurved Mandir,Datiya- (M.P).

4. Joshi D. 1987 "Rasaratnasamuchchaya" (En- glish Translation), Pub.in Indian Journal Of History of Science,Vol. 22 (2),April, 1987 Indian National Science,Academy, Bahadur Shah ZafarMarg, NewDelhi-110002.

5. Mahdihasan, S. 1977 "The bases of Alchemy" pub.in the Journal 'Studies in History of Medi- cine Vol.I,77,pub.by Institute of- History of Medicine and Medical - Research,New Delhi - 110062.

6. - do - 1979 "Indian Alchemy or Rasayana", pub.by Vikas publishing house, pvt. Ltd., S,-Ansari Road, - New Delhi - 110 062. 36 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin Ali

7. Mishra,Siddhinanadan 1984 "Rasendrachudamani" (Hindi transla - tion), pub.by Chaukhambha Orien-talia, Varanasi - 2221001 (India).

8. - do - 1983 Rasaprakash - Suc1hakara (Hindi translation) pub.by Chaukhamba orientalia, Varanasi (India).

9. Ray, P.C. 1903 A History of Hindu Chemistry, vol.I, Pub.by The Bengal Chemical & Phara- maceutical Works Ltd, 91, Upper- circular Road, Calcutta.

10. Ray, P.C. 1909 "A History of Hindu Chemistry, Vol II, The Bengal Chemical & Pharmacuitical Works Ltd., Calcutta.

11. Ray, P. 1956 "A History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieavallndia", Indian Chemical- Society, 92 Upper Circular Road, Calcutta - 9.

12. Roy Mira 1976 "Rasarnavakalpa",pub.by Indian- Subbarayappa,B. V. National Scienc: Academy,- Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, - New Delhi - 110001. 37 A Brief History of Indian Alchemy - Momin AU

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