Part 4 - Chemists of the Metallic School: Introduction

We shall next turn our attention to the chemists who were pre-eminently of the metallic school. In doing so, we can do no better than to make an attempt to identify as many as possible of the chemists and authors of chemical treatises mentioned in the Rasaratna-samuccaya, a book probably complied in the twelfth century A.D. (see below). The author of this book says that his compilation was based on the treatises of the authors named below, as well as on many other treatises of minor importance:—

(A)

(1) Adima, (2) Chandra-sena, (3) Ravana, king of Lanka, (4) king Rama Chandra, who killed Ravana,^[1] (5) Kapali, (6) Matta, (7) Mandavya, (8) Bhaskara, (9) Shurasena, (10) Ratnakosha, (11) Shambhu, (12) Satvika, (13) Narabahana (Naravahana), (14) Indrada, (15) Gomukha, (16) Kambali, (17 Vyari, (18) Nagarjuna, (19) Surananda, (20) Nagabodhi, (21) Jasodhana, (22) Khanda, (23) Kapalika, (24) Brahma, (25) Govinda, (26) Lambaka, and (27) Hari.

The twenty-seven persons named above were renowned authors of chemical treatises as well as great Siddhas or chemists themselves.

(B)

(1) Rasankusha, (2) Bhairava, (3) Nandi, (4) Svachchhanda Bhairava, (5) Manthana Bhairava, (6) Kaka-chandisvara, (7) Basu deva, (8) Rishya-shringa, (9) Kriya tantra samuchchaya, (10) Rasendra tilaka, (11) Yogi, (12) Bhaluki, (13) Maithila, (14) Mahadeva, (15) Narendra, (16) Ratnakara, and (17) Harisvara,

The above 17 were better known as compilers of chemical treatises than as original chemists.

Vagbhata, the compiler of “Rasaratna-samuchchaya” says that he consulted the treatises of all the authors named above. It is unfortunate that most of these treatises have been lost to us, To compile a systematic history of Hindu chemistry appears therefore to be a hopeless task. We shall however try to utilise the materials available to us at present, and deal with only those of the authors named above who have not yet passed completely into the region of oblivion.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

There are two different readings on this point, viz.

1) khaḍeśastasya (?) ghātakaḥ |
2) khaḍeśaśca (?) viśāradaḥ |

The chemist according to the first reading is Ramachandra. He is “Visharada” according to the second. In view of other evidences showing that king Ramachandra was a distinguished chemist, we have accepted the first reading.