Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory

by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 67,774 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828

This first volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi includes preliminary information on Alchemy including initiation of a discpiple, laboratory setup, mercurial operations and commonly used technical terms. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (“the ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, chemical medicine) is a compendium of Sanskrit verses dealing with ancient Indian alchemy and chem...

Part 2 - Eighteen different kinds of Mercurial operations

Shodhana (purification), (2) svedana (boiling), (3) mardana (rubbing), (4) uddhriti, or utthapana (raising or installation), (5) patana (sublimation), (6) rodhana (confinement), (7) niyamana (restraint), (8) dipana (stimulation), (9) anubasana (rehabilitation), (10) grasana (swallowing of metals), (11) murchhana (swoon), (12) sancharana (movement), (13) garbhadruti (internal liquefaction), (14) yarana (exhaustion), (15) marana (killing), (16) bhasmikarana (reduction to ashes or incineration), (17) ranjana or dyeing, and (18) bedhana (transforming base metals into gold).

The eight operations commencing with boiling should be resorted to as soon as the process of purification is finished. The use of mercury, though purified, is not commendable, unless it is subjected to these eight kinds of operations.

There is an exception to this rule in favour of mercury, extracted in the prescribed manner from hingula (cinnabar). This mercury is applicable for all medicinal purposes, without being subjected to those eight kinds of operations.

Conclusion:

Rasasastra category This concludes ‘Eighteen different kinds of Mercurial operations’ included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory. The text includes treatments, recipes and remedies and is categorised as Rasa Shastra: an important branch of Ayurveda that specialises in medicinal/ herbal chemistry, alchemy and mineralogy, for the purpose of prolonging and preserving life.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: