Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances
by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 47,185 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828
This third volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi deals with purification techniques of the Seven Metals (sapta-dhatu) and various Gems (ratna). It also deals with substances such as Alkalis (kshara), Salts (lavana), Poisions (visha) and Semi-poisions (upavisha) as well as various alcholic liquors. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (“the ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, che...
Part 17 - Liquefaction of iron
(1) Sulphur is to he subjected to bhavana with the juice of devadali for seven days. This sulphur, thrown upon iron, melted by fire, makes the iron resemble mercury (even after the heat is discontinued).
(2) A kshara or alkali is to be prepared by dissolving the ashes of devadali with human urine, filtering it for 21 times and then drying it up by heat. A little of this alkali, if thrown upon melted kanta iron, keeps the latter in a liquefied state even after the heat is removed.
Eight different kinds of iron can he kept in a state of liquefaction, even after the removal of heat, if equal quantities of powdered sulphur and kanta iron are put upon them, while in a melted condition.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Liquefaction of iron’ included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: 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.