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 6 - Extraction of essence of Vaikranta
First process.
Tuber of shurana, haridra, powdered madana fruit, tankana, powdered laksha (lac insects, ashes of vaikanta, navasara—all these are to be rubbed with decoction of mesha-shringi and made into a lump, which is to be dried, confined in a blind (or dumb) crucible, and then heated by a very strong fire. This will result in the issuing of essence which will be found in the crucible.
Second process.
Essence of Vaikranta can be extracted, if the ashes of vaikranta are mixed with the materials required for extraction of essence of all things (see page 47, Vol. II) and heated in a crucible.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Extraction of essence of Vaikranta’ 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.