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 3 - Etymologial significance of the different names of Mercury
The name Rasa (from root ‘ras’ = to eat), is due to the fact that mercury can swallow every metal, or that mercury is eaten by men with a view to being cured of all diseases. The name Rasendra (from Rasa + Indra, a king) is due to the fact that mercury is the king of all medicines. The name, Suta (from ‘su’ = to give rise to, is due to the fact that mercury is competent to make the body as strong as steel The name, ‘Parada’ (from para = end + da = to give) is due to the fact that mercury causes an end of the suffering of those men who are immersed in the muddy sea of diseases. The name, Jiva (from root, jiv = to live), is due to the fact that mercury helps human beings to live: The name, Mishraka (from mishra = mixed), is due to the fact that the properties of all the metals are found combined in Mercury.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Etymologial significance of the different names of Mercury’ 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.