Part 17 - Mercurial operations (15): Killing of mercury (marana)

First process of killing mercury.

Exhausted mercury is to be rubbed for one day with kumbhi including its root, previously well rubbed with cow’s urine and kept in a basin made of kanta iron, covered with another of the same description, the inner side of the basin being painted well with a paste made of vegetables which control mercury, and the joint being closed tightly with mud mixed with rags, etc. The mercury, if thus heated by means of mild fire for one day, is killed (marana).

Second process.

Karkoti, kakamachi, kanchuki, katutumbi, kakajangha, kakatundi, kakini, and kakamanjari—all these are to be rubbed and made into a paste with which is to be painted the inner side of a bajra-musha (hard crucible). Mercury, previously rubbed for one day with the juice of the foregoing plants, is to be put inside the above crucible, which is to be tightly closed and heated for eight times, by means of a Bhudhara-yantra, mercury being rubbed anew every time.

Third process.

Mercury is to be rubbed steadily for twelve hours by the controlling drugs. It is then to be mixed with double its quantity of sulphur oil^[1] sold heated steadily by means of mild fire, until it is solidified. It is then to be put inside an iron samputa, which itself is to be confined within a crucible, made of oxidised iron, rubbed with haritaki made into a paste. In a groove made at the top of the crucible, place some lead and heat the crucible steadily until the lead smelts. The heating is then to be discontinued until the lead gets solidified again. The process is to be repeated, and the crucible heated in this way for 12 hours, leading to the killing of the mercury. Lead is, in such a case, considered a controller of mercury.

Fourth process.

White hingu is to be subjected to bhavana for seven times, with the milk of kasto-udumbara, being rubbed well every time. This hingu, together with an equal quantity of banga (tin) and mercury, is to be again rubbed with the decoction of the five different parts (viz, root, leaf, stem, flower, and fruit), of a kasto-udumbara tree, the quantity of the decoction being one sixteenth in weight of the three things combined. The compound is then to be closed in a crucible and subjected to heat for eight times by means of a Bhudhara-yantra, fresh hingu being put into the crucible every time it is heated. This causes the killing of mercury.

Fifth process.

Mercury can be killed, if confined with human milk, within the tuber of a katu-tumbi fruit, and heated for seven times with the fire of cowdung.

Sixth process.

Mercury with sulphur is to be rubbed for one day with the juice of the root of ankola. Then it is to be closed in a crucible and heated for one day. Mercury is killed in this way.

Seventh process.

Two palas of purified mercury and half its quantity of purified sulphur are to be rubbed incessantly for one day with the juice of drugs which can control mercury. The lump is then to be subjected to heat for one day, by means of a Bhudhara-yantra.

Eighth process.

When mercury will be enabled to stand fire by one of the processes described above, it may or may not be mixed with iron, and then rubbed with the controlling drugs, the juice of white ankola, and with baikranta and other gems, it will have to be put into a Bhudhara-yantra and heated by means of a fire kindled at the upper surface of the Yantra, the intensity of which will have to be gradually increased. Mercury is killed by this process. This mercury, even if heated by a fire kindled underneath, does not undergo diminution in quantity, and does not sublimate.

Ninth process.

Mercury is killed, if rubbed with the oil of black Dhattura and the controlling drugs, and heated for one day by means of the Kachchapa-yantra. This mercury can be used in all sorts of diseases.

Tenth process.

Mercury is to be rubbed for seven days with the venom of a serpent, and then put inside a Jala-yantra. A strong fire is to be made, and the apparatus is to be filled with cold water (preferably ice). The heating is to continue for 36 hours, causing the killing of the mercury. Half a gunja of this mercury is sufficient to transform copper into gold, and one gunja is considered necessary for transforming stone into gold. It is beneficial to the body as well as to the metals. The man who takes it can enjoy many wives. Such a small quantity as one tila in weight of this medicine is sufficient to cure all the diseases. It increases longevity.

Eleventh process.

Four parts of purified mercury, four parts of saindhava, two parts of somala (arsenic), and one part each of the following:—bisha (aconite), hingu, sphatika, gairika and samudra-labana—all of these are to be mixed together, and subjected to bhabana with indrabaruni and kanji separately. The mixed substance is then to be subjected to heat, by means of a Sthali-yantra, for twenty four hours. After the Yantra is cooled upon the fire place, the compound, thus produced and deposited at the upper part of the Yantra, will have to be procured, and used in all sorts of diseases. It increases appetite, is nutritious, and serves as an aphrodisiac. Dose, two ratis a day.

Twelfth precess.

Mercury is killed, if rubbed in the sun with the juice of koranta for some time. This may be used in all sorts of diseases.

Thirteenth process.

Mercury is killed, if rubbed with devadali, hansapadi, jabatikta and punarnava.

Fourteenth process.

Mercury is surely killed, if rubbed with the Jarayu of a cow which has newly brought forth a calf, and then burnt by means of an Andka-musa (blind crucible).

Fifteenth process.

Mercury, rubbed with the milk of kaka-udumbara and hingu turns into a solid. It can then be killed, if properly burnt by means of a blind crucible.

Sixteenth process.

Mercury is to be rubbed for five days with the juice of akhukarni, in such a way as to make the juke invisible and to make the mercury lose its original appearance. The mercury is then to be placed upon an earthen basin, kept inside a Baluka-yantra. For six hours, the mercury will have to be heated with the juice of manduki, and for the next nine hours, with the juice of akhuparni. It will thus be solidified, white-coloured, blameless, and nectar-like. If taken with tankan, ghrita (clarified butter), and honey, it prevents decay, due to the arrival of premature old age.

Seventeenth process.

Mercury, with an equal quantity of sulphur, is to be rubbed for nine hours with the juice of nirgundi leaves in the intense heat of the sun, and heated by means of a Baluka-yantra. This will bring the mercury to a state of swoon. This is next to be rubbed with ghrita (clarified butter), and again heated by a Baluka-yantra. The substance, thus prepared, will appear to be an unclean lump. This contains some white coloured mercury which is to be separated, by being rubbed again with ghrita, and again heated as before. This will cause the killing of the mercury.

Eighteenth process.

Mercury is killed, if rubbed with the juice of vishnukranta, apamarga, ahiphena, and indrabaruni—all mixed together, and heated by puta.

Nineteenth process.

Mercury is solidified by being rubbed with the juice of lajjalu. This is then to be put into a crucible, mixed with the same juice, and burnt by putapaka This is how it is killed.

Twentieth process.

A Labana-yantra is to be filled with apamarga ashes, instead of salt. In the central part of the ashes, a hole is to be made, and this is to be filled with mercury and the juice of bhringaraja. The vessel is to be covered, as usual, with a basin, the joint being closed very tightly with mud, etc. The vessel is then to be heated by means of a strong fire, for six hours, causing the death and solidification of the mercury.

Twenty-first process.

Mercury is to be rubbed steadily for three days with the juice of all of the following:—tuber of kalikari (langali), white punarnava, debadali, debadaru, bajrakanda, patha, and j?ya. This is then to be put into a glass bottle or crucible, and heated for forty-eight hours. Thus killed, mercury will assume a red appearance.

Twenty-second process.

Five tankas of mercury are to be put inside a crucible, which has already been coated on the inner side with a paste, made of five tankas of sikhari (apamarga) roots, rubbed well with water. The crucible is then to be put upon fire. Thus heated, the mercury becomes solidified and becomes a destroyer of physical decay, and of various diseases.

Twenty-third process.

Mercury is killed (marana), if rubbed with seeds of palasha, raktachandana, and lime juice, and heated by means of a Bhudhara-yantra or Baluka-yantra.

Characteristics of dead mercury.

Dead mercury is white, light, stable, devoid of glare, and is capable of killing metals. When put on fire, it does not expand and sublimate.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sulphur, purified and powdered, is to be strewn over a piece of cloth, which is to be soaked with mustard oil, and made into a wicker. If lighted, and held erect on a glass pot, the wicker will let oil fall, drop by drop, and collect itself in the pot. This oil is called sulphur oil.