Alchemy

References to the use of metals in Indian literature are available from the pre-Vedic times.

The various uses of metals and minerals at home and for commercial purposes are available in the Vedas.

The Adharvana Veda dedicates one chapter to working with lead, to make vessels, bracelets etc. and to be applied externally in the form of collyrium.

In Ayurveda, Charaka, Susrutha and Vagbhatta place more stress on herbal drugs. The period between the 8th and the 10th centuries AD is considered the golden age for alchemy. Some books written in the 10th century talk about people consuming mercury as a medicine.

Alchemy in Ayurveda slowly gained importance in the 11th century because of advantages in dosage, methods of administration, preparation and swiftness of action. Books dedicated to alchemy started getting published from this period on.

Earlier alchemists paid greater importance to converting base metals into precious metals such as, gold and silver.

Important Works on Alchemy in Ayurveda

Rasa Ratnakara

This book, considered the first book on alchemy in Ayurveda, was written by Siddha Nagarjuna. A partial manuscript version is available today. This book explains various types of instruments; techniques for preparing gold; purification and ashing techniques for various metals and minerals. This book is believed to have been written in the period between the 8th-10th centuries AD. Currently, only four chapters are available out of the eight that were published.

Aputa Tantra

Siddha Nagarjuna, the author of Rasa Ratnakara, wrote this book in the 10th century AD. The manuscript is available at the Royal Asiatic Library, Bombay. This book deals with ovens, preparation of medicines, and the special powers of metals.

Rasa Hrudaya Tantra

This book was written by Paramahamsa Parivrajaka Govinda, presumably in the 13th century AD. This book explains 18 purification methods of mercury, several mineral formulations, process of administration, and diet.

Rasarnava

The author of this book is Bhairava and it is believed to have been written in the 14th century AD. This book talks about instruments, preparation of various formulations, different types of measurements, and extraction of metals from ores.

Rasendra Chudamanai

Soma Deva is the author of this book. It is believed to have been written in either the 12th century or the 13th century AD. This book contains details about the construction of a pharmacy, technical terms of alchemy, different types of ovens and instruments. It also contains a classification of metals and minerals, as well as precious and semi-precious stones.

Rasa Ratna Samuchaya

Vagbhatta is believed to have been written this book in the 13th century AD. This book has 30 chapters and is divided into two parts. The first part contains 11 chapters and deals with the classification of metals and minerals, purification and ashing procedures, and extraction from the ore, among other topics.

The second part has 19 chapters, which deal with diseases and their treatments, etiological factors, line of treatments and mineral preparations. The details of constructing the pharmacy are also discussed.

Rasa Ratnakara

This book was written by Nithyananda Siddha in the 14th century AD. It consists of five branches, out of which, first three are related to Ayurveda.

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