Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions
by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 63,627 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828
This fifth volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi deals with the symptoms, treatment and dietary prescriptions of various afflictions. For example, ratapitta (haemoptysis), cough, asthma, tumours and obesity are dealth with and various Iatro-chemical recipes are provided for these diseases. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (鈥渢he ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, chemical me...
Part 22 - Chemists of the Metallic School: Vagbhata, the junior
If we were to make any addition to the list of chemists in group A, we should have put the names of Nityanatha, author of Rasa-ratnakara, No. 2, whom we have placed in the 3rd century B.C., of Vagbhata, the compiler of Rasa-Ratna-Samuchchaya, and of Ananta deva Suri, author of Rasa-Chintamani.
Vagbhata, the compiler of 鈥淩asa-ratna-samuch-chaya鈥� is to be distinguished from Vriddha (ancient) Vagbhata, the author of Astanga-Hridaya, a compilation mainly based on Charaka, Sushruta, and their predecesors, viz., Bhela, Harita, Agnivesha, etc. According to tradition, Vriddha or senior Vagbhata was the court physician of king Yudhisthira, who flourished about 5077 years ago or in 3139 B.C.
According to the principle we have already adopted in determining the age of the chemists mentioned in group A, we may place Vagbhata, the junior, in the 11th or 12th century, A. D. This agrees well with the statement made by Kalhana, author of Raja-tarangini, that Vagbhata lived at the time of King Jayasinha (1199-1211 A. D.)
Conclusion:
This concludes 鈥楥hemists of the Metallic School: Vagbhata, the junior鈥� included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: 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.