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The Rasa-shastra Texts The Indian literatures on atomism provided at best a polemical ground and could not establish any viable link with the

VIII-25 experimental discipline of Rasasastra or Indian alchemy, later developed into Iatro-chemistry. The Rasasastra tradition had its origin in Atharvaveda, the Samkhya system and the Ayurvedic texts of Caraka and Susruta. Through Nagarjuna and other stalwarts, the subject evolved gradually, and gathered momentum after the seventh century A.D. A chronological account of the relevant texts is summarised in Table VIII-1. " TABLE VIII-1

TABLE VIII-1 CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF PRINCIPAL RASASHASTRA TEXTS (Dates Approximate) 600 B.C. Samkhya System of Philosophy, Kapila 500 B.C. Vaisesika System of Kanada VIII-2 400 B.C. Ayurveda of Caraka and Susruta (codified later) 300 B.C. Arthasastra of Kautilya 200 B.C. Yoga-system of Patanjali. Also Yajnavalkya Ist century A.D. Samhitas of Caraka and Susruta Codified 50 A.D. Atomic theory of the Jainas 2nd Century A.D. Nyayasutra of Gautama and its commentary 200 A.D. Madhyamika Philosophy and Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna. Was Rasa-ratnakara in present form compiled later in the 7th Century A.D.? 8th 270 A.D. Yavanajataka of Sphujidvaja 4 th Century A.D. Bower Manuscript of Ancient Medicine 5 th Century A.D. Kamasutra of Vatsayana; Padarthadharmasamgraha of Prasastapada 450 A.D. Amarakosa or Namalinganusasanam of Amarsimha 499 A.D. Aryabhatiya of Aryabhata 550 A.D. Brhatsamhita of Varahamihira 700-1300 A.D. TANTRIC PERIOD 7 th-8th Century A.D. Compilation of Rasa-ratnakara, the Buddhist text of Nagarjuna (?) 8 th Century A.D. Nidana of Madhavacarya or Madavakara 800 850 A.D. Astangahridaya of Vagbhata

VIII-2" 9th Century A.D. Probable date of Sarvesvararasayana and Dhatuvada of Nalina, later translated into Tibetan in 11th Century A.D. 1000 A.D. Siddhayoga of Vrinda 1019-1029 A.D. Al-Biruni in India 1050 A.D. Chakradatta of Chakrapani Dutta 11th 13th SAFE RETREAT OF RASASASTRA Century A.D. TEXTS TO BHUTAN AND TIBET 11th Century A.D. Rasahridaya by Govindabhagavat written at Kirataland or Bhutan (P.C.Ray thinks it could belong to 9th 10th Century) Rasarnavakalpa 12th Century A.D. Rasarnava, a Hindu Tantric text. 12th Cent. A.D. Rasendrachudamani of Somadeva 1300-1550 A.D. IATRO-CHEMICAL PERIOD 13th Century A.D. Rasaprakasa Sudhakara of Yasodhara Rasachintamani of Madanantadeva Late 13th or Early Rasakalpa, a part of Rudrayamala Tantra 14th Century A.D. RASA-RATNA-SAMUCCAYA of Vagbhatacarya 14th Century A.D. Rasajalalakshmi of Vishnudeva Rasendra-chintamani of Dhundhuknath Rasendra-sara-Samaraha Rasanaksatramalika of Mathanasimha Dhaturatnamala 15th-16th Century A.D. Rasapradipa Dhatukriva or Dhatumanjari, a part of Rudrayamala Tantra Suvarnatantra or Swarnatantra

VIII-28 The Indian alchemy revolved around two objectives: (1) the transmutation process for converting base metals (like lead, tin, mercury or copper) into the noble metals (gold and silver) and (ii) preparation of the 'Elixir of Life' for attaining immortality. The Indian Alchemists pursued the above objectives in their laboratories, driven by superstitious premises. Initially, the recipes of Patanjali, Caraka, Susruta and the Mahayana mystic Nagarjuna provided some impetus. After second. century A.D. Indian alchemy came in contact with the Chinese traditio sulphide which believed in the efficacy of cinnabar or mercuric composed of Yin (female) and Yang (male) principles. The Indians adapted the Chinese idea, and evolved a Tantric notion of alchemy by associating mercury with God Siva's semen and sulphur with Goddess Parvati's menstrual discharge. Cinnabar became the symbol of the entire creation. Possibly the Mahayana Buddhists like Nagarjuna and Asamga, who had access to both the Chinese (Taoist) and Indian (Tantric) traditions, initiated the Tantric variety of Indian alchemy, which gradually blossomed during the period 700-1300 A.D. Around 1300 A.D., the Rasavidva of India entered a more mature Iatro-chemical phase. Ray (1956:158) wrote: impossible "The fantastic and extravagant ideas, of realisation, had subsided into something more practical and tangible. The numerou preparations of mercury, iron, copper and other metals, although the could not secure immortality or revive the dead, were found to be helpful accessories in medicine".

VIII-29 of - 1300 1600 A.D. period has been labelled as the era of Indian Iatro-chemistry during which many contacts were established with the Arab alchemy. During this period, the tradition European alchemy was evolved mainly due to the efforts of Paracelsus (1490 such as a 1541 A.D.). The evolved Indian Rasashastra texts Rasaratnasamuccava described a number of chemical substances under the titles maharasas, uparasas, ahatus etc. and also several apparatus for synthesis and purification of these materials. Many of these texts compiled old informations and added some newly derived laboratory data. We would omit the first category (old informations) and mention the relatively new acquisitions of knowledge pertaining to the non-gem minerals and metals.