Universal Values of Prakrit Texts

SR No.: 006701
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Prem Suman Jain
Publisher: Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeeth and Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 368
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 213

It is interesting to note that the author of the Suvarna-Rauypa-SiddhiSastra declared his indebtedness to the previous Ācāryas like Nagarjuna, Pādaliptasuri, Carpata, Natha, Sekham Ali and other for a knowledge of certain processes of alchemy as is found in the case of other Indian works on alchemy.23 This seems to indicate that the cultivation of alchemy and chemical knowledge among the Jaina caryas became neglected at a certain period of Indian interest into the lore of alchemy has to be made during the time of the Jaina alchemists of the Latro-Chemical periods as was the case with the authors of Indian works on Rasāyanavidyā. Alchemy, as revealed in the extant Jaina MS. the Suvarna-Rauypa-Siddhi-Sastra and other Jaina alchemical works, has dealt with mineral kingdom-rasa mercury maharasas (Superior minerals) and uparasas (inferior minerals), ratnas (gems) and lohas (metals) etc.
The Suvarna-Rauypa-Siddhiśāstra gives an accounts of the process for dissolving mercury and oxide of arsenic with conch-shell power, which the Jaina alchemist names as Bhum Bhum and mentions ash of bone of the neck of camel and ash of bone of boar as solvent for copper quickly. They are described as substances endowed with the property of dissolving metals. Besides, some distilling apparatus (Yantra) have been mentioned in the Jaina alchemical works e.g. Dolikayayantra, Valukayayantra, Patalayantra, Kavaciyayantra etc.
In short they have treated mercury, minerals and metals, the construction of apparatus, the mystic formulae for the purification of metals, the extraction of essence (Kalka), liquefaction and incineration of metals, etc. the virtues of mercury are commended in the Jaina alchemical works -- the SuvarnaRauypa Siddhi-Sastra and others that men are freed from a multitude of diseases by partaking of medicines, prepared with mercury. The final phase of Jaina alchemy as found in the Suvarna-Rauypa Siddhi-Sastra,
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