Rasratna Samucchay

Author(s): Manikyadevsuri
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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The work provides some informations regarding diseases, remedies, diets, social belief incustom, etc. It throws a sidelight upon the prevailing economic condition. It refers to various kinds of minerals, metals and herbs with their chemical preparations, apparatus used in them, measuring system, e.g. weight, etc.
As regards education the composition of the text of the Rasaratna Samuccaya is an evidence of education of Indian society of its time, particularly in Western India. The whole composition of the Rasaratna Samuccaya in Sanskrit indicates that the literature written in this language was studied by the literate people of the days of Sri Manikyadeva Sūri in Gujarat and neighbouring culture-areas of Rajasthan. The use of hand-made paper and black ink for writing alchemical and medicinal works in old Devanagari script shows an advancement in the field of education of the people in this culture-areas. It is a mastery in the art of writing on alchemical and medical thoughts and practices of the age in a very rich flourishing Sanskrit language with poetic order, sometimes in code letters, having secret scientific meanings.
In regard to religion, it is clearly shown that Brahmanism and Jainism flourished side by side in harmony at the time of the author in Gujarat. The references to the Saṁkhya Philosophy, Puruşa and Prakṛti and Vişņu and Siva and the invocation to the Jaina Tirthankaras show their mutual harmonious relation and respect for each other in the society.
The work begins with the invocation to all siddhas and Rşabhadeva, the first Jaina Tirthankara
"प्रों नमः समस्त सिद्धेभ्यः" "वृषकेतनोऽस्त निधनो
विकटजटाजूटमांसलांसतट: ।
9
" शिष्य : श्रीदेव चन्द्रस्य वक्रेतरपदांचितम् ।। १ ।। "
जिनो जयति ।। १ ।। "
and ends with a reference to Sri Devacandra Suri. the guru of Sri Manikyadeva Sūri
"चक्रे श्रीमाणिक्यदेवोऽत्र