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Later on eight metals are named including two alloys-brass (pital) and bell-metal (Kamsa).. Jaina works on alchemy deal with mineral preparation in detail.2 They are also devoted to the short processes of killing metals3 and minerals as they are treated in other Indian works on Rasāyanavidyā.
The Suvarna - Raupya - Siddhi - śāstra gives an account of the process for dissolving mercury and oxide of arsenic with conch - shell which Jinadatta Sūri, the Jaina alchemist names Bhum Bhum and mentions ash of bone of the neck of camel and bone - ash of boars as solvent for metal. They are described as substances endowed with the property of dissolving metals.9
Besides, some distilling apparatus (Yantra) have been mentioned in the Jaina alchemical works as they find mention in other Indian alchemical works, e.g. Dolikāyantra,10 Vālukāyantra,!! etc. In short they have treated of 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 Suvarna - Raupy. - SiddhiŚastra and others that men are freed from a multitude of diseases by partaking of medicines, prepared with mercury. There is an important reference 1. Lohanāmāni-loha 1, naga 2, vamga 3, trābo 4, kāṁso, 5, pitala, 6,
tāra, 7, hema 8, Ibid., ch. VI. 13, 2. See Rasaratnasamuccaya of Māņikadevaşūrı and compare it with SRSS;
Ch. I. 7, (Dhatuvāda), 1. 51 V. 60. III. 41 (Hingulavidhi), III. 8 (Golakam vidhi) III. 84 (Khapariya sattvavidhi; IV. 23 (Talasattvavidhi); VII. 27. (Abharakavidhi); VII 27 (Navasārapāņi prakaraṇavidhi.); VIII.
6 (Kathirasodhanavidhi). 3. e.g. Rasaratna Samuccaya Pāradavidhi 4. Ibid.; Compare SRSS., ch. VII. 27, II. 16, III. 27 (abhraka), I. 49,
III. 84, 103, IV. 24, V. 1, 2, 3, 4, (mapağıla), I. 19, 20, 25, 41, 42
(gamdhaka). 5. Rasārņava, Rasaratnasamuccaya of Vägbhata.. 6. SRSS., IV. 39; IX.51 (bhum bum=Śamkhoha is sovent for kiling
mercury and oxide of arsenic) 7. Ibid., ch. X. 33 8. Ibid., ch. X. 34 9. Ibid., ch. X. 33, 34,; See Hindu Chemistry, p. 162, for Samkhadrayaka. 10. SRSS., ch. VII. 9, IX. 14, X. 35, etc. , 11. Ibid., ch. VI. 9, IX. 45, III, 36 (Pātālayantra),
VI. 10 (Kavaciyantra). etc.
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