________________
23
Śilajita 1 or śilajatu or Adrij? (Bitumen)
silajitá or šilājatu (bitumen) is mentioned in the Suvarna-RaupyaSiddhi-Šāstra of Jinadattasūri and Rasaratnasamuccaya of Māņikyadevasūri as superior mineral used in the chemical process and medicinal preparation.
The Rasārņava mentions two kinds of silājita, 'viz. Patit and apatit, while the Rasaratna Samuccaya refers to two kinds of silājīta, viz. (1) One having the smell of cow's urine, (2) the other resembling camphor. The first one is considered also of two kinds, viz, Sasatva and Nihsatva. 4
silajita oozes out in the heat of the sun in Summers at the foot of the Himalayas from the bowls of gold, silver and copper6 respectively. It is also called silavaddḥātuka, śailaja, girisānuja, jatu, adrija, giri, śāila, etc. as the hills heated in the sun in Summer vomit it like wax (grişme arkatapta-girayo jatu tulyam Vamanti yat-Caraka).7
It is stated that śilājitā which oozes out from the bowel of gold mine is red like the Jasmine flower, and heavy; that which oozes out from the bowel of silver mine is somewhat yellow and heavy; that which oozes out from the bowel of copper mine is of blue colour, thick and heavy.8 1. SRSS., IV. 41 2. RS., Māņikyadeva Sūri, Ch. I., V. 5. 3. Patito' apatitasceti dividhaḥ saila Išvari | Granthāntare' api Kırttyo'
asāu Kirttito bahubhiḥ suraiḥ // Rasārņava 8;18. 4. Śilādhāturdvidhā prokto gomūträdyo rasāyanaḥ / Karpurapūrvakaścān
yastatradyo dvividhaḥ punaḥ // Sasattvśacaiva niḥasattvastayoh parvo
guņādhikaḥ / RS., Vägbhat, 2/102–3 5. Nidaghe gharmasantaptā dhātāsāram dharadharāḥ / Niryāsam ca
vimuñcanti taccnilājātu kirtitam," Rasārņava 7/19..
Grisme tivrkataptebhyaḥ Pādebhyo humabhūbhutāḥ / 6. Svarṇarūpyaka garbhyebhaḥ śiladhatur Viniḥsaret 1., RS. 2/104. Vägbhat. 7. Śilavat dhātukam domātam śailajaṁ girisanujam / Jatvadrijaṁ girih
Śailah Prokta sțvayānukırttitaḥ | Rosārņaya 7/20. Svarnagarbhagirerjāta japāpuşpanibho guruh || Sa svalpatiktas susvāduh Daraman Tadrasayaram | Rūpyagrbhagirerjātam madhuram Pāņduram guru //. Silajam pittarogaghnam Višesāt Pāņdurogahrt / Tāmragarbhagirerjātam nilavarnaṁ ghanaṁ guru // RS. 2/104-6. Vāgbhat.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
