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33 alchemical work like Rasārņavai and the Rasaratna Samuccaya,2 etc.
According to the Rasārņava, there are three kinds of alum, viz, white, black and Khaņdātmikā3. The fragrant earth (i.e. interior mineral) is produced. in the mountains of Saurāştra, hence its name is Saurāștri or tuvarś. It dyes, cloth and fixes the colour of Indian madder (i.e. morpant.)
Ordinary phiţakars is light yellow, heavy and smooth. There is one variety of tuvarı or phițakarī called phullikā. This pullikā is light in weight and of white colour, smooth.
Copper gets incinerated quickly by its smearing with alum. It curer acute rosca and leprosy..
Alum gets purified by its drenching into sour rice water. If its essence is to be taken out, it is to be rubbed with kşāra and amla in a mortar.7 The process of taking out its essence by giving 100 saturations toil with the bill of cow and heating it in the fire of coal is stated to be secret. 8 Fixation of Alum
Alum is fixed in the juice of Ašvakanda (whose stem is like the penis of a horse). Give it 7 puțas (roastings) of cloth and clay. The essence is produced.9
1. Rasārņava 7.79, 80, 2. RS., Vāghbat, 3/63-65. 3. Sitā krşņā ca Saurāşti cūộna-khaņdātmikā ,ca sā., Rasārņva, 7/79. 4. Saurāştrāšmani sambhūtā mộtsnai sā, tuvar matā /,
RS., Vāgabhat. 3/62 5. Vastreșu lipyate yāsau maṁjisthā-rāgabaṁdham II.,
Ibid., 3/62. 6. Sphatakı phullikā ceti dvitirtitā parikirtitā /
Işatpitā guruḥ snighdhā pitikā vişanāsini / Vraṇakuşthaharā sarvakuşthaghni ca viseşataḥ // Nirbhārā śubhra varnā ca snighdā Sāmlās aparā matā.
Sa phullātuvari proktā lepāttāṁ caredayaḥ" 7. Tuvarı kāṁjike kşiptā tridiniācchuddhimșcchati //
Kşārāmlairmarditam., Rs. 3/67-68, 8. Gopittena satam vārān Saurāstrší bhāvayettataā /
aurāstrým bhāvayettataā / . Dhamitvā pātayetsattavam krāmanaṁ cātiguhyakam //
Rs. 3/69. 9. SRSS. Ch. V. 2.,
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