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Jalayantra.1
The process of making Jalayantra
Make a round earthen vessel by a potter, having 14 angulas (fingers, in height and 10 angulas (fingers) in circumference. It is called Jalayantra. Then cast the medicinal powder into that vessel that is Jalayantra. Next cover it up with an inverted (upside down) cup made of the Nepalese copper- tā. 7, till it covers the powder. Cover it up with an inverted (upside down) Śarava (lid), over it, (inside down) Sarava (lid) Cover it up with an earthen vessel. After that make a seal on all sides of the vessel, i.e. smearing is to be given to it. Then water is, to be filled. in on all sides of Jalayantra up to all the brims. Hold it thus. Again water is to be poured little by little.
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Next Jalayantra is to be placed on the Kumalika furnace Fire of Khicaḍi is to be lit for 32 praharas. Then the pot of Jalayantra is to be taken out and placed on the ground. When Jalayantra gets cooled down, then it is to be opened up. The cup also becomes Astryo". Sulphur, etc. get combined with the cup. Then the cup is to be powdered by crushing it. Thus Astryasiddhi is accomplished."
This Jalayantra is called Kacchapayantra in the Rasendra Cintamani,
etc. 4
In the Rasaprakāśa Sudhakara of Yasodhara the description of Jalayantra is given in detail in the following manner.
Fill up 3 adhakas 1 of water into a round iron pot, then put mercury into an iron samputa (lid) and close it up firmly. Next place it into the water of the iron pot. Combine Biḍa (16 bhaga) and the essence of mica (64 bhaga) with mercury into the samputa. in proper dose. Close the joint of Sampura with clay churned, in water or vahnimitti (fire burnt soil) (which is prepared with chalk, salt kiṭṭa, etc. and is heat-bearing). Place Jalayantra on the oven and make it hot slowly by filling it with
1. Suvarna Raupya Siddhi-Sastra. Ch. 4. 11, 6.17, 7.15, 7.16, 8.11. 8.12 9.40, 10. 22, 3, 20. 22. 20. 23.
2. It could not be explained for want of commentary.
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3. SRSS., Ch. 10. 23.
4. Vide. Pracina Bharat men, Rasayankā vikasa, Dr. Satyaprakāśa p. 441.
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