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SUVARNA-RAUPYA-SIDDHI-ŚĀSTRA
PREFACE
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It is revealed by a study of the Suvarna-Raupya-Siddhi-Šāstra of Jinadatta Sūri that Alchemy appeared to be the principle forerunner of chemistry in India. It is to be observed that there are two aspects of the history of Chemistry in India, viz. (1) The continuous and growing interconnection between medicine and chemical preparations which merit special attention, while unfolding the historical antecedants of chemistry and (ii) ancient practical chemistry, albeit its technological overtones, which presents its claims in the history of chemistry as indicated in the SuvarnaRaupya-Siddhi-śāstra.
The Jaina alchemists, who nurtured chemistry as a practical art and through their varied' endeavours, provided the growth-points from time to time along with other Indian alchemists. They introduced new chemicals including mineral acids and more importantly evolved a number of apparatus, despite the esoteric theories.
The origins of alchemical art are shrouded in the darkness of antiquity, The word 'alchemy' is an Arabic modification of the Greek word 'Chemieia'. Towards the end of the fourth century A.D., an Alexandrian Hellenic alchemist named osmimos made use of the word 'Chemieia' for the first time, relating it to the art of transmutation. The Greek word 'Chemieia' or 'Chemi' denots black and it was used to identify Egypt because of the black soil of the Nile Valley and to signify the 'blackening' stage of the so-called transmutation process'.
It is difficult to determine historically the time and place of alchemical beginnings. It appears that the Chinese alchemy devoted itself to the making of longevity compositions or pills of immortality, as is found in Indian alchemy in general. In China alchemy developed with Taoism 2 and the theory of Yin (female) and Yangły (male principle). The
1. From Alchemy 'to Chemisty, Dr. B. V. Subbarayappa, Indian National Science
Academy, New Delhi, Summer School of History of Science, P. 342, 1974. 2. Needham II, PP, 33ff (1 y.) Mason, PP. 55–57.
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