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A Study of the Jaina alchemical thoughts and practices fostered from the time of the Jainācāryas Nagarjuna's and Padaliptasūri up16 to the eighteenth century. A.D. throws a welcome light upon an aspect of the material culture of the Jainas with scientific ideas combined with their interpretation in the light of other Indian literary evidences on Rasayanavidya (Chemistry), Dhatuvidyā (Metallurgy) and Ayurveda (Science of life) of the middle ages.
A Study of the extant Jaina Mss. In the Suvarna-Raupya-Siddhiśāstra of Jinadattasuri (V.S. 121017. written in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa and old Gujarati, copied with additional materials in the 18th century. A.D., kept in the library of L.D. Institute of Ideology at Ahmedabad, reveals scientific ideas and practices of the Jainas with two distinct trends in Alchemy. Viz. (1) Chemistry and Metallurgy, and (2) Medical Science, together with some information about occultism.
During the middle ages and extensive system, in part secret, of code names or symbolic letters or names for chemical substances was developed by the Jaina caryas. For example.
Dhammo mangalamukiṭṭam ahimsa samjamo tavo deva vi tam namamsanti jassa dhamme sayā mano ||
Dhammo
Mangalam
Ukiṭṭham
Ahimsa
Samjamo
Tavo
Jain Education International
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Pāradah (mercury), (SRSS. Ch. II., Comm.)
Hemah (gold),
Nepaladeśodbhavam tāmram (Nepaless copper),
Kamtheri (a species of opuntia),
Rāto agathia (red agasti/glandifora),
Kṛṣṇakanaka (black dhaturā = theory apple),
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