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Rasaratnasamuccaya of Manikyadevasuri, etc. is characterized by the fact that over and above opium some other foreign drugs are found incorporated into its pharmacology as is evidenced in other Indian alchemical works.
The Suvarna-Rauypa Siddhi-Sastra and a Jaina MS. Vaidyaka Samgraha of an unknown author presecribe calomel. (rasakarpura) and kobcini (kababcini = china root, smilax china=ciniakapur) for whit is termed for the first time as phiringiroga or the disease of the portuguese. “The use of this drug as a remedy for syphilis, it is belived, was made known to the Portuguese at Goa by the Chiness traders about A.D. 1535.24 Both opium and mineral acids are prescribed for many diseases. The Ayurvedic method of treatment has been described in the Suvarna-Rauypa Siddhi-Sastra, etc. in detail as is evidenced in ample citations, as found in other Indian Ayurvedic works.25
Some portions of the Jaina alchemical works have particularly been devoted to minerals preparation, but it seems that they have been borrowed chiefly from some other Indian works. The Jaina MS. - the Suvarna-Rauypa Siddhi-Sastra, MS. the rasaratna-Samuccaya, etc. have dealt with the preparations of medical tinctures and Prescribed mercury, treated with some other minerals as remedy for many diseases as found in Arkaprakasa of Ravana, Bhavaprakasa, etc. The main objective of alchemy as pointed out by the Jainācāryas was to show the way for the destruction of all sins (or evils) - poverty, diseases and old age.26
References
1. From alchemy to chemistry: Dr. B.V. Subbarayappa, Indian National
Science Academy, New Delhi, Summer School of History of Science, p. 342. 2. Indian Alchemy and Tantas. Dr. Damodar Joshi, Summer School on
History of Science, P. 366.
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