Essay name: Alchemy in India and China
Author:
Vijaya Jayant Deshpande
Affiliation: Panjab University / Department of Chemistry
The thesis "Alchemy in India and China" explores the comparative aspects of alchemy in these two countries, focusing on chemical and protochemical formulations while addressing why modern science developed in the West rather than in India or China. It briefly touches upon internal alchemy in China and the ritualistic tantra in India.
Chapter 6 - Transmission of Alchemical and Chemical ideas (Part 2)
14 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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144
used as elixirs of life, and are called "senthuram".
"Sen" is red in the Tamil language and "Thuram" is powder.
These powders which were synthesized by using various
Senthuram".
15 ingredients such as metals, minerals and plant products,
are invariably dark red (brownish or purplish) in
colour. A red powder made from iron is known as "膧y膩
Probably this word "Senthuram" migrated
from the South Indian languages to Sanskrit and was used
for red powders (just like in Tamil), cinnabar and lead
oxide long before their use in alchemical operations
became known.
Further, Mahavyutpatti gives a parallel Chinese
word for Sindura as suan tong
閰�
12 17 閵�
which
is the transliteration of the original Sanskrit word.
We shall now analyse the manner in which the
etymological and linguistic studies help us to establish
the nature, direction and period of certain transmissions
between India and China.
The Case of "Ban Cha Zhuo
Shui" or Visodaka
In the previous chapter, we have come across
Rasar峁嘺vakalpa, a medieval Sanskrit alchemical text, which
15 304, etc.
See Bogar karpam in Primary Sources; Slokas 264,
