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)
18 (of 48)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Eat this milk-preparation powdered and mixed with honey and ghee, one lives like a moon. (222) Rub the following the the poisonous water, Gloriosa Superba, Soot, cinnabar, Haridrā and Dārūharidrā (curcuma longa and Berberis Asiatica) Gymnema Sylvestre, Rhus Succedanea, black Dhātūra, lead oxide, i.e. minium, pure gold and mercury. O Intelligent one! All this is to be macerated in poisonous water for seven days. (223) Or it is to be macerated till it becomes a powder. Cover molten lead with this powder, the powder should be one sixteenth by weight, of the weight of lead. (224) FN. 16 continued पायस� भक्षयेद्यस्त� मध्याज्येन संयुतम� [pāyasa� bhakṣayedyastu madhyājyena saṃyutam ] 1 यावचूर्णपक देखि [yāvacūrṇapaka dekhi ] ! जीवेत्ताद्विन्दु� [īٳ屹Իܲ] �ङ्ख्या [ṅk ] 1222 11 लाङ् [�] �गली गृहयुमञ्� सिन्दू� रजनीद्वयम् � मेषशृंगी � शृ� � कृष्णोन्मत्त� � मारक� सवी� सूतक श्चै� विषतोयेन मर्द्दिनम् � विषतोयेन मेधावि सप्तवाराश्� भावमेर [galī gṛhayumañca sindūra rajanīdvayam | meṣaśṛṃgī ca śṛva ca kṛṣṇonmatta� ca mārakara savīja sūtaka ścaiva viṣatoyena marddinam | viṣatoyena medhāvi saptavārāśca bhāvamera ] 11 22 3 || अथवा भावयेततु यावचूर्ण तु तावत� � ते� नाएं प्रतीवाप्� षोडशांको� संभवेत� � [athavā bhāvayetatu yāvacūrṇa tu tāvat | tena nāe� pratīvāpya ṣoḍaśāṃkona saṃbhavet || ] 224 � [|| ] 148
