रसार्णवम्: Rasarnava (Bibliotheca Indica Series Work No.-175)

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While collecting materials for my History of Hindu Chemis- try I was very much struck with the wealth of information and chemical knowledge of which Rasárnava is the repository. Thus 'Nature' in its review of the "History of Hindu Chemistry (Vol. I) speaking of the progress of chemistry in ancient India quotes two remarkable passages from Basárnava : "Copper yields a blue flame...that of tin is pigeon-coloured; that of lead is pale-tinted,"and as another example:- "A pure metal is that which, when melted in a crucible, does not give off sparks, nor bubbles, nor spurts, nor emits any sound, nor shows any lines on the surface, but is tranquil as a gem" (see pp. 51-52 vs. 49-52.)

Among the alchemical Tantras Rasárnava holds a unique position and I have referred to it in the following terms in the Introduction to the History of Hindu Chemistry, Vol. I., 2nd ed.. Intro. lxxxiii: "It is to be regretted that of the several works quoted by Madhava Rasáraava alone seems to have survived to our days. This work is almost unknown in Bengal, and extremely rare even in N. India and the Deccan. We have been fortunate enough to procure a transcript of it in the Raghunatha Temple Library, Kashmir, and another from the Oriental MSS. Library, Madras. As one of the earliest works of the kind, which throws a flood of light on the chemical knowledge of the Hindus about the 12th century A.D., Rasárnava must be regarded as a valuable national legacy. It has, besides, the merit of being the inspirer of several works of the Iatro-chemical period, notably Rasaratna- samuchchaya and Rasendrachintamani."

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