Indian Alchemy or Rasayana: In the Light of Asceticism and Geriatrics

by S. Mahdihassan

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 In Indian Alchemy Dr. Mahadihassan attempts to elucidate the point that Alchemy is a science through which the higher states of being reveal themselves with the matrix of spatio-temporal world.

It is a science that is directly related to temporal levels of the universal hierarchy which is totally beyond the reach of any of the profane methods employed during the past century.

It is this perspective which Dr. Mahdihassan applied to his study of Rasayana, which he sees essentially as geriatrics and closely bound to the life of ascetics in the wilderness and elderly people left by themselves in remote places. It brings a great deal of learning providing material that is fresh and is available for the first time.

Contents:

• I. Forewordby H.E.Prof. S. H. Nasr Chancellor: Aryamehr Uninversity, Tehran
• II Introduction
• Paragraphs
• 1. Differential Approach of a Scientist and a Historian
  2. The Agencies on which Alchemy Depended
  3. Other lacunae in the Accounts of Alchemy
  4. Cardinal Points of Knowledge
  5. The Positive Criterion of Alchemy as a Whole
  6. Times that Made Alchemy
  7. Social Life Created Asceticism and This in Turn an Urge for Rejuvenation
  8. Birth of Herbalism
  9. Summary
  10. The First Need of the Ascetic for an Energizer
  11. Comparative Pharmacology of Energizers
  12. Soma as fresh Plant Juice and its herb
  13. The Position of Rasayana in Indian Medicine
  14. Prehistoric Cosmogony Supporting the Idea of rejuvenation
  15. Chapaka and his two Categories of Medicine
  16. Herbal Rasayanas
  17. Metallic Preparations as Rasayana
  18. Charaka Extolling Iron and a Reducing Agent
  19. Charaka’s incidental Mention of a Gold Preparation
  20. Silajit or Mineral Pitch Vitalizer
  21. Calcined Metals as Phlogiston
  22. Calcined Metals as Alchemical Preparations
  23. The Legend of Phoenix as Implying Resurrection
  24. Growth Versus Reproduction
  25. Growth Intrinsic to Matter
  26. Animism Versus Dualism
  27. The Two Sub-Souls
  28. Pulverization of Calcined Metals
  29. Calcined Gold as the Ideal Herbometallic Preparation
  30. Other Systems of Gaining Longevity
  31. The Beginning of Alchemy
  32. Herbalism in China as Progenitor of Alchemy
  33. Kashmir as Connecting India with china
  34. Indian Alchemy Probably Begins about 500 A.D.
  35. Alchemy in India about 100 A.D.
  36. Momiyai a Panacea of Later origin in India
  37. Drug-Induced Sublimation of the Materail Body
  38. Legends of Gold with the Power of growth
  39. Etymology of Rasayana
  40. Rasayana as Elixir
  41. Kimiya-Elixir
  42. Drugs of Rejuvenation, Chinese and Indian, as Reaching Alexandria
  43. Rasayana as a proper Name
  44. Rasayana as Shiva, The Resurrector, in the Hindu Trinity
  45. Mercurials as Drugs of Choice in Acquiring Rejuvenation
  46. Makaradhwaja or Cupid’s Hallmark
  47. Mercury as related to Shiva in Indian Mythology
  48. Persistence of Herbalism in Mercurial Alchemy
  49. Shiva as Hermaphrodite and Creator
  50. Shiva as Related to Brahma and Vishnu
  51. Drugs of Longevity Versus of Immortality
  52. The Nature of Active Principle in Drugs of Immortality
  53. Sublimating Sub-Souls as Prelude to Union of Opposites
  54. The One origin of Creative Power
  55. Legends Implying alchemy as Initiating Creation
  56. Dualism Versus Pantheism and Alchemy
  57. Positive Conception of Sub-souls
  58. Symbolism Revealing Alchemy as Imitating Creation
  59. Concordance Between Indian Medicine and Indian Philosophy]
  60. Union of Opposites as a Practical Doctrine
  61. Jabir’s Magic Square and the Importance of its Four Numbers
• Bibliography
• Explanation of Figures
• Figures
• Notes