A brief review of Rasaratnasamucchaya of Manikyadeva Suri: an Indian alchemical treatise of the medieval period

Abstract

Several alchemical treatises were written in the early Medieval period (800–1300 A.D.). The majority of these texts are from Hindu cult, and some are from Buddhism. During this period, seers from Jain cult were also seen as contributing to the field of alchemy. One of very few such texts from Jain alchemy is Rasaratnasamucchaya of Manikyadeva Suri (RRSMS) (thirteenth century A.D.), which is not available in the market nowadays but was found on the website in PDF form. RRSMS, written in Sanskrit language and edited by Sikdar JC, is reviewed briefly in the present work. RRSMS, containing three chapters, is a precise treatise among the available ancient literature on Indian alchemy; it throws light on the state of Indian expertise in the field of alchemy and medicine and sidelight on the social beliefs, diets, various diseases, and their herbo-mineral remedies used during this period. It provides useful information of various kinds of minerals, metals, and herbs with their complex formulations, the different apparatus used in them, and measuring systems such as weight. Various procedures and alchemical preparations of mercury, iron, copper, gold, silver, and other metals and minerals are suggested as potent medicines in different ailments. Thus, it can be concluded that a mass of chemical information on Rasayanavidya (alchemy), metallurgy, and mineralogy, along with the knowledge of Ayurveda, was accumulated during the period of the author. Thus, it is the dire need of the time to bring it out by translating it to the regional languages and accepting commentaries from the greats of Rasashastra for the welfare of the society.