A history of Hindu chemistry from the earliest times to the middle of the sixteenth century, A.D / with Sanskrit texts, variants, translation and illustrations [Praphulla Chandra Rāy].

  • Prafulla Chandra Ray
Date:
1902-1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of Hindu chemistry from the earliest times to the middle of the sixteenth century, A.D / with Sanskrit texts, variants, translation and illustrations [Praphulla Chandra Rāy]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1 he Soma plant is an object of particular adora- tion and the Vedic worshippers are in ecstacy over the exhilarating effects of the fermented juice expressed from itd The Soma rasa (juice) began even to be regarded as the amrita ; this immortal draught, allied to the Greek ambrosia, is “the stimulant which conferred immortality upon the gods it is medicine for a sick man and the god Soma heals whatever is sick.” It will be seen later on that in the Soma rasa and its attributes we have the dawn of flindu Alchemy ( pp. 43-44). Other plants were likewise invoked as divi- nities. Thus one entire hymn is devoted to the praise of plants [oshadhi) alone, mainly with regard to their healing powers.^ Again, in another hymn we read : “O King (1) Sec Roth ; Uebcr den Soma : Zeit. deut. morg. Ges. XXXV. pp. 680-692; also ibid, XXXVIII. 134-139; Wo wachst dcr .Soma? And Windischmann : Ueber den Somacnitus der Ariel- : Abhand. d. Munch. AK. d. Wiss. IV. B. Abh. 2. (2) One or two typical hymns may be cpioted here :— j^ifr g Tifi ^ II VTrf : I 97- '■ efift II 2. Saya//a’s commentary to the above is ;— 1 fqgjt frig giig f^g gffg mffq viff? I 9id ?T5T ^ ■^44’^»ir^'*nfvrg^4f4^g’T! ^itstnA 4 f ^mifir 4i Jirf ; ^fufq ^ i] gqnqf i ^ % y.fifitq: % qqbrfi 4 iit qr 4^ q-4; fpi; ifiq giqq 1