The Ocean of Mercury

( 6 )

"This is the first chapter," and so on. Sequentially: the first chapter covers the origin of mercury; the second, the selection of the guru and disciple; the third, the placement of mantras; the fourth, the construction of instruments and crucibles; the fifth, the process from regulation to alchemy; the sixth, the purification of mica; the seventh, the purification and incineration of major and secondary minerals; the eighth, the coloring of metals; the ninth, the use of vida a special alchemical reagent by the practitioner; the tenth, the characteristics, purification, and incineration of mercury. The eleventh covers the infusion and nourishment of mercury; the twelfth, the binding of mercury; the thirteenth, the methods for the growth of mercury; the fourteenth, the indestructible binding; the fifteenth, the binding of mercury with minerals; the sixteenth, the liquefaction and nourishment of mercury; the seventeenth, the types of metal binding; the eighteenth, the description of the khechari ethereal movement of mercury. In short, it contains preliminary knowledge regarding mercury. It has been given the form of a Tantra scriptural technical manual. Therefore, some descriptions are extremely secret and strange. The specialty of this Tantra is its beautiful description of the seeds referring to substances used as catalysts for transmuting iron into gold using metal-coloring mercury, which is not found elsewhere.

There are marvelous methods for developing the transmuting power of mercury by nourishing it with the essence of mica. Very simple formulas for making gold are described; one should try them. The description of a special kind of 'ray' rashmi used in the nourishment of metals is found here for the first time.

In alchemical literature, the Rasārṇavam is the first text where formulas to make mercury powerful are found. This shows its comprehensiveness. It is a Tantravatara descent of Tantra of the alchemical code of the Tantra era, as noted at the end of each chapter.

Time Period: There are descriptions of the Siddhas of the Shaiva sect from 600 years before the common era. Later, the Buddhist Siddhas learned from it. The description of the gold-making method is independent and empirical. Gold, silver, and copper could be made easily. Therefore, as it contains an open description of mercurial gold-making, it must be from before the common era. Sir P.C. Ray considers its origin to be between 600 and 1100 CE. Other scholars place it after the common era. Shri Priyavrat Sharma dates it to the 12th century, but he has no evidence for this. Therefore, its time should be considered pre-common era. By providing this commentary, Dr. Indradeo has revived an alchemical text. The Gupta brothers, the officials of the Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office, also deserve thanks.