Indian Alchemy: Soma in the VedaDescription: The book is an epoch-making work - a paradigm-shift in Vedic studies, which identifies soma as electrum (gold-silver metallic compound). Soma is referred to in the Rgveda as the soul of the yajna (atmayajnasya). The path-breaking identification is based on textual evidence and a penetrating analysis of the Indian alchemical tradition, spanning nearly five millennia. The author is also the discoverer of the integrating role-played by the mighty Sarasvati river adored in the Rgveda as the best of mothers, best of rivers and best of Goddesses. Sarasvati and soma are no longer mythology but relevant to present-day children, respectively, as the repository of groundwater sanctuaries in North-West India and the metallurgical tradition starting with the bronze age civilization, c. 3000 BC. Sarasvati and soma are the symbols of the great Indian traditions of Devi worship and personification and deification of natural, material phenomena. The Tirthas along the rivers are reminders of the critical nature of water management problems all over India and soma as an integral part of the yajna process, is the embodiment of the scientific, technological and materialist temper of ancient India. Contents Preface Introduction 1. Gold and the Grammar of Money in Antiquity 2. Indus : Roots of Alchemy 3. Yaksa : Alchemical Potential and Transmutation 4. Soma and Alchemy 5. Brahmanas : Aurifiction 6. Alchemy as a State Enterprise 7. Political Economy of Alchemy 8. Siddha and Tantric Alchemy 9. Apparatus, Terms, and Symbols Conclusions A Survey of Sources for History of Alchemy |
Contents
Gold and the Grammar of Money in Antiquity | 1 |
Roots of Alchemy | 20 |
Alchemical Potential and Transmutation | 53 |
Copyright | |
10 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
according agni alchemical tradition alchemists alloy ancient apparatus appear Arthaśāstra artisans ashes becomes body Brāhmaṇa brick called carried caste CDIAL century chemistry Chinese civilization clay coins colour comparable concept connotes containing context copper cult denote described earth electrum elixir evidence example explained finds fire flow Goddess gods gold gold and silver Greek hands Ibid immortality Indian Indra Indus interpreted iron juice king lead linked living material means measure medicine mentioned mercury metals mineral mines morpheme Mother nature Needham notes object operations origin parallel perhaps plant possible practices prepared priest produce proto-Indus provides rasa reference remarkable represented Sanskrit seals secret Siddha silver smelting social soma spirits stone sublimation substances sulphur symbols Tamil tantric techniques term texts trace transmutation tree Vedic vessel weight yajña yakṣa