- Ancient Indians achieved great progress in alchemy (early form of chemistry) and metallurgy. Skilled metallurgists produced an iron pillar over 1600 years ago that remains resistant to corrosion due to traditional Indian metallurgical techniques. - Nagarjuna was a prominent scholar of alchemy in ancient India. An alchemical laboratory from his time has been recreated, featuring various instruments used for processes like distillation, sublimation, and purification of substances. - Ancient Indian texts provide evidence that sophisticated metallurgical and chemical processes were employed, including understanding of concepts like atoms and phase changes. Instruments indicate experimentation with extraction, purification and transformation of substances.

1. AC-301 Seminar on Review of Research Paper
Presented by,
Mr.Harish Bhaurao Sonawane
M.Sc.IInd Year(Analytical Chemistry)
School Of Chemical Science,
Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University,
Jalgaon.425001 MH India.
ANCIENT INDIAN CHEMISTRY

2. Chemistry is the study of elements present in the Universe
which involves, the nature of the elements , their
occurrence, their physical and chemical properties, their
compounds, their reactivity , their uses and their
applications.
The word chemie was derived from Khem a synonym
for Egypt
Chemistry known as Rasayana sastra or Rasa Sastra
or Rasa Prakriya in Sanskrit, the Language of Ancient
Indians used. This is evident from the literary works
and archeological excavations of our nation , the
India.

3. The basic principles of Chemistry emanated or revealed
through the great works of our ancient rishis can be
attributed to three major areas
1. Intellectual thinking about the nature
2. Development of Professional skills for livelihood
3. Welfare measures like health Care of the Society
Maharshee Kanada propounded the concept
of atom and its indivisibility and the law of
cause and effect

4. Prof.Satya prakash of Allahabad
University discussed the Scientific
aspects of this Darsana and its
applications in law of chemical action in
his book “ Founders of Sciences in
Ancient India” published by The
Research institute of Ancient Scientific
Studies, New Delhi. 1965

5. This first sutra says the substances like Ghee, Lac and
Beeswax will become liquids with the addition of heat .
The second sutra says that Gold, silver, copper, tin, and
lead also gets converted into liquids when they are
subjected to heat and it is common. The first and second
sutras differentiates the high and low melting materials
and mentions the phase changes and the differentiation of
materials by their nature. The phase changes indicates the
laws of thermodynamics. In modern physical chemistry
books what we find
Au (Solid ) + ∆ H → Au (liquid)
is clearly stated in sanskrit.

6. Agriculture
Housing
Weaving
Artisans
Biofertilizers
Building materials
Natural dyes and fixers
Different metallic
utilities

8. They have also characterized the ore based
on the to which it belongs. For
example the ore from rocks or a region of
the earth, which is heavy unctuous and soft
tawny , greenish, reddish or red is copper
ore.
Crow black or of the colour of dove or
yellow pigment studded with white lines
smelling like raw flesh is lead ore.
Grey like saline earth or of a baked lump of
the earth is iron ore.

9. The director of mines known as
Khanijadhyaksha was expected to be an expert
in the science of metallic veins, exploration of
ores, metallurgy and colouring of the Gems.
Among the duties of the Khanijadhyaksha was
that he should establish factories for copper,
lead, tin, vaikranta, brass, steel, bronze, bell
metal and iron and establish trade in metal
ware.

10. Ancient Indians achieved great progress in alchemy (the older
form of chemistry). Earliest distillation of alcohol can be traced
back to the archeological finds at Taxila.
Ancient chemistry in India grew out of the early efforts to
develop an elixir and to turn base metals into gold.
Mercury and its elixirs were used in transmutation of the base
metals into noble ones, as well as for purifying the body,
rejuvenating it and taking it to an imperishable and immortal
state. Out of the numerous alchemical texts, written between the
ninth and the fourteenth century AD, some give alchemical ideas,
while others are devoted to alchemy.

11. rust resistant properties,
manufactured by skilled iron smiths
1600 years ago. the forge welding of
pieces of wrought iron

12.  40 feet length is planted erect in front of Moola Mookambika
 Indian scientists from IGCAR Kalpakkam and KREC(Now
NITK), Suratkal, Mangalore conducted a test on the iron pillar and
found that it was made from traditional Indian metallurgical skills and
not from modern casting methods.
 It is found made of pure iron.
 It is also found to be less affected by corrosion, despite humid
conditions prevailing there due to heavy rains.
 This iron pillar is considered as testimony of ancient Indian iron
craftmanship.

13. Nagarjuna was the most prominent scholar in the field of
Indian alchemy.
Rasashala, a typical alchemical laboratory of Nagarjuna
is recreated in „Our Science & Technological Heritage of
India‟ gallery at National Science Centre, Delhi.

14. Swedani Yantra was
used for continuous slow
heating of ingredients.
Procedure: A pot with
boiling water has its
mouth covered with a
piece of cloth and the
substance to be
steamed is placed on it,
and a second pot is
arranged in an
inverted position over
the rim of the first.
Swedani Yantra

15. Patana Yantra was an
apparatus used for
sublimation and distillation.
Procedure:
Two vessels are adjusted so
that the neck of the one fits
into that of the other.
The junction of the necks is
luted with a composition
made of lime, raw sugar,
rust of iron, and buffalo‟s
milk.

16. The Adhahpatan Yantra was a
modification of the Patana
yantram, an apparatus used
for sublimation and distillation.
Procedure:
The bottom of the upper vessel
is smeared with the substance,
the vapour or essence thereof
condensing into the water of
the lower one. Heat is applied
on the top of the upper vessel
by means of the fire of dried
cow-dung cakes.

17. This apparatus, Kosthi Yantra, was
mainly used for extracting minerals.
Procedure:
This apparatus has a special furnace of
angulas in width and one hasta (18”) in
length and one hasta in height. Two
Mushas (crucibles used in the laboratory)
are taken, one of which has a lid with a
hole.
The Musha with the lid is filled with ore
and is fixed upside down on the furnace,
surrounding the upper Musha is filled
with hard charcoal made of Bamboo,
Khadira, Madhuka and Badari wood.
A fire is lit in the charcoal and has to
keep raging, by blowing air with the
help of bellows. Gradually the essence
of the mineral gets collected in the lower
pot.

18. The Dola Yantra was mainly used
for causing the chemical to
perspire by exposing them to
medicated steam.
Procedure:
In this yantram, a vessel filled
with some liquid substance to half
of its capacity is taken. Two holes
are made opposite to each other
near the mouth of the vessel.
A rod is then arranged through
the two holes across the mouth. A
bundle containing the material
which is boiled is suspended into
the liquid by tying it at the
middle of the rod. Then the vessel
is heated as required.

19. The apparatus is similar to
fumigating apparatus.
Procedure:
Bars of iron are laid in a slanting
position a little below the mouth of
the lower vessel and gold- leaves
are placed over them, and at the
bottom of the vessel is deposited a
mixture of sulphur, realgar,
orpiment etc.
A second vessel, with its convexity
turned upwards, covers the mouth
of the lower one, and the rims are
luted with clay. Heat is now applied
from below. This is called
fumigation of gold-leaves. Silver
may also be similarly treated.

20. Taptkhal or Tapta Khalla
Yantra was used for slow
heating of Mercury.

21. The Tiryakpatan Yantra was
used for purification of
mercury.
Procedure:
Mercury is kept in a long vessel, with a bent
tube at its neck. The lower end of the tube
should be inserted into the body of another
vessel containing water.
The mouth of these two vessels and joints are
closed with clay and cloth etc. A blazing fire is
placed under the first vessel.
The mercury falls into the water in the second
vessel. Cold water is poured constantly on the
second vessel to get sublimated mercury.

22. Distillation Apparatus
▪ Process used to separate the substances composing a
mixture.
▪ It involves a change of state, as of liquid to gas, and
subsequent condensation process.

23. Mercurial products are generally
processed through this apparatus.
Anya Bhudar Yantra

24. Palika Yantra is a round
shaped vessel with a bend
vertical or horizontal arm to
handle it. The apparatus is
generally used in drawing out
oil and small quantity of
medicinal liquid.
Palika Yantra

25. This is an iron vessel placed in a cavity and
subsequently filled with water. Another vessel
is placed into this water with a small crucible
containing mercurial products that are
processed through Kacchapa Yantra.
Urdhavpatan Yantra

26. This is an iron vessel placed in a cavity
and subsequently filled with water.
Another vessel is placed into this water
with a small crucible containing mercurial
products that are processed through
Kacchapa Yantra.

27. It was used for addition of sulfur in
different proportions in the mercury.
Ishtika Yantra