Some Secret Formulae of Jaina Alchemy as Revealed in the Suvarna-Raupya-Siddhi-Sastra

Summary

In 'Some Secret Formulae of Jaina Alchemy as Revealed in the Suvarṇa‑Raupya‑Siddhi‑Śāstra,' the author deciphers coded verses from a Jain alchemical text that describes processes for converting base metals into gold and silver. The Suvarṇa‑Raupya‑Siddhi‑Śāstra uses metaphorical language to conceal its recipes: the word “dhammo” (virtue) denotes mercury, “maṅgala” (auspicious) denotes gold, “kāśī” refers to copper, and other terms designate Nepalese copper and medicinal plantsfile:///home/oai/share/jain_journal_1987_10_520088_hr6_ocred.pdf#:~:text=Some%20secret%20formulae%20of%20Jaina,yellow%20andropo. By analyzing the text line by line, the author identifies the materials and procedures hidden behind these code words. One formula instructs mixing mercury with gold and copper and impregnating the mixture with the juice of a plant called comanali, then heating it to produce goldfile:///home/oai/share/jain_journal_1987_10_520088_hr6_ocred.pdf#:~:text=Some%20secret%20formulae%20of%20Jaina,yellow%20andropo. Another verse explains that combining copper with an equal amount of orpiment (yellow arsenic) and saturating the mass with the juice of apāmārga yields goldfile:///home/oai/share/jain_journal_1987_10_520088_hr6_ocred.pdf#:~:text=The%20meaning%20of%20the%20verse,be%20an%20accomplishment%20of%20goldfile:///home/oai/share/jain_journal_1987_10_520088_hr6_ocred.pdf#:~:text=dhyanajjinesa%20bhavato%20bhavinah%20ksanena%20dehar,%E2%80%98cami. Yet another process involves immersing lumps of calamine (zinc ore) into brinjals, burying them for four hours, then melting the metal; the resulting lumps are said to possess a golden appearancefile:///home/oai/share/jain_journal_1987_10_520088_hr6_ocred.pdf#:~:text=Sastra%20contains%20secret%20formula%20to,die%20of%20starvation%20or%20hunger. The article discusses the rationale behind using cryptic terminology: alchemists sought to guard their secrets from the uninitiated and to avoid royal censure. The Jaina authors also imbued their recipes with moral symbolism; terms like “dhammo” and “maṅgala” served as pious mnemonics for alchemists who saw their craft as a form of spiritual discipline. By translating and comparing the verses with known chemical practices, the author shows that Jaina alchemists employed sophisticated metallurgical techniques, including amalgamation, roasting, and calcination. The text reflects a syncretic tradition wherein Jain monks engaged in alchemy not merely for material gain but to fund monasteries and to illustrate philosophical notions of transformation and purity. The article situates the Suvarṇa‑Raupya‑Siddhi‑Śāstra within the broader history of Indian alchemy, noting similarities with earlier Rasaśāstra treatises and highlighting unique Jain contributions, such as the ethical framing of alchemical work.