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Rasāyana, रसायन is a Sanskrit word, with the literal meaning: ''Path'' (''āyana'') ''of essence'' (''rasa''). It is a term that in early ayurvedic medicine means the science of lengthening lifespan, and in later (post 8th-century) works sometimes refers to Indian alchemy. The name of the science of Indian alchemy or proto-chemistry, is more generally "The Science of Mercury", or ''Rasaśāstra, रसशास्त्र '' in Sanskrit, Nepali, Marathi, Hindi, Kannada and several other languages. Early Indian alchemical texts discuss the use of prepared forms of mercury or cinnabar (see samskaras). However, there is also ample mention of the preparation of medical tinctures in the early science of Indian alchemy. ==History== Significant progress in alchemy was made in ancient India. Will Durant wrote in ''Our Oriental Heritage'': An 11th-century Persian chemist and physician named Abū Rayhān Bīrūnī reported that "They have a science similar to alchemy which is quite peculiar to them. They call it ''Rasâyana'', a word composed with ''rasa'', i.e., gold. It means an art which is restricted to certain operations, drugs, and compound medicines, most of which are taken from plants. Its principles restore the health of those who were ill beyond hope, and give back youth to fading old age..."〔p. 188, ''Alberuni's India'', transl. Edward C. Sachau, vol. 1, London: Trübner & Co., Ludgate Hill, 1888.〕 Raseśvara, a school of Indian philosophy was focused on finding Moksha: perfection, immortality, liberation using mercury. As such it focuses its efforts on transumation of the human body: from mortal to immortal. Many are the traditional stories of alchemists still alive since time immemorial due to the effects of their experiments. The texts of Ayurvedic Medicine and Science have aspects similar to alchemy: concepts of cures for all known diseases, and treatments that focus on anointing the body with oils. Since alchemy eventually became engrained in the vast field of Indian erudition, influences from other metaphysical and philosophical doctrines such as Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika and Ayurveda were inevitable. Nonetheless, most of the Rasayāna texts track their origins back to Kaula tantric schools associated to the teachings of the personality of Matsyendranatha and the lineage of the Natha Siddhas. Two famous examples were Nagarjunacharya and Nityanadhiya. Nagarjunacharya was a Buddhist monk who, in ancient times, ran the great university of Nagarjuna Sagara. His famous book, ''Rasaratanakaram'', is a famous example of early Indian medicine. In traditional Indian medicinal terminology "rusa" translates as "mercury" and Nagarjunacharya was said to have developed a method to convert the mercury into gold. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rasayana」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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