New Books Network Dagmar Wujastyk, "Indian Alchemy: Sources and Contexts" (Oxford UP, 2025)
Oct 23, 2025
Dagmar Wujastyk, an associate professor at the University of Alberta and editor of *Indian Alchemy: Sources and Contexts*, dives into the fascinating world of Indian alchemy. She discusses how Sanskrit texts from around the 10th century provide insights into alchemical practices that focus more on inner transformation rather than material goals. Dagmar highlights the coexistence of technical manuals and vibrant narratives in alchemical traditions and reveals how mercury became central to Indian alchemy, enriched by local myths. She also shares future projects that aim to integrate diverse cultural narratives.
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Scope And Timeframe Of Indian Alchemy
- Indian alchemy in this volume refers primarily to Sanskrit Rasa traditions from about the 10th century onward.
- These texts blend material transmutation with bodily transformation and spiritual aims, differing from Western alchemy's gold-focus.
Terminology And Core Focus
- Rasa shastra centers on transmutation and material manipulation, using Sanskrit terms like Rasa Vidya rather than the Arabic-derived 'alchemy'.
- Indian and other Asian alchemical traditions emphasize changing the human body and spiritual transformation more than European traditions do.
From Miracle Stories To Manuals
- Indian alchemical narratives evolved from external miracle stories to practitioner-centered manuals by around the 10th century.
- This shift produced technical treatises describing laboratory practice, initiation, and elixir regimens.
