Chemistry is an experimental science. It helps in studying various minerals, plants, seeds for agriculture, making various metal and understanding their properties.Acharya Nagarjuna’s contribution in Chemistry:
Acharya Nagarjuna, a learned Buddhist of Nalanda University, is known as the pioneer of Chemistry. He suggested that people should use allopathic medicines also along with herbal medicines. It is believed that it was Acharya Nagarjuna who first introduced the use of mercury ash as a medicine. He wrote books namely, Rasa-Ratnakar i.e. (juice Ratnakar)’ and ‘Arogya-manjari’.In his book Rasaratnakar, he mentioned about the main juices i.e. ‘maha rasa’, “uprasa’ and 10 types of poisons, various types of salts and ash of minerals that are found in chemistry. Nagarjuna was the head of Nalanda University where he had set up school of chemistry and furnace for study and research purpose.