According to legend, certain alchemists have gained a reputation as creators of the elixir. In European alchemical tradition, the elixir of life is closely related to the creation of the philosopher's stone. Therefore, no research has been done on an Elixir, as it is said to be impossible. In the Quran, it is mentioned about how every soul will taste death. The Indian elixirs were mineral remedies for specific diseases or, at the most, to promote long life. But the elixir of immortality was of little importance in India (which had other avenues to immortality). It is also possible that the alchemy of medicine and immortality came to China from India, or vice versa in any case, for both cultures, gold-making appears to have been a minor concern, and medicine the major concern. Evidence of the idea of transmuting base metals to gold appears in 2nd to 5th century AD Buddhist texts, about the same time as in the West. Mercury, which was so vital to alchemy everywhere, is first mentioned in the 4th to 3rd century BC Arthashastra, about the same time it is encountered in China and in the West. All the gods were offered the drink but the gods managed to trick the demons who did not get the holy drink. Finally with their combined efforts (of the gods and demons), Amrit emerged from the ocean depths. As the churning process required immense strength, hence the demons were persuaded to do the job-they agreed in return for a portion of Amrit. From one side the gods pulled the serpent, which had coiled itself around the mountain, and the demons pulled it from the other side. With the help of a Vasuki (mighty and long serpent, king of Nagloka) the churning process began at the surface. This mountain was used as a churning pole.
Vishnu agreed to take the form of a turtle (Kurma) on whose shell a huge mountain was placed. They suggested that Amrit could only be gained from the samudra manthan (or churning of the ocean) for the ocean in its depths hid mysterious and secret objects.
So these gods (including Indra, the god of sky, Vayu, the god of wind, and Agni, the god of fire) went to seek advice and help from the three primary gods according to the Hindus: Vishnu (the preserver), Brahma (the creator), and Shiva (the destroyer). This was seen as a threat to the gods (Devas) who feared them. Legend has it that at early times when the inception of the world had just taken place, evil demons (Asura) had gained strength. Anybody who consumes even a tiniest portion of Amrita has been described to gain immortality. The Jiajing Emperor in the Ming Dynasty died from ingesting a lethal dosage of mercury in the supposed "Elixir of Life" conjured by alchemists.Īmṛta, the elixir of life, has been described in Hindu scriptures. Many of these substances, far from contributing to longevity, were actively toxic and resulted in Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning. 682 AD), a famous medical specialist respectfully called "King of Medicine" by later generations, discusses in detail the creation of elixirs for immortality (including several toxic ingredients such as mercury, sulphur, and arsenates) as well as those for curing certain diseases and the fabrication of precious stones. The most famous Chinese alchemical book, the Danjing yaojue (Essential Formulas of Alchemical Classics) attributed to Sun Simiao (c. Gold was considered particularly potent, as it was a non-tarnishing precious metal the idea of potable or drinkable gold is found in China by the end of the third century BC. The ancient Chinese believed that ingesting long-lasting precious substances such as jade, cinnabar or hematite would confer some of that longevity on the person who consumed them. Unfortunately, it is eaten by a serpent before he can do so. Gilgamesh is directed by him to find a plant at the bottom of the sea which he does but seeks first to test it on an old man before trying it himself. He seeks out Utnapishtim, a Noah-like figure in Mesopotamian mythology in which he was a servant of the great Alchemist of the rain who later became immortal, to seek out the advice of the King of Herod of the Land of Fire. An early mention of an elixir of life is found in the Epic of Gilgamesh (from the 2nd millennium BC) in which Gilgamesh comes to fear his own declining years following the death of his beloved companion Enkidu.
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