He conducted a number of alchemic and Metallurgical experiments directed towards transforming base elements into Gold.
According to Eduard Sachau's Alberuni's India, Nagarjuna was termed as a Metallurgist who was born 100 yrs before Alberuni's time, who was born in 973 CE.
According to some records Nagarjuna was born in 9th century CE near Somnath,Gujarat and according to some Tibetan & Chinese sources he was born in Vidarbha,Maharashtra from where he later migrated to Deccan region.
Edward Schau quotes in his book,'They have a science similar to Alchemy and Nagarjuna is famous for this science which they call as 'Rasayana'.
Nagarjuna's book 'Rasaratnakara' is one of the earliest documented texts on Alchemy,Chemistry & Metallurgy in Sanskrit.Nagarjuna successfully discovered through his experiments the alchemy of transmutation of base metals into Gold.This was not real gold but a gold like substance.
The same procedure that Nagarjuna discovered about a thousand of years ago is used in the modern times to make shining artificial jewellery which is an exact look alike of the original.
Further in his treatise Rasaratnakara,Nagarjuna describes the procedures for metal extracting.
The metal extraction in detail which he describes are of metals like gold, silver, tin or copper.
The usage and intake of Swarna Bhasma(Gold powder)as a therapeutic agent for several diseases in Ayurveda is also mentioned by Nagarjuna.
How this Swarna Bhasma must be made and how it must be mixed with other herbs and in what quantities,has been very minutely detailed. In addition to 'Rasaratnakara', Nagarjuna's works also include 'Rasahradya' & 'Rasandramangla'.These two treatises r mostly of Ayurvedic accounts.
The description of Metals and knowledge of metallurgy finds a mention in ancient Hindu Scriptures. There are numerous archeological evidences on ancient Indian metallurgy. Excavations of the Ganges valley led to the discovery of iron workshops dating back to 1800BCE.
Various excavations at various sites of UP revealed the usage of iron around 1800-1200BCE.
Nagarjuna's contribution in the field of Alchemy, Chemistry and Metallurgy can't be ignored as at a time when western scientists conducted many experiments in Alchemy and failed...
...miserably,it was India who successfully conducted such experiments &lead the world.
Some of the remarkable contributions made by Nagarjuna in the fields of Alchemy,Ayurveda &Metallurgy are:
-Description of metal extracting procedure of metals such as Gold,Silver,Copper & Tin.
-Preparation of herbal medicines.
-Preparation of life saving medicines.
-Preparation of yellow shiny metal which is a look alike of Gold.
-Design of Chemical Labs.
Ancient Indians achieved tremendous progress in every field of Science,Art,Architecture etc and we have a...
..great legacy of the greatest scientists to be proud of.The only thing is we must be aware of our legacy&make others aware of it.
So,if u r fond of the artificial jewellery in today's times which I am sure u r, u should thank an ancient Indian Alchemist named Nagarjuna for it.