He lived in the 100 BC in what is today known as Madhya Pradesh. He was a chemist, an alchemist, metellurgist and medicineman. His works are Rasaratnakara, Rashrudaya, Rasendramangal, Arogyamanjari, Kakshaputatantra, Yogasara, Yogasatak, Uttaratantra. Mohammed of Ghazni invaded India and is said to have destroyed some and taken some of the sciences manuscripts to the outside world. The Arabs learnt the transmutation of base metals to gold from Nagarjuna. They called it Al Kimia. Medieval Europeans learnt about it from the Arabs and called it Alchemy.

Contribution

An alchemist he knew the art of transmuting base metals to look like gold. This method is today being used to make imitation jewellery

Preparation of mercury

Extraction of metals like gold, silver, tin and copper from the ore

Dissolution of diamonds, metals and pearls

Process of distillation, liquefication, sublimation and roasting

Combinations of liquids

Preparation of medicinal drugs