Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature
by Sulekha Biswas | 1990 | 69,848 words
This essay studies the presence of Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature over three millennia, from the Rigveda to Rasaratna-Samuccaya. It establishes that ancient Indians were knowledgeable about various minerals and metallurgy prior to the Harappan era, with literary references starting in the Rgveda. The thesis further examines the evolutio...
7. Iron Implements
India entered the iron age after the Rgvedic era. Many metallic implements, probably made of copper or bronze, were mentioned in our previous chapter on the Rgveda. Similar tools continued to be made using the newly discovered metal, iron. We need not mention them again in this chapter. Just by the way of illustration, it may be noted that Ksura or razor known in the Rgveda continued to be popular thereafter (Atharvaveda.12.5.20,55; Tai. Sam. 2.1.5.7; s. Bra 2.6.4.5; 3.1.2.7; 3.6.2.9 etc). # The * sharpedge of the razor' ksurasya dhara nisita (Katha Upanisad, 1.3.14, B.Up.3.3.2) became a popular expression. Swadhiti in Tai.Sam. 6.3.3.2, Va.Sam. 2.15 and 5.43 meant an axe or a sword as in Rigveda 2.39.7, 3.2.10 etc. The names of several new iron instruments appeared in the later Vedic literature; possibly there had been no prototypes in copper or bronze. Parigha was an iron bar to keep door(s) closed from inside (Cha.Up.2.24.6, 10 and 15). It also represented an iron cudgel used in warfare. Parinaha was an iron chest or sinduka for storing valuable items (Atharvaveda.19.48.1). Two-armed iron tongue was known as parisas (Shatapatha Brahama 14.1.3.1; 14.2.1.16; 14.2.2.54 14.3.1); this resembles modern sandasi and was used to lift hot crucibles and vessels from a furnace. Prasasa was an axe or some other instrument for cutting (Ai.Bra. 2.6.5, Nir.5.11). Sasa stood for a sword or knife (Ai.Bra. 7.17.15, San.Sr.15.25.1, s.Bra. 3.8.1.4-5, 13.2.3.16). A stick of iron was known as salvaka (Va. Sam. 24.35, Ai.Bra. 3.26.3).