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...
6. Background of the Ramayana
The above discussion on the Mahabharata clearly shows that its references to the minerals and metals and various products indicate that the text of the epic was continually expanded over the centuries. Some of the specific portions of the text can be identified with specific periods in the Indian history. The Ramayana contains a much shorter list of minerals and metals probably because this epic itself is much shorter, and has been spared from the later-day interpolations. Like the other epic, the Ramayana also must have been compiled in the present form during the Historical Period and contains the usual references to the widel used minerals and metals. The Sundara Kanda of this epic refers to vaidurva or beryl (3.9), vaira (diamond), sphatika (quartz), mukta or pearl (3.10), indranila,mahanila or sapphire (9.16), vidruma or coral (9.17) etc. The metals mentioned are: ayasa (2.40.23), kalayasa or iron (5.41.12 Kamsya, bellmetal or brass (3.29.20; 4.50.34), copper (4.23.20), lead and tin (1.37.20) etc.