Essay name: Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature
Author:
Sulekha Biswas
Affiliation: Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj University / Department of Sanskrit
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.
Abstract
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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ABSTRACT
This doctoral thesis dealing with MINERALS AND
METALS IN SANSKRIT LITERATURE covers the period of three
millennia in the Indian history from the Rgveda to the
Rasa-Ratna-Samuccaya.
The archaeological evidences clearly prove that
the ancient Indians were familiar with gems, non-gem
minerals and metals, even before the Harappan era. The
literary evidences however start with the Rgveda which,
we believe, was contemporaneous with the Harappan civiliz-
ation in the Sarasvati valley.
After an introduction to the subject in chapter I,
this dissertation starts with the Rgvedic evidences of the
ancient metallurgy in India (Chapter II). The post-Rgvedic
literature (Chapter III) mentioned specific metals includ-
ing iron, a few gems and non-gem minerals.
Surprisingly
however, the details of iron making or the newly invented
potteries such as PGW/NBPW are not found even in the later
Vedic literatures; this is probably an effect of the casteist
division in the society.
Panini's Astadhyayi contains the etymological roots
of many technical terms, evolved during the post-Vedic period,
and refers to bellows, beryl and coins (Chapter IV) which
have been found during the archaeological excavations at
