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.
Chapter 3 - Minerals and Metals in the Vedic literature after Rigveda
4 (of 24)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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III-4
wherein several branches of knowledge such as rasi or mathematics,
bhutavi dva or physics and nidhi or mineralogy were mentioned, the
great commentator Sankar谩c膩rya referred to 'nidhim, the subject of
mineralogy as found in books like Mahakala etc.'. We do not know
the author or the approximate date of compilation of this book.
The use of a winnow must have been very ancient, this
having been depicted in a Harappan seal. The Atharva Veda was
the first literature in which this is mentioned as a surpa. The
hymns 9.6.15-16 (and also 11.2.1 and 11.8.3-4) describe the roles.
of the mortar and pestle in corn pounding, followed by the use of
a surpa or a winnow in separating the grain from the husk.
we know that the principle of separation is based on the non-termina
pneumatic settling of particles.
Now
This technique as well as the
hydraulic (in water) gravity-settling process must have been used
to separate the fine/coarse and light/heavy mineral particles. This
separation process was recognised as a step of purification:
啶多啶班啶 啶さ啶苦い啷嵿ぐ啶� 啶む啶粪ぞ
[艣奴rpa峁� pavitra峁� tu峁Ｄ�
] medium of separation:
(AV.11.8.4).
(AV 9.6.16) for which air served as the
啶多啶班啶啷嵿ぐ啶距す啷� 啶掂ぞ啶む啶囙お啶� 啶掂た啶ㄠ啷�
[艣奴rpagr膩h墨 v膩toip膩 vinak
] The words related to purification: pavana, Davamana,
pavitra etc. appeared in many places and under different contexts.
We have already discussed pneumatic separation as in winnowing;
purifying the juice of soma
through a strainer or filter
represented another kind (RV 1.28.9, 3.36.7, AV, 6.124.3; 9.6.16,
12.3.3 etc), for which the word pavitra was used. Purification
