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
8 (of 24)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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III-8
Firstly, the word Kastira was used in the Indian literature during
the period of Indo Greek contact few centuries before the Christiar
era, not earlier and rarely later. Secondly, whereas the Indian
word for brass has been traditionally pita tala or pitala, the other
word which was used during the period of Indo-Greek contact, namely
膩rak奴ta (Kautilyas Arthas谩stra) seemed to be a loan word from the
Greek Oreichalcos.
Monnier-Williams's suggestion regarding Kans (to shine or
to glitter) as the root for Kastira cannot be altogether ignored
specially in view of the strong possibility that this root might
have led to the famous word Kansa which stands for the copper-tin
alloy bronze, also known as bell-metal or white copper. The word
kansa has been generally used to indicate copper alloys, not
necessarily containing tin. Just as trapu has sometimes denoted
(erroneously) lead, similarly Kansa has often stood for brass.
(copper-zinc alloy) or copper-arsenic alloy. The Sanskrit name
for arsenic mineral l枚llingite is k膩nsva vimala.
Kansa or bronze has been used widely in the Harappan and
Vedic civilization for making various utensils (Ai.Bra.8.10, Nir.
7.23) such as vessels or bowls (B.Up.6.3.1). Small pieces of
Kansa were used as exchange units (啶多い啶� 啶曕啶膏ぞ啶� : [艣ata峁� ka峁僺膩岣� : ] AV.10.10.5)
