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 4 - Materials and Concepts in Panini鈥檚 Ashtadhyayi
16 (of 17)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
IV-16
The Rasa-Sastras of the Post-Christian era adopted the word sattva
to mean the metallic essence in the ore mineral(s).
Panini's outstanding deliberation on words denoting concepts,
shines brilliantly in several instances e.g. pramana, upajna and
upakrama. Pramana originally meant (and still means) a standard or
scale for measurement and therefore an 'authority" (Pan. 3.4.51;
4.1.24; 5.2.37; 6.2.4 & 12). Gradually the idea of 'proof' originate
from the notion of authenticating an object or an idea through
its reference to a previously accepted yardstick or an axdom
(orama means basis or foundation) Thus pramana came to mean
scientific or logical proof.
Notwithstanding the dogmatic belief of some traditional
scholars in the infallibility' of the Vedas which are supposed to be
the 'repositories of all knowledge', the non-traditional scholars of
the ancient India adored upaina and upakrama. Panini honoured this
tradition of searching for truth by explaining that upajni meant
discovery or invention by one's self, a new knowledge not handed down
by tradition. This newly acquired knowledge in its turn g gives rise
to a new enterprise or application, that is upakrama (Pan. 2.4.21
4.3.115 and 6.2.14). Even the modern science and technology rest
upon the conceptual trinity of pramana, upaina and upakrama.
