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 8 - Non-gem Minerals and Metals in Rasa-shastra
25 (of 44)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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VIII-25
experimental discipline of Rasasastra or Indian alchemy, later
developed into Iatro-chemistry. The Rasasastra tradition had
its origin in Atharvaveda, the Samkhya system and the Ayurvedic
texts of Caraka and Susruta. Through Nagarjuna and other stalwarts,
the subject evolved gradually, and gathered momentum after the
seventh century A.D. A chronological account of the relevant texts
is summarised in Table VIII-1.
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TABLE VIII-1
