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 9 - The Rasaratna-samuccaya鈥攁 pinnacle in the Indian iatro-chemistry
11 (of 31)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
IX-11
Hinqula/darada or cinnabar was known to occur in two
varieties: inferior grade Sukatunda and white-lined, coral-like
hamsapaka (RRS 3.139)
Hingula when distilled, released its satva 'which is
definitely like suta or mercury, and has the property of the
material which is fixed by sulphur'
啶︵ぐ啶︵ 啶ぞ啶むえ啶え啷嵿い啷嵿ぐ啷� 啶ぞ啶むた啶むざ啷嵿 啶溹げ啶距ざ啷嵿ぐ啶
啶むい啷� 啶膏い啷嵿さ啶� 啶膏啶むじ啶傕啶距ざ啶� 啶溹ぞ啶い啷� 啶ㄠぞ啶む啶� 啶膏啶多く
啶忇い啶膏啶ぞ啶︵ぞ啶灌啶む 啶膏啶む 啶溹啶班啶｀啶ㄠ啶оじ啶 啶椸啶｀啶�.
( [darada岣� p膩tanayantre p膩tita艣ca jal膩艣raye
tat satva峁� sutasa峁僰膩艣a峁� j膩yate n膩tra sa峁兣沘ya
etasm膩d膩huta岣� suto j墨r峁嘺gandhasamo gu峁嘺i岣�.
(] RRS 3.141 and 3.144)
It may be noted that the author fell short of saying that the metal
obtained from mercuric sulphide was mercury itself he merely
stated the close resemblence between the two.
As a matter of
apparatus like
fact, the metal extracted from hingula in an
vidy膩dhara or damaru yantra was called hingulakrsta and not rasa
or mercury (RRS 8.37 and 9.56-57). Probably it was believed that
the property of the end-product (metal) was dependent on the raw
material from which it was extracted.
For the metallurgical practices, special crucibles were
made for which specific raw materials were necessary. Toyamrttik膩,
a water-proof paste was made by mixing fine powder of mandura
(rusted iron), guda (molass), cur峁嘺 (limestone) and watery extract
of acacia indica; crucible made of this paste was fired before use.
Vahnimrttik膩 or fire-clay crucibles and seals were made using Khad:
(Chalk), lavana (salt), mandura (iron rust), milk etc. This resis
intense heat and is impervious to mercury-liquid and as well as
vapour. 'Mercury sealed by this mixture, known to Nagarjuna, Nandi,
