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—a pinnacle in the Indian iatro-chemistry
9 (of 31)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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IX-9
Gairika (red ochre) could be deep red (svarna gairika)
An earlier
or copper - coloured (pāsāna gairika) (RRS 3.46-3.48)
scholar Nandi was quoted to say that gairika is itself a satva or
metal. RRS quoted dissenting scholars saying that satva (iron)
can be obtained from gairika (iron oxide) (3.49).
Kasisa (ferrous sulphate) could be of two varieties:
puspakāśīsa, which imparts black colour to hair and removes
pimples (vranaghna), and balukākāśīsa which looks like aguru-dhuma
and is either alkaline or acidic in solution.
क्षाराम्ला गुरुधूमाभं
( [kṣārāmlā gurudhūmābha�
(] RRS 3.52)
We know that ferrous sulphate hydrolyses, and the solution is
not neutral.
Tuvari or alum used to be obtained from the mountain
rocks of Saurastra. This was widely used as a mordant to bind and
deepen the colour of a dye such as mañjistha (RRS 3.59). Two
varieties were recognised: slightly yellow, heavy and brilliant
phataki or pitikā, and white, light and amla or sour in taste,
phullika. The latter was known to react with copper sheets
(RRS 3.61-62) indicating the reactivity of copper with the
sulphate ion from alum. Kank si described as Kasaya or astringent
is also alum.
Tālaka/tāla/haritala (orpiment) could be of two types:
many-layered, golden coloured, heavy, brilliant patra talaka,
and massive pinda talaka containing less satva or pale yellowish
metal (RRS 3.76-77)
