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.
Appendix A - Scientific information on the Minerals used
68 (of 71)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
RASAKA zinc metal or ore, calamine
RASAKARPURA mercuric chloride
RASAPAKA smelting of ores to liquid state
RASASINDURA mercuric sulphide
RASANJANA stibnite or mercuric sulphide
RÄ€JÄ€VARTA, LAJWARD lapis lazuli
RẰNG tin
RITIKA malleable alpha-brass
RITI brass, calx of brass
RUKHAM alabaster
RUDHIRAKSA carnelian
REH soil containing sodium sulphate and bicarbonate
RAUPYA silver
RAUPYAMAL calx of silver
LAVANA salt
LASUNIYA garlic-like chrysoberyl, cat's eye.
LOHA metal 'which is extracted'
LOHAVEDHA metallic transformation
LOHITAKSA carnelian
LAUHA iron
KANTA -, magnetic iron
TIKSNA
carburised iron, steel
MUNDA -, wrought iron
VAJRA diamond
VANGA tin
VAṂSAMUKTĀ also VASA-LOCANA, TVAKSARA, bamboo-pearl
VARANAGA 'lead-like antimony', alloy of Sb|ze
VARALOHA Cu/Fe alloy
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