365bet娱乐

Even though the subject of gems is seen mentioned in our literature in a scattered form, it is indeed considered a branch seeking special status. Some classify different features of gems under science, while others consider it an art.This branch mainly deals with the following factors. (1) Sources, (2) Qualities, (3) Defects, (4) Effects, (5) Colour, (6) Varieties, (7) Shape, (8) Price, (9) Testing and (10) Size.

Gems are used for decorative as well as religious purposes. Besides their utility as ornaments, some beliefs associated with the planets also prompt one to wear gems. The effect of a jewel depends on its quality. Even though gems are produced as a result of some natural Phenomena, some myths also exist regarding their origin. In Vedas we have reference to a few varieties of gems while in the other works ranging from 笔耻谤腻峁嘺蝉, a number of gems are recorded.

骋补谤耻岣峚辫耻谤腻峁嘺^[1] ascribes its origin to the different parts of the body of the demon Bala. 础驳苍颈辫耻谤腻峁嘺^[2] gives information about the gems worn by a king and also the ones used for special purposes and on certain occasions. 厂办补苍诲补辫耻谤腻峁嘺^[3] speaks of good and evil effects made by gems. This is illustrated by the stories of 膧苍补谤迟补 and Agastya, where the former became blind by stealing a gem, while the latter got back his vision after giving gems as present.

艢颈惫补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 lists Navaratnas 迟丑耻蝉鈥�

[...].^[4]

In 惭补迟蝉测补辫耻谤腻峁嘺^[5] mention is made of gems, which are to be given as 顿腻苍补 (Gift). Thus in a Ratnadhen奴d膩na, a cow鈥檚 motif made of Ratna is prescribed. In Ratn膩calad膩na, the gems suggested for making the model of a mountain are, 惭耻办迟腻辫丑补濒补, Vajra, 滨苍诲谤补苍墨濒补, 笔补诲尘补谤腻驳补 痴补颈岣嵟玶测补 and Vidruma.

We get plenty of references to gems in 痴腻濒尘墨办颈-谤腻尘腻测补峁嘺 and in 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补. The gifts made by the kings at the 搁腻箩补蝉奴测补 sacrifice of 驰耻诲丑颈峁ａ弓丑颈谤补 include, articles made of various precious stones^[6]. In 痴腻濒尘墨办颈-谤腻尘腻测补峁嘺 also we come across the jewel gifts presented by the 厂腻尘耻诲谤补蝉 of Kautya, 础辫补谤腻苍迟补 and the merchants of 鲍诲墨肠测补, 笔谤补迟墨肠测补 and 顿腻办峁�i峁嚹乼测补^[7].

厂尘峁泃颈蝉 insist on wearing gems by kings; for gems are considered a dispeller of poison^[8].

碍补耻峁璱濒测补 devotes a separate chapter in 碍补耻峁璱濒墨测补 础谤迟丑补艣腻蝉迟谤补^[9] to this subject, which elaborately deals with the administration of the department of jewellery and also the working of jewel mines. The characteristics of various gems and gem ores also form part of this chapter.

础艣惫补驳丑辞峁�a^[10] also speaks of the mines of precious stones in his country.

Ma峁噄r膩g膩karaj帽膩na and R奴pyaratnapar墨k峁Ｄ� are two of the sixty-four arts itemised by 痴腻迟蝉测腻测补苍补^[11]. Of these, the first one deals with the knowledge of the colouring of gems and details of mines, while the latter deals with the examination of jewels. Piercing and incinerating the stones are also regarded as an art by 艢耻办谤补苍墨迟颈蝉腻谤补^[12]. There was even a society of jewellers, who were skilled in their respective crafts. 痴腻迟蝉测腻测补苍补 talks about a Vaika峁璱ka, who is skilled in cutting and refining precious stones, especially diamonds^[13]. Bilha峁嘺^[14] also makes reference to 搁补迟苍补辫补谤墨办峁Ｄ�. There we get evidence to the teaching of 搁补迟苍补辫补谤墨办峁Ｄ� to princes.

惭峁沜肠丑补办补峁璱办补^[15] gives a perfect picture of jewellery making prevalent in that period, where in the house of 痴补蝉补苍迟补蝉别苍腻, jewellers are seen involved in fashioning ornaments. Their craft includes procedures such as polishing, setting, cutting and weaving of various gems.

Regarding some chemical processing of gems, P.C Ray^[16] quotes a passage from 狈腻驳腻谤箩耻苍补, where the dissolution of gems is described, which is possible by means of some vegetable acids and sour gruel.

The above mentioned works discuss a number of gems. Some of them are as follows.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

1.68.9-10

[2]:

搁补迟苍补辫补谤墨办峁Ｄ�, vv.1-62

[3]:

6.103.49, 89

[4]:

II.11-12

[5]:

89.1-4

[6]:

II.45.32

[7]:

Ayodhy膩k膩峁囜笉a, 82.8

[8]:

惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈, 7.218

[9]:

II.12.7

[10]:

Buddhacarita, VIII.46,VI.13

[11]:

碍腻尘补蝉奴迟谤补, I.3.16

[12]:

IC

[13]:

碍腻尘补蝉奴迟谤补, V.2.20, I.3.16

[14]:

痴颈办谤补尘腻峁卥补诲别惫补肠补谤颈迟补, III.5.58

[15]:

Act IV

[16]:

AHHC, p.5