History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.14

v1.c12.14

India was the world’s chief source of gemstone in the ancient and medieval times. Numerous references about this are found in the Mahābhārata and several ancient works dealing with gems exist. India was only supplier of diamonds to the world before the discovery of diamonds in Brazil in the year 1725. Although there is no direct reference to the use of coal in ancient times archaeological evidence suggests that coal was used in India in ancient times. Also, the word ‘Aṅgāra’ (derived from Agni, the vedic god) meaning fuel, occurs in several places in the Vedic Literature. The Śukla Yajurveda Samhitā (eleventh chapter 19 kāṇḍa,), writes, “O my horse: test earth with your feet and search for fire, touch the soil and tell us which place we shall dig”.² Digging the earth for fire here many mean mining for coal.